Design. Food. Craft. Textiles. The fastest growing grass in the world is also finding newer uses with every passing year. Most recently, Malaysian designers Warith Zaki and Amir Amzar envisioned settlements on Mars crafted with bamboo. Not surprising, considering it can withstand extreme instabilities in temperature. Bengaluru-based designer Sandeep Sangaru, known for his exquisite bamboo furniture, believes the grass can be compared to any other man-made material owing to its versatility and mechanical properties. “From architectural components at airports to simple toothbrushes and straws, bamboo is everywhere. India has the second largest resource next to China and if we can manage to innovate and deliver in a constructive way, the growth opportunities are endless,” says Sangaru, who is now working with artisans in the Sichuan province to develop lighting fixtures and other artefacts.
On the tenth edition of World Bamboo Day — established at the eighth World Bamboo Congress in 2009 — we look at how the versatile grass finds a place in everyday products.
LUNCH BOX: After steel tiffin boxes from the likes of Vaya Tyffyn and Home Puff, it is time for the bamboo variant. This recent offering by Ireland-based sustainable design company, My Eco Hub, comes with a food-safe silicone ring to keep food fresh and a secure elastic strap to ensure nothing spills. It is dishwasher safe, but not microwave proof. Don’t miss out on the brand’s wine glasses and palm brushes crafted with mildew-resistant bamboo. ₹2,760 for the set, on myecohub.com
ATHLEISURE: Cotton might be the go-to fabric for breathable apparel, but then it takes approximately 2,700 litres of water to produce what’s needed to make a single T-shirt. We suggest opting for beezy bamboo fabric instead, which uses one-third the water. Bengaluru-based Bamboo Tribe is launching their next collection in October. Look forward to crew neck, round neck and relaxed fit T-shirts for men and women, in cheery shades of alphonso mango, forest green, ash blue and summer blush. ₹999, on bambootribe.com and shop.thebetterindia.com
BEER MUG: This Oktoberfest, give the glass beer mug a miss and pick up earthy tumblers. Handcrafted, they don’t use any varnish, polish or chemicals. Ideal for hot and cold liquids (since they are heat-treated), the tumblers do not absorb liquids or affect the flavour of your beverage. The mugs come in a soft cotton pouch to ensure they stay dry during storage. ₹860 for a pack of four, on thehappyturtle.in
SKEWERS: Give your barbeque pit a touch of green with skewers by Pappco Greenware. Ideal for finger food, tikkas and kebabs, pre-soak them in water for 30 minutes before using them. The Mumbai-based brand also has a range of bamboo bowls, glasses and pine boats. ₹1,260 for 1,000 sticks and ₹2,720 for six-inch loop skewers, on pappcoindia.com
FOOD: With a distinctive colour and the aroma of jasmine, this rice by Original Indian Table is a healthier option to the regular white. ₹220 for 400 gms, on amazon.in Another classic made with the grass is the bamboo shoot pickle. This batch made in Kodagu uses sliced tender shoots and green peppers pickled in a spicy masala. ₹290 for 400 gms, on delightfoods.com
FURNITURE: Taking her cue from iconic Danish furniture designer, Hans Wegner, this is Rebecca Reubens’ attempt at creating a folding bamboo chair, crafted with woven ropes made with textile waste sourced from sari factories. The prototype, which has been in the works since 2016, is finally ready for launch later this year (₹12,000, details: info.rhizome@gmail.com). Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad-based designer — who is among three women World Bamboo Ambassadors representing India — has also released her second book, Holistic Sustainability Through Craft-Design Collaboration. At approximately ₹10,000, on amazon.com.
EVENTS: Kerala-based Pakkanar Foundation (founded by renowned bamboo musician, Unnikrishna Pakkanar) is hosting the first edition of the International Bamboo Festival of Western Ghats (IBFWG) in Thrissur on September 18. The event’s highlight is the ‘Bamboo Symphony’, which brings together over 5,000 musicians from across the globe and students from schools in the district. Pakkanar aims at creating a new world record for ‘the largest orchestra played on bamboo instruments’. The festival will also host bamboo and cane artisans from India and abroad, for an exhibition. Up North, Jharkhand’s State government is organising a two-day Bamboo Artisans Conclave 2019, on September 18 and 19, at Dumka. A platform for farmers, artists and investors, it will see the participation of countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Norway, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Representatives from Swedish design house IKEA (which purchases bamboo from the State) will also attend. Over 10,000 artisans from the State will be displaying their creations.
DINNER SET: Studies have proven that even BPA-free plastic feeding bottles and cutlery have high levels of chemicals. Giving parents a safer option is Frugi, the UK-based eco-clothing brand’s new range of kid-proof tableware. Comprising a cup, bowl, plate, spoon and fork, the dinner set is made from food-grade materials, such as bamboo fibre and corn powder. Choose from fun prints, including penguins, rhinos and cars. ₹1,300, on welovefrugi.com
MAKE-UP REMOVER PADS: Your skincare routine needs an eco-overhaul, too. These reusable make-up remover pads by Belgian design firm Bambaw are ideal for everyday use. To clean, place them in the cotton mesh bag provided and give them a whirl in the washing machine. ₹1,193 for a set comprising 12 soft pads and four scrub removal pads. On bambaw.com
TRAVEL KIT: Creators of the bamboo speaker and desk organiser, Pune-based Bamboo India, is now out with a compact travel kit. Comprising a toothbrush, ear buds, a straw with cleaner, comb and a tongue cleaner, the kit comes in a compact bamboo box. We also recommend the shaving brush and razor that comes with a replaceable head. For a special touch, get your name engraved on the handle. ₹760 for the set, on bambooindia.com
TOILET PAPER: Over 27,000 trees are chopped down every day to make toilet paper. This is not a number Bippy, the eco-friendly personal care line, is comfortable with. So, they’ve introduced a bamboo variant. The brand states that apart from being ‘tree-free’, the soft fabric is lint free and biodegradable. Eight premium rolls at approximately ₹995, on heybippy.com
STRAWS: Did you know that over half a billion plastic straws are used every day around the world? Giving metal and paper variants a run for their money are bamboo straws, which are easy to embrace. No two are the same colour or diameter, as each is crafted from a single stem of bamboo. Pick up the reusable pieces for ₹90 each on almitrasustainables.com, along with a handy cleaning brush (with bristles made from the sisal plant). Bamboo India also offers a pack of four at ₹99, on bambooindia.com.
SANITARY PADS: Eco alternatives to conventional sanitary napkins hit the market each day. Old favourites include biodegradable pads made using banana fibre and cloth. But if you’re taking the bamboo route, check out this offering by New-Delhi based Carmesi. Made of cornstarch, bamboo fibre and compostable bio-plastic, they come with biodegradable disposal bags. ₹699 for a box of 30 pads, on mycarmesi.com. New Delhi-based Hey Day also offers a set of 14 for ₹195. On heydaycare.com
BED LINEN: American brand Cozy Earth’s Oprah Winfrey-approved bamboo sheets and duvet cover (₹30,974, on cozyearth.com) were the craze last December. If you’re looking for something closer to home, check out the bamboo charcoal bed sheets at home décor brand, Spaces. Taiwanese-grown bamboo is dried, processed and filtered into nano-particles and embedded into the 210-thread count yarn that goes into making the sheets. Available in brown, beige and grey. ₹2,999, on spaces.in
SURFBOARDS: Tired of corporates not taking responsibility for the harm their products do, San Diego-based Bamboo Surf Company uses only bamboo, cork and coconuts in their clothing and accessories. Steering clear of foam and other chemicals, their surfboards are crafted out of 100% natural bamboo, covered in a cloth of the same material, and finished with plant-based epoxy resin. The soon-to-be-launched boards start at approximately ₹49,830, on bamboosurfcompany.com
HOME DECOR: Minakshi Walke, the ‘bamboo lady of Maharashtra’, is known for her lamps, jewellery, tea coasters and other artefacts. Based out of Vidharba, and clients in New Delhi, Pune and Mumbai, the farmer’s daughter set up Abhisar Innovatives in 2016 to work with innovate materials. This pineapple lamp is crafted with sleek bamboo strips cut by hand and then woven in a geometric pattern. ₹2,000, on facebook.com/AbhisarInnovatives