Bamboo

Because of the species' stability, hardness and strength, our bottles are made from Phyllostachys Pubescens bamboo (also known as Moso and Mau Tzu). The bamboo is grown and harvested in temperate conditions that allow it to grow to its maximum potential - 90 feet in 9 months! The best part of the harvesting method is the hand selection and hand cutting of the bamboo. This allows maturing and flowering strands to remain flourishing and minimizes the impact on ground soil since no heavy machinery is used. Once cut, the bamboo will continue to grow just like mowing your lawn. This selective cutting process leaves the soil and land in its best possible state.

Let's dig real deep into our harvesting and production story.

Once harvested, the production process begins. The first step is to cut the bamboo into lengths of 4-, 6-, and 8-foot sections. It is then split into 1 X 1 inch sticks by a splitter that looks like the fins on a jet plane. After the machine finishes splitting, the sticks are then planed. After the sticks are planed, the sticks enter the boiling process.

During the boiling process, the sugars of the bamboo are removed. By boiling the sugars, it is a natural way to remove all insects and prevent them from coming back. Even this process is as environmentally frugal as possible; the boilers use waste bamboo and sawdust to generate energy!

Once boiled, the sticks are then kiln dried. In order to reduce the amount of energy used in the kiln drying process, the sticks are not carbonized. Carbonizing requires more time and heat in the kiln, which uses more energy, but also weakens and darkens the bamboo. All we do is dry it—this maintains it's natural beauty and strength!

The sticks are then meticulously planed and inspected. After the inspection, the sticks are then shaped. Once the sticks are shaped, they can be laminated and pressed together, giving the sticks the shape of a cylinder (your bottle!)