AsianIdeas

What makes bamboo eco-friendly? The eco-friendliness of bamboo can be mostly attributed to its ability to grow quickly over a short period of time. In any given day, bamboo can grow 3 to four feet, yielding up to 20 times more than timber trees in the same area. Traditional Chinese and Indian culture place emphasis on bamboo as a tree associated with many positive virtues including longevity, and friendship. In Japan, bamboo forests often surround Shinto temples as a barrier against evil, and in Vietnam, it is considered the physical embodiment of the spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Enjoy this culturally rich and environmentally friendly material in the form of chopsticks, trivets, cups, placemats, and more.

Bamboo and Chinese, Japanese Culture
The Chinese regard bamboo as a symbol of longetivity, because of its long life. In Chinese culture the 'four noble ones' refer to bamboo, plum blossom, orchid and chrysanthemum. These four plants are representative of the four seasons. In Japan, a Shinto shrine is at times, surrounded by a bamboo forest, to ward off evil. Many Buddhist temples have bamboo groves. Well known Tang Poet Bai Juyi (772-846) summed up the advantages of bamboo based on its characteristics: • Its deep root-resoluteness
• Tall, straight stem-honorability
• Hollow interior-modesty
• Its clean and Spartan exterior-chastity

Chinese people believe that bamboo is symbolic of virtue; endowed with emotion and soul. Bamboo was used daily in many aspects of life, in Ancient China. Bamboo was used for food, clothing, housing and transportation. The first Chinese books were made from bamboo strips strung on string and most of the musical instruments were also made from bamboo. During the Han dynasty bamboo or wooden strips were used as standard writing material.

Eco friendly Bamboo
A growing environmental awareness is generating a keen interest in bamboo as an eco friendly material. Bamboo has multiple uses in flooring, building materials and furnishings. Bamboo is mainly environmental friendly because if its ability to grow and spread quickly-sometimes 3-4 feet daily. Bamboo can grow without any fertilizers or much water. It a hassle free plant.

Bamboo compared to a normal tree
• Bamboo grove releases 35% more oxygen then similar sized trees.
• Bamboo matures and can be replanted within 7 years whereas it takes 30-50 years for a tree.
• Bamboo grows fast- it gives 20 times more timber then trees.

In Ancient China, Bamboo was used as a medium for written documents. During the Han dynasty, bamboo or wooden strips were the standard writing material, to support this excavated materials have been found.

Bamboo is a renewable resource that, there is a growing demand for, especially in the green trends. Bamboo can be used for serving pieces, dinnerware, tableware, cutting boards, cooking utensils, steamers and many more. So if you are green conscious or plan to move to eco friendly items in your kitchen, try our great range of bamboo tableware. Make your kitchen green by trying our eco friendly bamboo tableware. If you want to place your hot food or any liquid, use our bamboo coasters and bamboo placemats. This comes in three colors and different sizes, for small and larger vessels. If you are a family of four, you can try customized bamboo coaster set of 4.

If you are environmentally conscious or plan to move to a greener lifestyle, your kitchen is the first place to start. So it's important to know the green tableware from the non greens.

Here's how:
• Ensure that the bamboo tableware you are buying doesn't have any dyes, stains or artificial colors. The chemicals used for those colors could seep into your food while cooking and even serving hot foods.
• Go for bamboo products that utilize only food safe, formaldehyde free glue in the manufacturing process.
• Purchase only IMO certified, organically grown bamboo. IMO certification means bamboo is pesticide and fertilizer free. Since bamboo is a natural grass, it will have pesticides and other chemicals used in the growing process.
• Do not buy bamboo tableware that has plastics because plastics can leach harmful chemicals into the foods when heated. Natural lacquers provide a waterproof finish.

Disposable bamboo chopsticks are great for a hot steaming bowl of noodles. You can choose from our varied selection, we even have a personalized version of bamboo chopsticks. We also have cooking bamboo chopsticks, ideal for any food preparation. Our bamboo table runners are a great way to ensure you don’t stain your table.