Bamboo bowls for home sustainability
As more and more people start looking for ways to live their lives sustainably, they are on the lookout for products they can bring into their homes that are not harmful to the environment. This can range from investing in cleaning products that do not contain harmful chemicals to selecting upholstered furniture that is made from all natural, non-toxic materials or purchasing serving ware that is made from sustainably sourced bamboo - like our Gloss and Scandi Bamboo Bowls.
What is home sustainability?
Let’s take a step back and look at the concept of sustainability. What does it mean to be sustainable? Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Said another way, for something to be sustainable by today’s common definition, it must balance how it meets human needs with its ability to continue to do so for the foreseeable future, without degrading the natural environment.
Home sustainability means creating a home that has the least possible negative impact on our environment. The good news is that a sustainable home should be energy efficient and cheaper to run. Generally speaking, when people talk about home sustainability, they focus on:
Building materials and methods
Decorating choices
Insulation
Windows
Heat, ventilation and air conditioning
Lighting
Appliances
Plumbing fixtures
Use of smart systems
Energy generation from solar and wind
Your habits when it comes to regular maintenance, conservation and green cleaning
Did you know that sustainability does not need to stop at the materials your home is made from. It can be carried into the products you use in your home including your serving ware. By choosing products that are made from sustainable materials like bamboo, you are enhancing your home’s sustainability rating.
Bamboo as a sustainable material
Our bamboo bowls are made from sustainably sourced bamboo. Bamboo is a type of grass with a hard, woody, hollow stem. It is from the family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. It is a perennial evergreen, meaning it grows every year and stays green year round.
Bamboo is able to grow in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and in the southern regions of the USA. Certain varieties can also grow in colder climates like the UK and Northern America.
Bamboo is very strong and grows incredibly fast compared to other types of wood, sometimes at a rate of 3 feet (90cm) per day, depending on variety. To grow to full maturity only takes 1 to 5 years, again depending on variety. This is considerably faster than the fastest growing trees.
Bamboo requires no fertilizer and self-regenerates from its own roots, so it doesn’t need to be replanted. When compared to cotton cultivation, which requires large amounts of water, pesticides, and labor, the advantages are pretty clear.
Bamboo fibers are naturally anti-bacterial without needing any toxic chemical treatments, all thanks to its substance called ‘bamboo kun’. Bamboo kun is found in bamboo fiber and is an antimicrobial bio-agent which gives bamboo its natural antibacterial properties. This prevents bacteria and microbes growing on bamboo products making it the perfect plant for naturally hygienic products such as bamboo straws and cutlery, keeping them sterile and fresh. Plus, when the bamboo is coupled with food-approved varnish on top, it can stay strong and safe for years.
Choose your bamboo bowls with care
The truth is when it comes choosing products for home sustainability, there are other factors to consider including food safety and manufacturing processes. The bamboo bowls we sell at Whidbey Island Provisions have been handmade by artisans employed by our partner in Vietnam. This is not a mass-produced product. The bamboo is lovingly molded into bowls by hand by artisans with generational expertise over the course of a few days. Once the bowls are dry, they are coated with high gloss (Gloss Bowls) or matt (Scandi Bowls) Lacquer.
What is critically important is that not only are our bowls made from a sustainable material, but they are completely food safe. The lacquer is manufactured in Europe and adheres to German, European and American food safety guidelines and laws and are regularly tested by TÃœV Rheinland.
This means that our bowls do not contain:
Melamine
Plastics
Formaldehyde
Chemicals that pose a health risk
You can feel secure knowing that you are serving food to your friends and family in a product that is kind to the planet and to people.
Order bamboo bowls today
Whether you are looking for bamboo bowls for your own home or want to give them as a gift, we offer the widest range of colors and shapes:
Gloss Bamboo Bowls: available in a wide range of glorious saturated colors
Scandi Bamboo Bowls: Inspired by the minimal design aesthetic of the Nordic countries
