Over the last decade, bamboo plywood has had an upsurge in popularity, making it one of the most popular building materials currently on the market. Although to many it may seem more like a tree, bamboo is actually a member of the grass family. Growing predominantly in Asian climates, bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Some bamboos can grow up to 100 cm (39 in) in a single 24-hour period and, unlike a tree, which may take hundreds of years to grow to its full height, can gain maturity in a single growing period of three or four months. Its fast growth rate makes bamboo an ideal renewable building material in an age when environmental concern has deemed lumber made from rainforest and old-growth trees unacceptable to many people.
The wood used for bamboo plywood is harvested from both wild and cultivated plants. It is important to harvest the bamboo when it has grown to its full strength, but its sap has a low sugar level. If the sugar level in the sap is too high, it increases the chances of pest infestation, making it unsuitable for construction purposes. Sap may also be removed after harvest, through a process called leaching, that involves cut pieces of bamboo being weighted down in running water for several weeks.
Traditionally, bamboo was used to build bridges and buildings in China, India and other Asian countries. Because of its renewability, strength and unique appearance, bamboo has also become popular for a variety of modern construction applications. Bamboo is much easier to bend and form than wood, making it the ideal material to build archways or other, similar structures. Bamboo plywood and bamboo laminate are made by compressing thin strips of the stalks into planks. These planks are used to build everything from cabinets to chairs and tables. Whole houses have been made of bamboo and it is considered a beautiful and cost-effective alternative to traditional hardwood floors.
Although bamboo is a viable, renewable alternative to wood, it is important not to mistake renewable for faultless. Large-scale manufacturing results in tonnes of air and water pollution ever year, regardless of what type of timber is used and the stalks must be treated with glue and other chemicals in order to make them suitable for most construction uses. That said, bamboo is still an eco-friendly option for many types of modern construction.
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