Cali Brands

EcoSupply is your A&D resource for Cali Brands in the Eastern US. Bamboo plywood is the definition of a sustainable, eco-friendly material.

Bamboo is one of the strongest and most renewable natural resources available today. In China and other parts of Asia it has been used for centuries for both indoor, and outdoor construction. Its resilient nature has made it ideal for use in scaffolding, bridges, and other structures that require both strength and longevity. Bamboo’s rapid growth rate makes it one of the most renewable materials in the world. The use of bamboo in the U.S. for construction began about 20 years ago and has become increasingly popular in cabinetry, wall paneling, furniture, and other millwork applications.

EcoSupply has a long history with bamboo plywood. As arguably one of the first companies on the East Coast to make furniture using bamboo plywood, we can speak to the myriad of benefits in utilizing bamboo plywood in furniture, millwork, and construction. We are experts in this material and supply only the finest quality panels

We began using bamboo plywood primarily for its strength and versatility. The multi-directional 3/4” three-ply with 1/8” veneer on either side of a 1/2” bamboo core is extremely strong. The thick veneers make it easy to join pieces together or to miter because you do not have to attempt to line up thin veneers. Standard woodworking finishing techniques and products can be used in the finishing process.

How its made: The bamboo is cut down with machetes and the outer layer is sliced into long, thin strips. The strips are then dried and planed to straighten them out, placed on a plywood press, and pressed with a soy-based binder.Bamboo forests sequester two times more carbon than timber forests, while yielding twice the tonnage per acre. Bamboo grows with a rib-some root structure, which enables the bamboo to grow densely and use space efficiently. The plants regenerate from the same root every five years, which eliminates erosion. No pesticides are used on bamboo and the robust plant requires no watering.

Because FSC audits labor practices, we can take comfort knowing that the product is manufactured sustainably, and that the local impact and labor practices are fair and well monitored. Though we would enjoy having a regional or local source, shipping the bamboo via ocean freight is an ethical alternative. One gallon of diesel fuel on an ocean freighter can get several hundred miles as compared to an 18 wheeler or LTL carrier with less than 10 miles per gallon. This makes foreign sourcing a slower, but more efficient means of supply.