Plastic vs. Bamboo in Storage Containers

With the abundance of plastic waste, let's consider bamboo. Let’s discover if bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative.

One of the reasons plastic is so popular as a useful material is that it is cheap to produce, adaptable, durable, and versatile. These are all reasons for its popularity. And plastic has had a dramatic impact on our lives. For decades it was a material we took for granted; now we question its virtues. From smartphones to cars and food packaging, our reliance on this durable and functional material has led to millions of tons of plastic being produced every year. Yet, each year, 8 million metric tons of the plastic we produce finds its way into the ocean. And masses of plastic waste are washing up on beaches, with 60-80% of marine waste consisting of plastic.

Once in our landfills or oceans plastic takes years to decompose. As a result, we are now looking for alternatives to plastic. People are switching to reusable containers and even grocery stores are actively working to reduce plastic packaging waste.

Here we will discuss switching to bamboo as an alternative when purchasing organizational items. Many organizational items are available in both. The question is: Can bamboo really compete with and replace some of our plastic consumption?

What is Bamboo?

Bamboo is a type of grass with a hollow stem and is widely available. It grows prolifically in its natural home in more tropical and humid climates such as Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States. Bamboo is also very strong. Many examples throughout history demonstrate bamboo's versatility and various benefits. Its hollow nature, strength, lightweight, and fast growth have traditionally made it perfect for the construction of everything from bamboo homes to bridges. As the demand for plastic diminishes, bamboo is becoming a more accessible option as companies search for opportunities to provide more eco-friendly alternatives. 

What are the qualities of bamboo?

Bamboo has been used for centuries and for good reason. It's fast-growing, cheap to produce, proliferative, and versatile. It is easily and readily available. It can keep up with any growth in consumer and production demands. Further, it is also an eco-friendly renewable material. Therefore, it can be replanted and grown as it is harvested. Many species of bamboo grown in the right conditions can reach maturity in a couple of months. This is far faster than most trees which can take years or even decades to grow.

An especially positive upside is that there is also little need to use pesticides or fertilizers because bamboo has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Additionally, growing the bamboo plant typically uses less water than trees. Researchers suggest this is a result of better storage of water in the growing bamboo shoots and less leaf foliage per plant. And if, on occasion, the production process uses chemicals, their use is less intensive than many other crops. Even more, we can use it, plant more and help to reduce carbon emissions at the same time as bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than the equivalent volume of trees.

A good reason to choose bamboo is that it is sustainable.

So, is bamboo a viable alternative? Absolutely. When we look around our homes, there is plastic everywhere. In fact, quite a lot of our household items can be replaced with bamboo, a more sustainable alternative to plastic.

We are starting to see a good deal of organization products made from Bamboo instead of plastic, so we have chosen to offer you both options. Chopping boards made from bamboo can replace plastic chopping boards. Bamboo makes for an excellent alternative to disposable plastic plates and cutlery. We can choose eco-friendly bamboo packaging. We can choose a Lazy Susan made of bamboo instead of plastic. Each has its virtues. Drawer organizers in bamboo fit well in both the bathroom and kitchen spaces.  

Bamboo provides a natural and organic raw material we can use here and now in place of many of our day-to-day plastic items. And that is good news. Thus, many have made the choice to replace plastic items with bamboo where possible and practical. If we can scale up the environmentally friendly manufacture and subsequent use of bamboo, we can help to make a dent in the overconsumption of plastic.

Bamboo has a cozy feel.

For this reason, we have offered many of our Amazon products suggestions in bamboo as opposed to plastic. Of course, plastic is always a viable option. And that is the point. It is an option. For those who want to choose a cozier, more environmentally friendly, and warmer product, we offer many in bamboo. It is our hope that you will look through some of our suggested products and compare the items that will work best for you.