Lake Constance Bamboo Cultivators
In the picturesque town of Meersburg on Lake Constance, the family-owned company Schmaeh, founded in 1872 and employing over 60 people, is making waves in the world of sustainable construction. While traditionally known for its timber construction, Schmaeh is now exploring the use of an emerging material – bamboo.
Bamboo, a grass that requires less water and no pesticides compared to wood, is considered a promising future material due to its rapid growth and ability to bind an above-average amount of carbon dioxide. The root system of bamboo remains intact after harvesting, preventing erosion, making it an attractive option for those seeking to reduce their ecological footprint and contribute to climate protection.
However, currently, there are no fully established, specific norms or regulations for using bamboo as a structural timber material in construction in Germany. Bamboo is still an emerging material in European and German construction sectors, and further development of construction methods, certifications, and standards is ongoing.
Despite the challenges, Schmaeh sees great potential in the use of bamboo. Managing Director Sebastian Schmah is spearheading a pilot project to test the use of bamboo in structural timber construction. The company is currently incinerating timber waste but is eager to find more sustainable solutions, and bamboo could be the answer.
The lack of region-specific standards and building codes for bamboo in Germany means that its use in structural timber construction depends on project-specific engineering approvals or adaptations of timber standards when possible. The bamboo innovation system benefits from the more mature timber construction norms but still faces challenges due to geographic and technical differences.
Current European regulations relevant to timber products focus largely on consumer safety, sustainability, and product lifecycle requirements. However, these do not yet specify bamboo as a structural material. As a result, the use of bamboo for structural purposes in Germany is mostly experimental or niche, often relying on international research and pilot projects.
Last year, Schmaeh was nominated for the environmental award of the state, reflecting its commitment to sustainability. The company's exploration of bamboo in construction is a testament to its forward-thinking approach and its willingness to rethink the entire value chain to move forward in sustainability.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, companies like Schmaeh are paving the way for a more sustainable future in construction. By embracing new materials like bamboo and adhering to a consistent circular economy, they are demonstrating that it is possible to balance tradition with innovation for the betterment of our planet.
The Schmaeh company, in its quest for sustainable construction, is investigating the use of bamboo as a potential structural material, aligning their practices with a sustainable lifestyle for home-and-garden projects. Due to bamboo's rapid growth and carbon dioxide binding abilities, it presents a promising option for reducing ecological footprint and contributing to climate protection, despite the ongoing challenges in establishing region-specific standards and regulations in Germany.
