Bamboo vs Plastic: Which Home Goods Are Worth Switching

Bamboo gets marketed as the answer to every plastic problem, but the truth is a little more useful than that. Some swaps are genuinely better, and others are mostly hype.

Bamboo grows fast, needs little water, and biodegrades. But it still gets shipped across oceans, and cheap bamboo can splinter or hold onto food stains.

Swaps that make sense

• Toothbrushes: bamboo handles replace a billion plastic ones a year
• Cutting boards: bamboo is hard, light and naturally antibacterial
• Utensils: cooking spoons and spatulas hold up well
• Storage jars with bamboo lids

Swaps to skip

• Bamboo plastic-blend products that still contain resin
• Anything you will use once and toss
• Cheap bamboo that cracks after a month

Buy bamboo where you actually touch it daily, and skip the novelty items that end up in a drawer.

The bottom line

Bamboo is a solid choice for items you use daily and replace often, because it breaks down instead of lingering for centuries.

• Check for plastic blends before buying
• Favor solid bamboo over thin veneers
• Compost worn bamboo at the end of its life