Bamboo - sustainable alternative to wood?




Hotel Alpenrose, Photo Andy Andresen by Qin International

In the search for sustainable, economical solutions, bamboo has been increasingly in the spotlight for several years. But what can bamboo really do, why is it interesting as a sustainable solution and how can you recognize good quality?

Wood or grass - ecologically valuable in any case.

From a botanical point of view, bamboo belongs to the grasses. However, its chemical structure is similar to that of wood; when harvested, its texture is comparable to that of domestic oak. If it is highly compressed, for example for outdoor woods, it achieves properties of the best tropical woods.

Up to 20 meters high, its approximately 10 - 15 cm thick trunks grow from the dense rhizome root network, which holds the soil and helps to restore the water table. Therefore, bamboo is also very suitable for reforestation. Dr. Pablo van der Lugt has been researching industrial bamboo materials, their carbon footprint & LCA for many years: "The comparatively short growing season and its high CO2 sequestration are two of the most important ecological advantages of bamboo. On average, 20-25% of the stems can be harvested annually without reducing their number per hectare of forest. Harvesting the mature stems increases the yield and quality of the plantation, as it prevents the rhizome from dying." In developing new applications, Dr. van der Lugt has been advising manufacturer MOSO for more than 10 years. The company specializes in the manufacture of bamboo products; the Dutch company is considered one of the most innovative in the industry worldwide.

 

 

More than four million square meters of bamboo flooring installed.

The processing process in the complex Thermo-Density-Process® creates a very stable, robust and interesting natural material from which MOSO produces decking boards, planks for street furniture and construction timber for carports and facades. The bamboo strips are hardened under high pressure and heat to such an extent that they end up being fungus and mold resistant and the base material for many applications. "Since its launch in 2009, more than four million square meters of MOSO Bamboo X-treme decking have been installed in both large properties and private gardens," reports sales manager Michael von Houten.

MOSO has been involved with bamboo for about 20 years, researching and developing innovative products. "When we started, we were convinced that in the future we would be able to offer sustainable, durable and also visually appealing solutions for interior design. Today, we realize very different ecologically compatible solutions for a wide range of applications - especially in the outdoor sector, such as our cambered decking boards, planks with a width of 208 mm or a thickness of 30 mm," van Houten explains.

Conclusion: bamboo in is a versatile product that is suitable for a wide range of applications. The quality of available bamboo products varies widely, so getting accurate information is important. Moso gives guarantees up to 25 years.

MOSO® the bamboo specialist | Quality, innovation and sustainability.
www.moso-bamboo.com

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