In many ways bamboo and rattan are ideal resources for rural women: they grow abundantly in many parts of the Global South; they are light and easy to handle and process; and they can be used to make a wide range of products that tap women’s skills in traditional societies, such as weaving, finishing, and […]

Logging restrictions have forced many Bangladeshi furniture companies to rely on imported wood. But one company has taken a different approach – tapping the country’s ample bamboo resources. The benefits: the beginning of a new ‘green’ furniture industry and more income and jobs for rural communities. Furniture is big business in Bangladesh. The government describes […]

Bamboo is a highly versatile and rapidly renewable resource that offers a broad range of livelihood applications – from traditional homes and furniture to modern engineered products. If harnessed properly, the plant promises employment, higher incomes, and an opportunity for countries to alleviate poverty and meet their sustainable development goals (SDGs). Bamboo offers many advantages […]