At ettitude, we think bamboo is great. Here are ten really cool facts about bamboo to show you why.
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree.
Bamboo is actually a member of the true grass family, which explains its speed of growth. As a grass, bamboo can fully mature in three to five years, making it one of the fastest growing plants on earth.
Bamboo has had diverse uses for over 5,000 years
Bamboo has been a popular material in China for over 5,000 years. It has had hugely diverse uses over the last 5,000 years, from bows and arrows to kitchenware, medicine to tissue paper and even bicycles and bedding.
Bamboo is a favorite food on two continents
Bamboo is the primary ingredient of the diets of elephants and buffalos in India, pandas in China and giant gorillas in Africa. Bamboo shoots are edible for us too and are used in many traditional Asian dishes and broths.
There are over 1,000 species of bamboo worldwide
Bamboo has over 1,000 variations and is native to every continent except Europe and the poles. Bamboo species can grow in hot climates as well as cold.
Bamboo is naturally organic
Bamboo doesn’t require pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation to enhance its growth; instead it grows like a weed. It has even been recorded to grow as fast as 47.6 inches in a 24-hour period!
Bamboo absorbs greenhouse gases
Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of hardwood trees.
Bamboo can tolerate extreme conditions
Not only can bamboo tolerate periods of flooding as well as drought, it was also the first plant to re-green after the atomic bombing in Japan in 1945. Amazing!
Bamboo fabric is antibacterial, hypoallergenic and anti-static
Bamboo fabric contains a naturally antibacterial agent that makes it non-irritating to the skin. As a result it’s also more hygienic than similar fabric types and it’s anti-static, too.
Bamboo fabric is moisture absorbent
Bamboo fabric wicks moisture away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable. Due to the antibacterial properties naturally found in bamboo it also will not absorb odor.
Bamboo fabric is soft
Although a hardwood plant may come to mind when you think of bamboo, bamboo fabric is luxuriously soft and silky. The feel is often likened to cashmere.
Try some of ettitude’s bamboo clothing or bedding options today to see for yourself how truly remarkable bamboo really is!