Preservation Strategies for Bamboo: Traditional Practices, Modern Technologies and Sustainability Considerations

Abstract

This review paper presented a comprehensive synthesis of research on bamboo preservation, encompassing traditional non-chemical practices, chemical preservation techniques, eco-friendly and bio-based approaches and modern impregnation and processing technologies. Bamboo was a rapidly renewable lignocellulosic material with significant potential for sustainable construction, furniture and industrial applications. However, its high susceptibility to biological degradation caused by fungi, termites and insects severely limited its service life when left untreated. Bamboo preservation therefore played a critical role in extending durability, improving performance and enabling large-scale utilization. Particular emphasis was placed on the underlying anatomical and chemical characteristics of bamboo that influenced its durability, including high starch content, parenchyma distribution and moisture dynamics, which collectively increased vulnerability to biodeterioration. Traditional practices such as seasonal harvesting, water leaching and smoking were evaluated alongside chemical treatments including boron-based and copper containing preservatives. Emerging trends toward environmentally benign preservatives, such as plant extracts and tannin–boron systems, were critically evaluated in terms of effectiveness, sustainability and scalability. The paper further examined global advancements in bamboo preservation, highlighting successful models from China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Latin America, and contrasted these with the Indian context, where rich bamboo resources coexisted with technological and institutional challenges. The review concluded that while significant progress has been made, future research must focus on long-term field validation, species-specific treatment optimization and integration of preservation technologies into policy and building standards. Strengthening preservation practices was essential for realizing bamboo’s role as a durable, low-carbon material in sustainable development.