Net-zero designs are all the rage, with government incentives, public awareness, and our planet’s needs all pushing for more sustainable construction practices. What is typically considered one of the most environmentally impactful industries, construction can benefit greatly from eco-friendlier building materials – such as bamboo.
At Gripsure, we supply non-slip decking of all shapes and sizes to support your project and environmental goals. In this article, we’ll discuss the sustainability of bamboo against alternatives and why it’s such a good choice when protecting the environment.
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The Sustainability of Bamboo vs Alternatives
Decking can be made, and made well, from a variety of different materials – each with their own benefits. Bamboo is a modern super-resource that’s being used across a variety of products and industries, but how well does it hold a candle to the garden and project accents that are already in use?
At least in terms of sustainability, bamboo is no worse for wear. In fact, it can be seen to surpass every other common building material in terms of environmental impact. Here is a breakdown of other materials, regarding how they compare with bamboo, including composite, timber, and tile.
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Bamboo vs Composite
Composite is made from a blend of recycled plastic and wood fibres, mixed together with bonding agents, additives, and colouring. All of these chemicals, along with the composite itself, require harmful manufacturing processes which generate emissions and byproducts.
Additionally, composite doesn’t act as much of a carbon sink, using plastics alongside wood fibre. While it is good to make use of recycled plastics, they won’t be gone forever, as the composite will eventually break down and need replacing.
At End of Life, composite has the detriment of being a blend of materials; this makes it harder to recycle. Unlike bamboo, which can either biodegrade naturally, be recycled, or have its energy reclaimed via controlled burning (if untreated), composite has a very limited set of final destinations – with only 15% being reused or recycled in the UK.
Bamboo vs Timber
When grown sustainably, timber can be an incredibly versatile, durable, and eco-friendly construction material. It acts as a carbon sink, much like bamboo, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it. It can last for many decades, and comes in a number of colours, textures, and styles to suit your build.
However, timber takes a long time to grow – from 40 to 150 years depending on the type and species. Controlled harvesting and replanting limits environmental impacts, creating a net positive effect, but it can take a long time to get going.
Bamboo offers many of the benefits of timber without requiring a 40-year advance on growth, making it easier to achieve sustainability through this material. Between the two, the one you choose should depend on your project requirements and personal preferences.
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Bamboo vs Stone Tiling
A popular alternative to traditional decking, stone tiles are an incredibly robust – if less versatile – form of outdoor flooring. They are one of the least sustainable options on this list, using a lot of energy to mine the raw material, transport the heavy goods, and carve it into shape. It is also often held together with concrete – another component that is harmful to the environment.
Tiling does have its place, and many projects benefit from its visual appearance. But if sustainability and beauty in a single package is your goal, then bamboo is the way to go.
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Why is Bamboo Production Sustainable?
Unlike other construction materials, the production of bamboo is sustainable. Despite the energy and fuel used in transportation and processing, the material itself is so environmentally beneficial that the impact of these steps can largely be overridden.
There are a few different factors of bamboo that makes production sustainable, including:
Bamboo Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
There are six key parts to a bamboo LCA:
- Growth and Plantation. This is the period where the bamboo absorbs carbon in the atmosphere, using it to form its attractive, durable exterior.
- Transportation. From harvest to processing, then to manufacturing, then to the end user. Due to the fuel involved, transportation is one of the more environmentally taxing parts of the process, so using a good local decking supplier can help cut down on emissions.
- Processing. Turning the bamboo into a more malleable form and applying any treatments it needs is often a short process, mostly involving cutting and shaping.
- Product Manufacturing. The next step is to turn the raw material into the end product. In our case, it means forming the bamboo into decking boards, fixings, and other components of our non-slip bamboo decking.
- Use. While in use, the bamboo is still continuing its lifecycle – holding the carbon it has taken from the atmosphere. This is the part where you can enjoy the benefits of your bamboo decking for many years to come.
- End of Life. When the bamboo eventually reaches the end of its life, it returns to the production cycle. This allows it to continue holding its carbon, acting as a sustainable and recyclable material for many other uses.
Net-Zero Carbon Production
Over its lifetime, bamboo actually takes carbon out of the atmosphere. It absorbs it rapidly during its growth, storing it while the bamboo is in use. The longevity of the bamboo means this carbon will be gone for a long time, and the recyclability of the material means it will still continue to contribute to carbon sinking even after the decking is long gone.
No Uprooting
Technically a grass, bamboo boasts incredible regenerative properties. Since it regrows from the same source after each harvest, you won’t need to constantly replant it. Land clearing takes a lot of energy to do, so avoiding that step boosts the sustainability of bamboo.
Furthermore, bamboo is also good for myriad other uses like food, clothing, stationary, and more, meaning one plant will be able to serve many purposes for many years.
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How Does Bamboo Protect the Environment?
Renewability
Bamboo grows incredibly fast, with a growth speed of up to a metre a day and maximum heights reaching around 20 metres. You can harvest multiple times from the same plant, and it offers a relative yield far greater than any other natural building material including timber, which acts as a viable, varied alternative.
Carbon Reduction
With high CO2 absorption, bamboo acts as a carbon sink, helping you meet your carbon and net-zero goals. Nearly 70% of carbon stored in bamboo forests remains sunk, even when the bamboo is harvested, and bamboo is net-carbon-negative over its lifetime – which is a net-positive for your project.
Longevity
Most bamboo decking has an expected lifespan of up to 50 years, and we offer a warranty of up to 25 years. Certain varieties can weather naturally and attractively over time, while our non-slip versions maintain UK law compliant grip throughout their warranty.
Treatments
Bamboo can reach Fire Class B rating without harmful chemical treatments, and is low maintenance – only requiring treatment after installation to preserve its original appearance when the natural weathering effect isn’t desired.
Versatility
As well as for decking, bamboo has a range of other uses like in cladding, meaning its benefits can be harnessed in even more aspects of your project.
Sustainable Bamboo Decking from Gripsure
The sustainability of bamboo goes beyond the material itself. Since it is a carbon sink, it takes more CO2 out of the atmosphere than its use produces – meaning adding it to your design could result in a net-zero across all project elements.
The best bamboo decking is safe to walk on in any weather, like the non-slip grip from Gripsure. All our decking is compliant with UK safety standards, and guaranteed to go the distance. Get in touch to find out more, request a sample today, or read on with some related articles!
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