Bamboo stems

Bamboo stems (or culms) are a strong and unexpensive material for building, furniture and other products.

Actually not a type of wood, but a family of countless woody grass species, bamboo has been used for thousands of years as a building material in China and South East Asia.

Its hardness and strength comparable to steel or hardwood, but it grows very fast in Asia with a much lower environmental footprint.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
	Low Energy Bamboo stems do not require energy intensive processing after harvesting, besides drying and transporting. Low footprint Bamboo grows 3 times faster than hardwood. It produces more on less land.
	Lightweight Because the stems and the fibers are hollow, you need less weight for the same strength compared to other materials. This saves fuel on large scale transportation.	Long distance If you order it from far, bamboo transportation has a big environmental impact. It is in fact responsible for 95% fo the emissions of the life cycle of bamboo (1). Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are local Northern hardwood
	Non toxic The only chemical used to preserve bamboo is boron, which is non toxic. Low cost Bamboo is unexpensive. It is also a very invasive species, so if you have some land you can grow a lot for free.		Tips Look online for tips on how to build solid structures with bamboo. The design will determine the durability of the product.
	Lightweight Because the stems and the fibers are hollow, you need less weight for the same strength compared to other materials. This saves fuel on large scale production
	Non toxic If not further treated with toxic chemicals, bamboo products are safe for the user.

	Easy recycling Being made of cellulose, bamboo is compostable at end of life, or can be safely incinerated.