Sustainable Bamboo for a Lower Carbon Future
Bamboo grows to harvest in 3 to 5 years, compared with 20 to 40 years for traditional timber. On this page we share what published, peer reviewed research says about bamboo and carbon, and how we estimate the carbon stored in our boards. Every figure is cited, and our assumptions are shown.
Interactive Tool
Carbon Stored in Your Boards
CO₂ stored in your boards
2.36 t CO₂
Estimated carbon held in the product, expressed as CO₂
Board volume
1.79 m³
0.0357 m³ per 12 mm sheet
Stored per unit
1.32 t CO₂/m³
About 0.047 t CO₂ per 12 mm sheet
How this is estimated: 800 kg/m³ board density (the low end of our 800 to 1,000 kg/m³ range) × 90% bamboo by mass (NUMAT boards are made only of bamboo bonded with resin and adhesives; we assume these make up about 10% of board weight) × 50% carbon in dry wood (Negro and Bergman 2019 [D]) × 44/12 to convert carbon to CO₂, which gives about 1.32 t CO₂ per m³. This is carbon stored in the product while it is in use, not a yearly uptake rate, and it does not subtract emissions from harvesting, processing or transport. It is an estimate: a full life cycle assessment is planned.
Carbon Science
What the Research Says
Figures below come directly from peer reviewed studies. Letters in brackets refer to the source list at the bottom of this page.
Bamboo worldwide [A]
- Most bamboo stands accumulate 4 to 11 t C per hectare per year during their first 5 to 7 years, about 15 to 40 t CO₂ per hectare per year.
- Once stands are mature and selectively harvested, accumulation slows to 2 to 4 t C per hectare per year.
Yuen, Fung and Ziegler (2017). These are global figures for bamboo in general, not specific to Dendrocalamus asper.
Giant bamboo in Northern Mindanao [B]
- A 15 year old Dendrocalamus asper plantation in Claveria, Misamis Oriental held a total carbon stock of 234.46 t C per hectare: 143.39 above ground, 33.55 below ground and 57.52 in the soil.
- Above ground biomass was 264.37 t per hectare, the highest of the three bamboo species studied.
- Carbon content of the bamboo species studied ranged from 52.09 to 54.24%.
Pongon, Aranico, Dagoc and Amparado (2016).
There is not yet a published annual carbon uptake rate specific to Dendrocalamus asper. The yearly figures above apply to bamboo in general; the Mindanao study measures the total carbon held in a plantation at one point in time.
Giant Bamboo and Moso Bamboo Compared
Moso (Phyllostachys edulis) is the most widely studied bamboo. A 15 year old giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) plantation in Northern Mindanao held 234 t C per hectare, compared with 88 to 120 t C per hectare measured in Moso stands in China. The studies differ in site, stand age and method, so treat this as an indication rather than a like for like result.
Total carbon stock (t C/ha)
Asper higher in these studiesMoso bar shows the upper end of the reported range.
Full species comparison
Sources: Pongon et al. (2016) [B], Northern Mindanao, Philippines; Xu, Ji and Zhuang (2018) [C], PLoS ONE
| Metric | D. asper (NuMat Bamboo) | Moso bamboo | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total carbon stock (soil plus biomass) | 234 t C/ha (15 year old plantation, Northern Mindanao) [B] | 88 to 120 t C/ha (stands in China) [C] | Asper |
| Above ground biomass | 264 t/ha [B] | Not reported in source | Not compared |
| Carbon content of biomass | 52 to 54% (bamboo species in the Mindanao study) [B] | Not reported in source | Not compared |
| Root system | Sympodial (clumping) | Monopodial (running) | Asper |
| Climate suitability | Tropical, year round | Subtropical, seasonal | Asper |
| Invasive risk | None | High | Asper |
D. asper figures come from a Philippine plantation study, in the same region and climate as NuMat Bamboo's supply chain. Moso figures come from stands in China. Root system, climate and invasiveness rows are general characteristics of each species.
Backed by Wavemaker Impact
NuMat Bamboo is a portfolio company of Wavemaker Impact, a climate tech venture investor. The carbon figures on this page are our own estimates, based on the published research cited below. Learn more about Wavemaker →
Transparent Estimates
Every carbon figure on this page links to a published, peer reviewed study, and our own assumptions are stated openly.
Sustainable Sourcing
We aim to source bamboo from plantations that prioritise biodiversity and community welfare.
Continuous Improvement
We are working to reduce our operational footprint through renewable energy and better logistics.
Our ESG Commitments
What we are working toward.
Environmental
- Complete a full life cycle assessment of our boards
- Source bamboo without deforestation
- Harvest bamboo sustainably, letting clumps regrow
- Keep water use in processing low
- Transition toward renewable energy
- Reduce and recycle production waste
Social & Governance
- Fair wages for plantation workers
- Safe working conditions
- Community development programs
- A transparent supply chain
- Open, cited reporting of our environmental figures
A full life cycle assessment of our boards is planned but has not yet been done. The carbon figures on this page are estimates drawn from the published, peer reviewed research listed below, together with our stated assumptions about board density and resin content. They are not a certification. For questions about our methodology, please contact us.
Sources
- [A]Yuen, Fung and Ziegler (2017). Carbon stocks in bamboo ecosystems worldwide: Estimates and uncertainties. Forest Ecology and Management 393: 113 to 138. doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.01.017
- [B]Pongon, Aranico, Dagoc and Amparado (2016). Carbon stock assessment of bamboo plantations in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 9(6): 97 to 112. innspub.net (PDF)
- [C]Xu, M., Ji, H. and Zhuang, S. (2018). Carbon stock of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forests along a latitude gradient in the subtropical region of China. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0193024. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193024
- [D]Negro, F. and Bergman, R. (2019). Carbon stored by furnishing wood-based products: An Italian case study. Maderas. Ciencia y Tecnología 21(1): 65 to 76. doi.org/10.4067/S0718-221X2019005000106
Choose Sustainable. Choose NuMat Bamboo.
Our boards are made from fast growing bamboo and hold the carbon it captured while they are in use. Use the calculator above to estimate how much.