Is Bamboo Actually Eco-Friendly?

In eco-leaning circles, bamboo is hot, hot, hot. The grass (yep, it’s a grass!) is touted as eco-friendly and *the* solution to deforestation and these days bamboo is the main fiber in some paper products, textiles, bathroom necessities, furniture, flooring, and more.

But as with any crop, there are plenty of problems associated with worldwide reliance on a monoculture. Are marketing claims that tout bamboo’s benefits nothing more than next-level greenwashing?

Today I put my guest in the hot seat and ask him the not so pie-in-the-sky questions about bamboo. Ryan Fritsch, co-founder of  Cloud Paper, is on the show to make the case that bamboo is the best alternative to standing trees and is here to stay.

Here’s a preview:

[4:45] 3 things you may not know about bamboo plantations, plus: the importance of relying on 3rd party certifications when assessing whether your bamboo product is actually eco-friendly

[12:30] Understanding the different FSC tiers: Which certification should you be looking for?

[14:00] Bamboo’s sourcing concerns: If bamboo is eco-friendly and easy to grow, why are (almost) all of the world’s bamboo plantations in Asia?

[17:00] Are bamboo paper products better than ones made from recycled paper? What’s the difference between pre- and post-consumer waste, anyway?

Resources mentioned:

• Grove Collaborative trash bags
• Want more episodes like this one? Check out #120: Your Sustainability Questions, Answered

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