In the Philippines, Bantayan Bamboo, a social initiative aimed at rebuilding the country’s farming community in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, is advocating bamboo cultivation.
The project aims to “develop eco-friendly products to curb the use of non-biodegradable single-use plastic and to bring bamboo to the mainstream while providing skills and capacity building,” founder Chris White tells Philstar Global.
Currently, the main product is bamboo straws. “Plastic straws don’t get recycled, and most end up in the ocean, making them a perfect product to stop using immediately. Our bamboo straws are of the highest quality, they are handcrafted, organic, reusable and we can custom laser engrave them for our clients, making them eco-friendly and a great marketing piece,” White adds.
Bamboo grows very rapidly—three feet in just a day. It also does not need chemical inputs to cultivate.
Bantayan Bamboo is also working to supply construction-grade bamboo for structural and decorative applications, and is looking to expand into new applications. “With the addition of our new 150-watt commercial laser cutting and engraving machine we are now doing extensive research and development with bamboo; everything from cutlery, jewelry, signs to bamboo toys for kids,” White adds.