The Amazon: 'lungs of the earth', but in reality, all trees, plants, and grasses, including bamboo, are a source of oxygen. Through photosynthesis, under the influence of sunlight, they convert water and carbon dioxide (CO2) into glucose (a building block for biomass), water, and oxygen:
6 CO2 + 12 H2O + photons ➔ C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O
(carbon dioxide + water + light energy ➔ glucose + oxygen + water)
The CO2 is then stored in the material, in the biomass as biogenic carbon, and in bamboo’s case in the stem. If the bamboo stem continues to grow and eventually dies, the CO2 is released back into the atmosphere. If the bamboo stem is harvested after the growth period, after 4 to 5 years, and processed into a sustainable and durable product, the carbon is locked in the material.
At IBANSS we lock this biogenic carbon into thermoplastic granules that reduce the carbon content of an injection molded product compared to pure plastic. In this way, we are able to reduce the use of plastic from fossil sources and make the products more stronger and sustainable.