Bamboo's surprising environmental edge over concrete revealed in groundbreaking life cycle assessment.
The study looked at how bamboo is made into plybamboo and its environmental impact. They checked the entire process using a method called life cycle assessment. Results showed making bleached glue-laminated bamboo boards uses a lot of energy and mainly impacts breathing in chemicals. Energy use and how much gets made are the important factors for the impact. Making boards with bleach is better for the environment than heat-treating them. Energy and chemicals during steps like pressing and drying cause the most harm. While bamboo is better for the environment than concrete, it still has some negatives on the environment. Using bamboo can help store carbon, which helps fight climate change. To lower the impact, it's essential to use energy-efficient tools and work fast.