News

Could Bamboo Be the New Steel?

Two thousand years ago, bamboo was already being used to build simple homes. For centuries, it was dismissed as a fragile and disposable material. What few realized is that bamboo has strength comparable to steel and grows 40 times faster than hardwoods.

The turning point came when engineers developed treatments against termites and moisture, and when glued laminated bamboo emerged, transforming irregular stalks into standardized structural beams. Today, this material is even approved for construction in Germany.

Bamboo in Architecture

• Simón Vélez was a pioneer in proving that bamboo is a true “vegetable steel”, capable of supporting monumental spans;

• Vo Trong Nghia brought bamboo to global fame with his floating domes over lakes and 16-meter arches reminiscent of green cathedrals.

These architectural works not only changed global perception, but also influenced building codes and paved the way for social housing and emergency construction.

But why does this matter?

Beyond its fast growth — 40x faster than hardwood — bamboo has a low environmental impact, as it is a renewable and abundant material.

• Accelerated growth: 40x faster than hardwood;

• Low environmental impact: renewable and abundant material;

• Surprising strength: comparable to steel;

• Democratization: from stigmatized rural use to global eco-luxury.

And what about the future?

Bamboo has evolved from a symbol of simplicity to an icon of sustainable sophistication.

The question now is:

Could it become the next steel of the construction industry ?

UGREEN Services

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Opinion

The Dual Nature of Electric Mobility

Are we truly driving towards sustainability, or just following the path paved by marketing ?

Quieter cities, low air pollution, and cars powered by electricity, though it may sound like the future, this vision is already being sold to you as the present.

With slogans about “sustainability on wheels”, electric vehicles (EVs) are dominating the “green era” the automotive industry claims to be entering

But let me ask you: is it really true ?

Environmentally sustainable ? Depends on where you charge.

The main promise of electric vehicles is clear: zero tailpipe emissions. Less air pollution, less noise, better urban quality of life.

But we need to look beyond the smoke (or the lack of it).

Let’s turn to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which evaluates the full process: from mineral extraction and battery production to vehicle use and final disposal.

• Manufacturing and EV can produce up to 40% more emissions than a combustion vehicle, and it takes many kilometers on the road before that balance evens out;

• In China, where energy comes mainly from coal, an EV must drive around 118,000 km before it becomes cleaner than a gasoline car;

• In the US, with a more diversified energy matrix, the break-even point drops to around 41,000 km;

• And in Brazil ? Thanks to a grid that’s 87% renewable, that point is reached much sooner.

In short: the car may be electric, but its sustainability still depends on where it gets plugged in.

And what about the impacts we don’t see ? Mining, water, and human rights.

To make the electric transition viable, a new global rush for lithium, cobalt, and nickel is underway. But this race comes at a high cost, often paid by vulnerable communities in the Global South.

What’s behind a battery ?

• Lithium extraction uses millions of liters of water per ton;

• Cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo involves human rights violations, including child labor.

Meanwhile, EV marketing sells a clean and ethical future. But … does that image reflect the reality of the supply chain ?

Battery recycling: a problem or an opportunity ?

A critical challenge lies in what to do with batteries at the end of their life. THey’re expensive toxic, and hard to recycle. However, promising solutions are already being developed

Research from USP (University of São Paulo) and German centers has achieved high recovery rates of materials with less harmful processes. Recycling can (and should) evolve, turning a problem into a driver of innovation.

If you want to turn knowledge into real impact, and be part of a new generation of sustainability leaders, UGREEN is you gateway.

Sustainability or market strategy ?

The mass adoption of EVs isn’t just about the environment. It’s about business, geopolitics, and branding.

• Tax incentives and subsidies are driving market growth worldwide;

• Cases like Dieselgate show how “green” marketing has already been used to cover up emission scandals;

• China heavily subsidizes its EV manufacturers to lead globally — prompting retaliation from the US and Europe.

  Green washing is real — and it might be riding on four wheels.