What is the Environmental Impact of Bamboo Decking Boards?

Bamboo is a highly popular material for producing all manner of sustainably goods. With extreme durability, longevity, and ecological benefits, it’s easy to see why – but that doesn’t necessarily mean all bamboo products have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out the impact bamboo decking boards from Gripsure will have on your architectural project – and the environment – in this article. We’ll discuss the relationship between bamboo decking and the environment, go over its lifecycle, and look to the future of sustainable decking materials.

For more information, check out our bamboo decking products or get in touch!

Bamboo decking has a long history as a sustainable material for architects, builders, project developers, and homeowners, supplying attractive features to projects of any scale.

Green building practices are becoming more prevalent and necessary as the public eye shifts to expecting sustainable business practices. This, alongside the regulatory changes that follow, often leads to environmental impact being the deciding factor when choosing materials.

This principle is no different for decking. Whether you’re building a deck, a terrace, a footpath, stairs, or anything else with decking boards, choosing a sustainable bamboo product like MOSO® Bamboo Decking will help you to adhere to the rising environmental standards.

Explore more info about bamboo decking as a sustainable non-slip choice for your garden >

Not all bamboo products are made equal, so understanding the lifecycle of our bamboo decking boards will help you to see why it is so beneficial.

Determining the overall environmental impact of bamboo decking and boards means looking at every stage in the process. This considers all the CO₂ emissions, the factory working conditions, and the energy consumed along the way.

The lifecycle of bamboo decking boards can be broken down into four distinct phases: growth, production, application, and end-of-life.

1.     Growth

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, at a rate of up to a metre per day! This caps out at around 20 metres in height, which can take between 4 and 5 years due to the time it takes for the bamboo to mature.

Old stems that have matured are ripe for harvest, providing large quantities of sustainable material for use in products like bamboo decking boards. The underground root network remains intact, allowing the new stems to flourish and ensuring the plant lives on.

During this phase, the bamboo absorbs a large amount of carbon dioxide via photosynthesis. This is stored within the product for the rest of its lifecycle, reducing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

2.     Production

Once it’s been grown and harvested, the bamboo needs to be converted into its end product.

Most bamboo products are made from the stems, which are split into strips and glued together with adhesive. Only a small amount of adhesive is used, and efforts are being made to discover eco-friendly bio-glue alternatives.

Different production steps are also carried out such as heat treatment at temperatures around 200°C and compression under high pressure. These secure the product against damage, weathering, and fire – providing an alternative to standard chemical treatments for these results.

Working conditions should also be taken into consideration. MOSO® Bamboo Decking is made in facilities with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, assuring their quality and environmental impact.

While production in isolation isn’t necessarily eco-friendly, MOSO® Bamboo Decking boards result in a net-negative carbon output over their entire lifespan.

3.     Application

MOSO® Bamboo has an incredibly long lifespan, usually between 30 and 50 years. We offer a warranty of 25 years, meaning its assured to last for at least that long.

All the carbon dioxide that’s absorbed during photosynthesis is stored in the material, removing it from the atmosphere for the entire lifespan of the bamboo product.

A study from the Delft University of Technology on the Lifecycle Assessment and Carbon Sequestration of bamboo decking revealed it to be at least carbon-neutral over its lifespan, making it a great choice to use on your building.

Secure eco-friendly bamboo decking with non-slip grip and a beautiful finish – check out our products or contact us today!

4.     End-of-life

When your bamboo decking boards reach the end of their life, this doesn’t mean they have to go to waste. They can continue their sustainability through eco-conscious practices, such as:

• Reusing them in similar products
• Recycling them into fibres to synthesis other materials and products
• Using them in the production of bio-energy

This means that, even once your bamboo decking needs replacing, you’ll be contributing to a circular economy of positive environmental impacts.

The nature of bamboo leads it to have a number of incredible benefits. These include:

• Extreme durability
• Decades of longevity
• Weathering to a beautiful silver-grey finish
• Comparable hardness to steel
• Natural pesticide and chemical-free flame-retardant processes
• A positive ecological impact
• Non-slip grip options from Gripsure

These are some of the many benefits of using bamboo decking boards in your architectural products today – but what about the future?

The future of bamboo decking

While it is already a sustainable product, especially when compared to the hardwood products it often replaces, there is still room for improvement. For example, while better adhesives are under study, they aren’t yet commercially available for use.

For now, you can improve your own sustainability efforts by understanding what to look for in a bamboo decking manufacturer. This includes:

• ISO certifications for production facilities
• An FSC certificate
• The results of environmental impact studies

Improve the environmental impact of your architectural project with bamboo decking and continue working towards a future that is completely sustainable.

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Due to the amount of carbon stored by bamboo during its growth, the extended period in which it lasts, and the eco-friendly options for its disposal and recycling at the end of its life, bamboo decking and boards are a great option to lower the environmental impact of your project.

Get in touch with us to find out more about MOSO® Bamboo Decking for your architectural projects, check out our range of bamboo decking and bamboo cladding products (including non-slip grip!), or read on with some related articles.

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