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How can Bamboo Products Help Reduce Landfill?

Ashley Brown — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:29:29 +0000

‘The planet is our greatest gift; let’s unite to do all we can to protect it’

Reducing landfills is one of our biggest environmental challenges, with around 14 million tonnes of UK waste being sent to landfill sites annually. Contributing to that figure is 7 million mattresses, with one in four people disposing of their mattress after only four years. There are efforts we can take to get this number down and create a more sustainable world. Let’s look at the part bamboo products can play in this and how we can work together to protect our planet.

What is a landfill?

A landfill can go under many other names, from a rubbish dump to a dumping ground. Which, effectively, is what it is. An area of land that is used to dump or bury rubbish. If you have wondered where your household trash goes after throwing it away, much of it will go to a landfill. Although many modern landfill sites are designed to prevent the transmission of toxic gases as the waste decomposes, leaks do happen. Methane is a poisonous greenhouse gas that can harm the environment and human health. Methane is a prime contributor to ozone formation, which can cause respiratory problems and even death. This can expose surrounding neighbourhoods of toxic landfills to such health risks. The good news is there are ways we can make waste disposal more environmentally friendly and reduce the effects of landfills. Choosing to recycle, switching to businesses with a sustainable production process, and using biodegradable products like bamboo can make a big difference.

How does bamboo help the environment?

Let’s take a look at what makes bamboo products a better choice for the environment.

Bamboo is a renewable resource
Growing up to 4 feet a day and relying on little more than sunshine and water, bamboo is one of the world’s most renewable resources. It can be harvested sustainably every 3- 5 years, reducing the 1 million acres of forests lost weekly to deforestation.
Bamboo is biodegradable
Bamboo can decompose within 2-6 months, depending on the product and production process. The plant breaks down easily and quickly, returning to nature and reducing its impact on landfills and our environment.
Bamboo is incredibly versatile
From the softest bedding, and luxury handbags to bicycles bamboo fibres are incredibly versatile. This has inspired many leading brands to utilise the resource to replace less environmentally friendly materials such as plastic. Choosing bamboo products and natural materials is an easy way to help protect the planet and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Bamboo is ultra-durable
Reducing waste at source is one of the number one ways we can lower our carbon footprint. Bamboo fibres and the products they make are ultra-durable. You will not have to dispose of and replace them as often as less natural alternatives. By choosing to recycle, you can ensure that your items do not end up in landfill and help create a greener world.
Bamboo absorbs greenhouse gases
The toxic greenhouse gases caused by landfill sites have a devastating impact on global warming. Bamboo is a planet hero; the natural material absorbs enormous amounts of greenhouse gases improving the air quality of our environment. Bamboo rapidly absorbs carbon dioxide. Removing excess amounts of this gas is a crucial way to fight climate change.

What are the advantages of using Bamboo Products?

With climate change pressing on all of our hearts, it can be a challenge to know how to help. While this can be overwhelming, remember small choices make a big difference. Choosing bamboo products at home is a wonderful place to start, and they come with an abundance of benefits for both you and the environment.

Designed to last
The durable fibres of the plant create exceptional products you can rely on to last. This helps reduce the disposal and replacement of items, which can contribute to landfills.
Chemical-free
Bamboo products are organic, vegan and chemical-free, retaining many natural properties. When choosing brands, ensure they are certified with OTEX 100 and that their production process is transparent and eco-friendly.
Improve air quality
They can improve the air quality of your home and our environment. Bamboo is moisture-wicking, preventing the build-up of sweat and bacteria (making it an especially good choice for bedtime).
Environmentally friendly
The world’s natural resources are depleting at a rapid rate. The more we can rely on renewable resources will help reduce this figure. Bamboo products are one of the most environmentally friendly choices you can make. The lifecycle of bamboo products has minimum impact on our planet from forest to decomposition.
Natural benefits
The Bamboo fabric used to make our soft, smooth bedding, fluffy duvets and breathable mattresses retains many natural benefits. The material is hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin and allergies. The breathable fibres are thermoregulating, regulating body temperature, making them perfect for every season. This means cosy winters and cool summer nights without replacing your bedding.

Ways to incorporate bamboo products into daily life

While climate change will not go away overnight, there are ways we can make a difference. From choosing natural materials, shopping with sustainable businesses and making it a priority to recycle, a healthier environment is within reach. Incorporating bamboo products into your lifestyle is easy with a little awareness.

Start with making a list of all the products that can be replaced with bamboo alternatives. Bamboo can be used for many of your most loved lifestyle items from pj’s, and pillows to your toothbrush. When they need replacing, you can slowly introduce more of the natural fabric into your home, improving your health, lowering your carbon footprint and helping to protect the environment.

Creating a better world

Reducing landfill is one step towards creating a better world, a challenge we continue to take on together… One small choice at a time.

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The post How can Bamboo Products Help Reduce Landfill? first appeared on Panda.

The Ever-Growing Wonders of Bamboo

Panda — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 13:53:35 +0000

Bamboo is fast becoming the superplant of natural resources, and it’s no surprise!

Where to start? Bamboo is a member of the grass family Poaceae and has proven quite the catch with the textile industry. Due to new discoveries of its potential, it has been used more extensively in recent years. From highly breathable bedding to construction materials and even bioplastics, the future of bamboo has never looked more exciting.

So, what is it about nature’s green miracle that the world has fallen for? Pour a coffee and pull up a chair. Here are some of bamboo’s ever-growing wonders that might just make you a fan.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet

Whether you are eco-conscious or becoming more eco-curious, listen up! Bamboo is thought to be the fastest-growing plant on the planet. This makes it a super-duper resource to rely on for our demanding lifestyles. The wonder plant can grow from 3-4 feet per day (and has even bagged itself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records). Choosing sustainable materials allows us all to play a part in protecting our world’s natural resources. This is why many people switch to bamboo for everything from bath towels to kid’s bedding. You see, not only does it grow quicker than your fringe, but it also requires even less maintenance. Just sunlight and water, in fact. And even that, it guzzles a third less than cotton!

Impressed so far? Wait till you read the rest!

The bedbug hero

Not a fan of bedbugs and dust mites? Bamboo is here to save the day…and your bed! The fabric has natural antibacterial qualities superior to cotton, making it a winner if you love fresh bedding. Is there any greater pleasure than jumping into freshly washed sheets? The wonder plant is a particular favourite for little one’s sensitive skin, being hypo-allergenic and nice and gentle. Well, it’s never too early to start sleeping like a hero. And as for us grown-ups, sleeping on soft bedding has you waking up feeling like one.

Bamboo can build bridges

At Panda, bamboo has been at the heart of our journey to build a bridge between luxury and sustainability, though that is not the only bridge it can build. The strong, durable material is popular in the construction industry for its accessibility and being both an economical and environmentally friendly resource. More recently, its unique fibres have been tapped into as potential bioplastics, which could be an exciting step forward in promoting the green development of the economy.

Bamboo is natural thermostat

I thought you would like this one! Did you know overheating is the most common culprit stopping us from nodding off… This is why some sleep experts recommend sleeping naked. PJ’s simply too comfy to ditch? Bamboo can help.

It has the superpower to wick moisture away from you twice as fast as cotton, working in harmony with your body and keeping you cool naturally. What about when you are not hot and sweaty? It keeps you snug as a bug like your bedding is supposed to. Making it the perfect fabric for every season… you can tell why Sleeping Beauty loved it!

Let Bamboo be thy medicine

When it comes to living a healthier, greener lifestyle, what we put in our bodies is just as important as what we sleep on. And Bamboo can be used for both. Not so fast… before you go chomping on your bedding. To be used as a medicine, it is made into juice that can treat anything from stomach ulcers to intestine worms. And those antibacterial qualities can be used for more than fending off bed bugs.

The plant is also used to treat wounds; the plant extracts can reduce cytokine production in cellular inflammation, leading to their potential to prevent inflammatory diseases. It will be interesting to see how bamboo’s health benefits progress in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries over the next few years. One thing is clear: bamboo’s potential, like the plant itself, continues growing tall.

Cultural connections

Harmonizing traditional techniques with modern creativity, bamboo is used for an array of arts and crafts in local communities of varied cultures. From painting and weaving to unique and beautiful sculptures, it creates masterpieces that harbour connections between different cultures internally and externally – on a joint mission to promote artistic design and expression that is kind to our planet.

Bamboo as a musical instrument

Fed up with your Spotify playlist? You might be surprised to know bamboo is often used as a musical instrument. The serene, calm sounds the wonder plant produces are a nod to many ethnic groups’ rich cultural heritage. It is worth considering if you want a natural addition to your playlist.

Breath of fresh air

They do not call it environmentally friendly for anything. Bamboo removes benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air, giving back moisture! This is why Bamboo shoots (and sheets) are becoming increasingly popular. Not just for the plant’s air-purifying qualities. The shoots also bring good luck, so if you want something to jazz up the living room table, take a chance; it could be your lucky day.

Opportunity for change

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about bamboo is the opportunity it gives us, to change. Our planet has provided us with many amazing resources to facilitate our lifestyles, though the time has come to give back. To pay more attention to the impact our choices have on the world from how we brush our teeth to where we lay our heads. Bamboo is the hybrid of luxury and sustainability, offering all the comfort we expect from our home essentials with respect and love for the planet.

Conclusion

With all the amazing discoveries and developments in the potential use of bamboo, the net is cast wide for you to explore using the wonder plant in your daily life. From switching to sustainable bedding and other household products to tapping into the incredible health benefits of bamboo with your cosmetic routine – there are many ways you can make bamboo part of embracing a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Here are some great small changes to make in joining the journey for a greener future:

1. RECYCLE – Look for brands that use recycled packaging and offer recycling services for your products at the end of use. We provide this at Panda for all memory foam products.

2. EAT MORE PLANTS – Switching to a plant-friendly diet will not only make you feel more energised and boost your immunity, but it is also one of the best ways to lower your carbon footprint. You could even be like our lovable panda and give bamboo a go – a great addition to soups and curries (Do tag us with your recipes).

3. GET YOUR STEPS IN – Spending less time in cars and more time on foot is great for your body, mind and our planet. Try switching your shorter commutes to walking or biking, getting fit while helping protect the planet- we call that a win-win.

Ready to make a start?

Explore our natural Bamboo Bedding, Bath and Kids Collections and tag us with your favourites @PandaLondon.

Sweet Dreams

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The post The Ever-Growing Wonders of Bamboo first appeared on Panda.