As many people begin to express interest in using more eco-friendly products, one market is benefiting heavily from this change: the Global Bamboo Products Market. Currently having a net worth of $58.23 billion, the increasing demand for bamboo products is estimated to increase the market’s value by 5.35% each year until 2028.

The driving factor behind the boom in the bamboo market is a growing consciousness of preserving the environment. Not only is bamboo a renewable resource, but it is also a balanced example of carbon and oxygen. According to Lewis Bamboo, a group of bamboo stalks releases 35% more oxygen than a group of trees, which helps decrease a person’s carbon footprint and combat global warming. But, this is not all—bamboo has been a popular material for eco-friendly oriented customers for a multitude of other reasons revolving around its sustainability and adaptability. 

Firstly, bamboo is extremely versatile. PR Newswire reported that bamboo can be an adaptable material for many uses, including construction of houses, indoor and outdoor furniture, textiles, and packaging. This has increased the value of the Global Bamboo Products Market because investors are using bamboo to replace many common objects and make them more eco-friendly.

Bamboo is also a strong material. It provides an easy-to-use combination of being lightweight yet hard-wearing, which is convenient for at-home projects or more complicated tasks like constructing buildings. ArchDaily found that the tensile strength and fibrous morphology that makes bamboo so flexible allows it to stay intact during lateral shocks from earthquakes. In addition, bamboo has a relatively high load-bearing capacity because the fibers enhance composite materials, so it is becoming a common choice for building and scaffolding.

Third, bamboo can be beneficial for health reasons. PR Newswire further communicated that bamboo is hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking, which can be especially useful for substituting potentially irritating household items like bedsheets. Depending on the situation, bamboo could also have certain antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities as well.

Lastly, bamboo is being heavily promoted by governments that have acknowledged its environmental advantages. This has resulted in government tax incentives that can decrease the cost of bamboo products or give people tax benefits when they purchase bamboo.

EcoPlanet Bamboo, one of the leading groups that promotes bamboo as an alternative to other construction materials, highlighted the sustainability of bamboo and its impact on the environment.

“Our projects provide a myriad of long term biodiversity, climate change and social benefits, while providing an economically viable solution to achieve forest landscape restoration and the generation of healthy, functioning ecosystem,” EcoPlanet Bamboo said.

While these are some of the benefits of bamboo, there are a few challenges to increased bamboo production. Deforestation, absence of standardization of bamboo stalks, limited awareness, market competition with more traditional materials, and problems with infrastructure regarding processing and transportation can all hinder the use of bamboo. Nevertheless, bamboo is a versatile eco-friendly product that is becoming more popular, and time will tell how its market progresses and use expands.