THE BAMBOO REVOLUTION
Bamboo had its Cinderella moment a few years ago. From sustainable fabrics to skincare items, the humble plant has become a much sought-after produce. On World Bamboo Day today, we tell you what spurred the change
Going from being just a raw material for daily use objects in rural areas to becoming a favourite of every sustainability enthusiast, the bamboo plant has come a long way. Detoxifying face packs, breathable fabrics, eco-friendly cutlery, handcrafted toothbrushes or wrist watches and much more — the versatile plant is the new alternative for non-biodegradable and nonrecyclable materials such as plastic. Being fast-growing, self regenerating, tolerant to poor soil conditions and high in biomass makes it one of the most preferred environment-friendly materials. “Increasing awareness has created a lot of demand for bamboo-based products globally. The pandemic made people take notice of their homes. Therefore, emphasis on home-cooked food, decor, and overall wellness became key. With the emphasis on creating a great ambiance at home, bamboo comes to the fore. Today, the total world market for bamboo is worth $7 billion per year with handicrafts taking up just over 40%,” says Neelam Chhiber, co-founder at Industree Foundation, an NGO which helps in creating sustainable livelihoods.
A BETTER MATERIAL FOR EVERYTHING
“One can easily imagine themself inside a bamboo house, sitting on a bamboo chair, having a bamboo stew with a bamboo spoon,” says Akshya Shree, founder of Silpakarman, a bamboo craft brand. Along with the artisans of North-East, she creates everything from bamboo, be it cutlery, brushes, tea, kitchen utensils and other organic products. “In 2015, I started researching on the subject but I have been travelling to the North-East since childhood. Everything about bamboo, from tip to toe is a blessing for the human race. Each part of this plant constitutes properties that benefit us, be it roots, stem and leaves,” she says.
BAND, BAAJA, BAMBOO
Beyond, simple baskets and decor products, bamboo has now forayed into the great Indian wedding industry too. Wedding designer Aashna Singh of Aash Studio, says, “We try to reuse elements in creative ways to avoid wastage. We have been using bamboo for very long in different ways — sometimes heavy and sometimes minimal.
One of the reasons we use bamboo is to bring in a woody and fun vibe to the decor.
It has the potential to merge very well with both traditional and boho vibe, thus giving us opportunities to experiment widely.”
SOMETHING FOR THE PLATTER
Foodies would be glad to know that a number of creative recipes can be prepared using bamboo trees. “Bamboo is a unique ingredient due to its vibrant nutrients and fibrous character. Consumed in many forms such as pickled and boiled, it can be cooked with meats as well. Bamboo shoots are extremely popular because it retains its texture and brings exclusivity to the diners and the chefs. Bamboo leaves are used to pack the meat, shoots and roots in different forms. Young bamboo plants in Jharkhand are pickled and preserved, known as ‘karil’. It has a lot of calcium, too,” says chef Nishant Choubey, who hails from Jharkhand.
A HEALING TOUCH
Due to its medicinal properties, bamboo has inspired skincare brands to use it as one the ingredients. Rich in silicon, it rejuvenates skin and hair. “The use of bamboo in beauty products originated in Korea. Bamboo extract contains antioxidants and natural silica, an essential element that promotes the health of skin and hair. It also has healing properties. Methanol, found in bamboo, is a powerful chemical that heals cuts and scrapes. The benefits of the extract can mostly be found in topical preparations such as creams, lotions, and serums. Currently, we offer a bamboo-based charcoal soap and plan to launch similar products soon,” says Shivangi Goel, CEO, TNW-The Natural Wash, a natural skincare brand.
WEAVING A GREENER FUTURE
When every industry is using bamboo, how can textiles be left behind? Viscose from bamboo is one of the most comfortable and sustainable fabrics. It can outlast cotton in keeping shape, strength, and durability. “Our artisans blend bamboo fabrics with mulberry silk to create clothes out of it. We have sarees and indo-western made from bamboo. The fabric is much like cotton, when blended with silk, one couldn’t differentiate it,” says Gautam Gupta, fashion designer.