Bamboo, a natural and renewable resource that combines a beautiful aesthetic with high functionality, is also helping Australia move to a more sustainable lifestyle option and away from the destruction of its native forests.

Renewable and sustainable

Bamboo grown in managed commercial plantations can be selectively harvested annually without the destruction of the grove or stand. Unlike tree plantations that obviously have to be chopped down, bamboo keeps growing with edible shoots sprouting in the next rains and ready for extraction at maturity in less than five years. Traditional hardwood trees, on the other hand, take scores or even hundreds of years.

The fastest growing woody plant on earth

Technically a grass variety, and not a tree, bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on earth, growing a third faster than the fastest growing tree. Some species can grow up to one metre per day.

The ideal substitute for traditional hardwood

One of the strongest building materials, bamboo has a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch versus 23,000 for steel. It is 25% harder than Red Oak and 12% harder than North American Maple. Additionally, it has 50% less expansion or contraction than Red Oak.

Bamboo plywood

Bamboo plywood is made of fine layers of bamboo strips laid in parallel, which are kiln dried, sanded smooth and then laminated edge to edge to create a single-ply panel. These panels are then laminated again to each other to create a multi-ply bamboo plywood free of formaldehyde emissions. The multi-ply layers are cross-laminated and heat pressed together to provide stability and prevent warping.

Bamboo ply is 3-4 times more dimensionally stable then oak and can be cut and sanded using conventional woodworking equipment. Cabinetry made using bamboo plywood not only adds a beautiful element to the space but also offers a clean, green alternative to other plywood products.

Unique decor and sign applications

Bamboo plywood can be used to create decorative objects for the home or office and also has applications in the sign industry. Bamboo ply can be printed on directly or laser etched to display product branding. Bamboo ply also has a broad range of applications in the food sector and can be used to make anything from drink coasters through to bread boards as the material is rated food safe.

Bamboo ply furniture grade panels

Plywood & Plastics offers bamboo plywood in sheets measuring 2440 x 1220mm with other sheet sizes available on request. The plywood comes in a choice of thickness including 0.6mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.3mm, 5mm, 6.35mm, 8mm, 12.7mm, 16mm, 19mm, 25mm, 30mm and 40mm. The ply is sanded finished in natural or coffee colour (carbonised) with narrow, wide or strand woven grain types.

Architecture & Design Team

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Plywood & Plastics

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