With an increasing focus on the environment and the very timely World Climate Conference, 2010 is the year that many are choosing to go green with their New Years’ resolutions.  It can be as simple as switching to reusable bags for shopping to cancelling catalog subscriptions that fill up our mailboxes.   In that spirit, Green Earth News would like to suggest 10 household products that can be replaced with bamboo to make a house more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

Let’s start with the kitchen!  Everyone tries their hardest to be healthier in the kitchen from choosing whole, organic foods to preparing healthy, low-calorie meals.  Why not take that one step further and consider replacing any of the following five items with the bamboo product suggestions.

Bamboo Cutting Boards
These boards touch our food at its rawest and throughout preparation so it makes sense that we would want them as clean and organic as possible.  Is it safe to have your raw food that close to laminates when preparing it?  What happens if you nick the board?  For those concerns, here is a reassuring option that can replace your current cutting board.  Bamboo Cutting Boards are made from 100% bamboo, use no artificial dyes (the dark bamboo is made by simply heating the wood which naturally caramelizes the sugars found in bamboo) and the bamboo wood used is actually 16% stronger than maple, the material most commonly used in cutting boards.

Bamboo Dishware
While most people won’t switch china sets that often in life, keep in mind that most dishes are made from non-biodegradable plastics or porcelain.  If using paper plates, 2010 is definitely the year to make a resolution to break that habit.  The use of biodegradable plates can reduce compost landfill mass by as much as 30% and also contribute to a rapid depletion of forests as they are made from primarily virgin fiber wood.  Instead, choose the highly renewable and sustainable bamboo plant for your dishware.  The Bambu Collection offers Veneerware, a 100% organic bamboo plate that is intended for single use and biodegrades in 4-6 months after disposal.  They also offer Lacquerware, a food-safe and durable bamboo line of dishes and bowls.   Custom colors and finishes are available so you can keep your kitchen unique yet sustainable. Bamboo hand towels go hand and hand with bamboo dishware and are super absorbent and feel extra soft on your hands.

Bamboo Utensils
Complement your new set of bamboo dishes with bamboo utensils.  It’s comforting to know that the object connecting food to mouth is made with earth-friendly bamboo and finished with wood-safe oils.  And because the bamboo is heat and stain resistant, these utensils won’t soak up or convey flavors.  An added bonus is that the utensils won’t scratch your cookware!

Bamboo Countertops
While 2009 showed a kitchen renovation trend leaning towards granite countertops, make eco-friendly 2010 the year of the bamboo countertop.  Bamboo is a durable wood for a surface area prone to taking a beating and because the bamboo plant can be re-harvested every four years without needing to be re-planted, it’s a wise choice for such a large project in your house.  This Bamboo Countertop option provides even more durability by incorporating a progressive engineering technique featuring opposing grain end caps to reduce warping and stabilizing the boards for years of use.

Bamboo Vases and Bowls
Bamboo is more than functional and there are a wide variety of options you can choose from to enhance and beautify your sustainable kitchen.  If you prefer fresh flowers in your kitchen, choose a bamboo vase made from compressed bamboo strips woven together.  Or, if you like the look of fresh fruit on display, use this beautiful bamboo pedestal bowl to complete your kitchen décor.

Visit Green Earth News next week to see the next five household items that can be replaced with bamboo to ensure a greener future!

Tagged as: bamboo, durability, food, kitchenware, trends