When you think of bamboo, most people picture a panda slowly munching away in the bamboo forests of Asia.

However not all bamboo is of the sort eaten by pandas and a few other animals that rely on it to survive. Vast areas of the bamboo plant grow in several parts of the world are for use in ecological projects. One of these uses is to manufacture bamboo plates and other tableware items.

The bamboo plates made from this amazing plant are both strong enough for complete dinnerware sets to be manufactured, to disposable bamboo plates which can be used once then thrown away to merge back into the environment.

Disposable bamboo plates are made from the outer casing of the bamboo pole while reusable bamboo plates are made from the stronger part of the plant. One method is to grind the bamboo down to a powder and reform it into bamboo plates, while another system uses either strips taken from the fascia of the cane, or strips taken from a cross section that are then pressed and re-formed into bamboo plates, plus many other dinnerware products. Whatever method is used all bamboo plates are dishwasher safe.

A little bit of info

Bamboo grows to a great height of over ninety foot in its native countries, and the root system is continually spreading underground, sending up new shoots at an amazing rate every day. It can grow from two to three foot in one day in the right conditions. This prolific growth means that bamboo does not need replanting and is one of the fastest growing, renewable natural resource available today.

The story of bamboo is fascinating and its uses are endless, from eating it and eating from it, to building with it. Bamboo poles are still used in many countries for scaffolding, it is that strong.

Any event, where a better-looking plate is desired, maybe a concert or outside production or where finer food is being served rather than hot dogs and burgers.

A sit down event where cutlery is used so something sturdier is needed than paper or plastic plates.

Bamboo plates are a pleasant looking medium so they are rarely coloured or decorated as the natural grain gives a slightly different look to the plate.

They are available in different sizes and quality. Dinner plate size for the full course meal, medium size for salads and entrees and side plate size.

Special sushi bamboo plates are particularly appropriate and the medium of bamboo lends itself to the Japanese food dish.

This versatile plant is therefore suitable and grown in large enough quantities to both supply us with a bamboo plates to eat off and keep all of Asia’s pandas well fed.