by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Bamboo is, once again, greenwashed in this guide. While the material is indeed, when used as it comes, a very sustainable material but when it comes to chopping board and such then local hardwoods, such as oak, sycamore, etc., is a much better and way more sustainable choice than bamboo. Do no get fooled.
Bamboo, while being a fast growing grass the plants of which can reach forest proportions, comes in round hollow stems and hence planks cannot be cut from it.
Any chopping board and other flat items are created by the use of energy and even glues and thus the entire green and sustainable claims go right out of the window here.
There are bamboo products and then there are bamboo products. Those that are made in traditional ways and processes in the way that they are used by the natives of the countries where bamboo grows are the good products; the rest is greenwash. Don't fall for it!
Other products, not necessarily in this guide, also engage in greenwash, not just the bamboo brigade, in that they claim to be so very green when they, however, resist to remove chemicals such as 1,4-dioxane from their cleaning products, as in the case of Ecover.
Know what's what and get informed as to what is in so-called green and eco products and how they are made. Don't fall for the claims by the manufacturers and proponents.
Also, instead of running to the stores to buy products made from recycled materials consider reuse and repurposing and upcycling stuff first yourself. Only then go for buying such products. There is no need to go and buy a pencil bin made from recycled steel when you might as well use a cleaned up tin can for this task. Or, instead of rushing out to buy a set of recycled glass storage jars use some that come free with products that you buy. You have, after all, paid for those anyway and thus if you toss them into the recycling bin you waste your money.
You can also make your own counter/windowsill peely-bin from a large tin can with, is you so desire, a wire handle attached. As you should be tossing that stuff into the compost anyway at the end of the day there is no need for a lid though I am sure you can find something that will fit for that purpose too.
Rethink the use of your dryer when it comes to doing the laundry. Consider the good old washing line or the pop-up dryer for the outdoors. Let wind and sun do the drying for you. Indoors there is always, in winter or such, the heating, be it using a drying rack near the stove or the radiators themselves. It also add humidity to the home, which is very useful if you are using a central heating.
Make reusing, repurposing and upcycling the first choice when wishing to green your home and life; not buying “green” products.
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