MOSO® Bamboo Products are all made from natural bamboo. The best-known giant species is probably the Phyllostachus Pubescens, also called ‘moso bamboo’. It is the backbone of the Chinese bamboo industry.
From a botanical point of view, bamboo belongs to the grasses and is therefore not a tree. Bamboo is a collective name for a group of botanical species. Although the complete taxonomy is still evolving, current estimations are that around 1600 different varieties exist. There are considerable differences in size, colour, mechanical properties and climatic preferences. The Moso bamboo species is native to China and other Asian countries and grows up to 20 meter long, with a diameter of 10-12 cm.
Moso bamboo plants have an underground root system called rhizomes from which the stems grow. One single rhizome connects multiple stems. The underground system helps to hold soil and restore water tables, making bamboo very suitable for reforestation on poor grounds. In general, 20-25% of the poles can be sustainably harvested annually without decreasing the size of the plantation or the number of poles per hectare in the forest. The rhizome does not die after harvesting. On the contrary, by harvesting the mature poles, the yield and quality of the plantation actually increases.
The raw material bamboo can be given a variety of different looks and benefits through different processing methods. In this way, the application possibilities are extremely varied.
Bamboo products are hard, stable and extremely versatile in their application. In addition to this natural beauty, they convince with durability and sustainability benefits. These advantages are backed up by a warranty of up to 30 years. The properties of bamboo are equivalent or even superior to those of most hardwood species and other building materials.
The giant bamboo of the Moso species, is the base material for all MOSO® bamboo products. The fast growing plant is an endless resource as it’s harvested without clear cutting. MOSO® solid bamboo products are CO2 neutral or better during their whole life cycle, proven by a life cycle analysis conducted by Delft University of Technology according to ISO 14040/44.
The sustainability, safety and quality of MOSO® bamboo products are independently proven by the most respected ecolabels and certification programs on the market. MOSO® takes the lead in defining standards and testing protocols for the relatively new construction material. No other bamboo supplier offers a wide range of products backed up with certification.
Feel free to get in touch with our MOSO® Bamboo experts if you have any questions regarding the technical properties and capabilities of MOSO® Bamboo products.
Dr. ir. Pablo van der Lugt
Sustainability Manager MOSO International B.V., the Netherlands
