Bamboo as a material for furniture
Frontal Lobe gets its bamboo and bamboo ply from Wellington’s Plantation Bamboo and Pahiatua’s Woven Bamboo, each of which the company again has an excellent relationship. Both suppliers source their wood from ethical, sustainable sources that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is a credible international organization, based in Germany, which since 1993 has set rigid standards of sustainability and eco-friendliness for forest products. It is an independent, non-profit regulatory organization that certifies wood as originating from sustainable forests.
Bamboo is unrivalled in the speed with which it grows and the efficiency with which it converts carbon dioxide into timber. In an overpopulated world, with more and more people joining the middle class worldwide, bamboo is one of the few natural materials that can be produced in sufficient amounts to meet the demands of the future.
A close look at many items on sale today will reveal that they are made from bamboo. As Bevan says, “It’s everywhere!” Bamboo is tough, longlasting, hard, and attractive looking. From flooring and furniture to fabric, we are in the bamboo age. It takes finishes very well and is a beautiful material. There are 2000 different types of bamboo. The types used by Frontal Lobe take only six to 10 months to grow to their full height and can be harvested after three years. The extra time is needed for the stem to harden. After harvesting, the bamboo is processed into sheets of ply or solid timber.