Assessment of Social, Environmental and Economic Aspects of Bamboo Furniture in India

Abstract

Bamboo the most versatile and sprightly growing perennial grass. With the rapid globalization and industrialization there have been a huge depletion of many viable natural resources, so a surpassing surrogate is necessary for one of such depleting resource timber. The sustainability which is defined by three pillars: social, economic and environment follows the principle of three ‘P’ (profit, people, planet). This paper covers social, economic and environmental impact of bamboo in India. Discussing the social assessment of bamboo, it is a resource which has wide window of uses from manufacturing to fabrication of many products, which not only add a foundation to agriculture sector but also gives employment possibilities and monetary support to rural class. By growing and trading bamboo in various forms of finished products or sometimes as a raw material adding to the generation of revenue for the Indian economy. There is a wide noted impact of bamboo on the subsistence of people, however currently the industry is facing huge uncertainty. The increased demand of natural resources (timber) has led to its depletion and it is gradually leading the footstep towards ecological degradations. An organized and planned approach towards the acceptance and development of bamboo as an alternative sustainable material can reduce the load of natural timber. Bamboo can be an excellent source for furniture production due to its features like strength, fast growth and wide availability. This makes it a green renewable resources which is been now widely accepted by many industries and designer as a construction, exterior and interior resources. This industry need a proper government policy, promotion measures and education on working skills for getting proper channelized structure in India. To make this known “poor man timber” not just for poor class but attain the social status and wide acceptability in Indian furniture market strong changes are needed.