What is World Bamboo Day about and why should we celebrate it? Let us explore how sustainable and eco-friendly bamboo truly is by remembering World Bamboo Day on September 18th.
What is World Bamboo Day?
World Bamboo Day is a day for celebrating the bamboo plant for its sustainable and eco-friendly qualities. We celebrate World Bamboo Day on September 18th every year and countries all over the world share their passion for bamboo. These include the US, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Spain, Paris, and Taiwan.
In 1992, the World Bamboo Organization, formerly known as International Bamboo Association, was established in Japan. It modeled World Bamboo Day after Earth Day and it has since served to educate the public on the cultivation of bamboo. While Earth Day celebrates trees and how they impact the environment, World Bamboo Day focuses on how sustainable bamboo is as a crop and a raw material.
Why Should We Celebrate World Bamboo Day?
- The bamboo plant is a self-replenishing and sustainable crop for raw materials. It holds the Guinness World Record as the fastest-growing plant. It regenerates itself after being cut. Therefore, the farmers do not need to replant them after harvest.
- Bamboo roots remain in the ground to preserve topsoil. Since bamboo does not need to be replanted, their roots remain in the ground to protect it against soil erosion and landslides. It also promotes soil conservation and reduces or eliminates the need for artificial fertilizers.
- The bamboo crop uses water efficiently. It only consumes a third of the water needed by cotton and does not require irrigation. World Bamboo Day helps us to remember this important source of water conservation.
- Bamboo is strong and durable, yet lightweight. It is often referred to as the new green steel and is used in construction because of its versatility and strength. People even build entire homes out of bamboo!
- Bamboo is resistant to bacteria. Bamboo is naturally resistant to bacteria. It drastically reduces the rate of bacterial growth. Its effects remain even after they make the bamboo plant into fabric. Hence, bamboo sheets are popular because less bacteria means less irritation to sensitive skin.
- Bamboo generates 30% more oxygen than most plants. To generate this much oxygen, the bamboo draws carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It then stores the carbon in its roots and biomass.
- Bamboo absorbs two times more carbon dioxide than trees. The carbon stored in bamboo biomass is a carbon sink. Carbon sinks keep the Earth’s atmosphere in equilibrium. A reduction in the greenhouse effects of carbon dioxide is a terrific reason to celebrate World Bamboo Day.
- Bamboo can absorb more carbon because of how quickly it can grow. Trees take around forty years to reach maturity, but it only takes five for bamboo to mature. This greatly hastens the time when bamboo begins absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide.
- Bamboo makes a viable alternative to plastic. The plant is fast-growing, cheap to produce, grows almost anywhere, and has versatile use. Bamboo can replace plastic in a wide variety of products, including cutlery, straws, chopping boards, toothbrushes, bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets. People can even use bamboo to build homes and furniture.
Celebrate the Benefits of Bamboo with Your Friends This September 18th
We invite you to celebrate World Bamboo Day with us on September 18th. Take this opportunity to tell your friends and family how bamboo is eco-friendly and how it contributes towards saving the Earth.