AsIB: The Iberian Bamboo Association
Basic information
Project Title
AsIB: The Iberian Bamboo Association
Full project title
AsIB: The Iberian Bamboo Association
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
The Iberian Bamboo Association is a community of bamboo enthusiasts, students and professionals in the Iberian Peninsula. Our goal is to work collectively to promote bamboo as an alternative sustainable material to mitigate climate change.
By establishing this bamboo hub in Europe we are able to provide knowledge exchange, research support and training with bamboo. We also enable new industry applications and global partnerships towards a more sustainable future.
By establishing this bamboo hub in Europe we are able to provide knowledge exchange, research support and training with bamboo. We also enable new industry applications and global partnerships towards a more sustainable future.
Geographical Scope
Cross-border/international
Project Region
CROSS-BORDER/INTERNATIONAL: Spain, Portugal
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
AsIB, the Iberian Bamboo Association, was founded in July 2020 by a group of 12 bamboo enthusiasts from Spain and Portugal, who discovered this excellent sustainable material in ibero-american, african and asian countries.
Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows faster, has higher carbon sequestration and oxygen production capacity than any other plant species, has extraordinary structural properties, is easy to harvest and can be used to create a variety of products. That is why, from AsIB, we strongly believe that bamboo is a key player to mitigate our environmental impact, and address our current climate emergency.
With this clear commitment, we started sharing experiences, knowledge and skills, and established a strong board team within AsIB. In 2021, when we started sharing content and participating in international events, we realised that our audience was global, including also people from countries with a strong relationship with bamboo, where actually our main references were.
Therefore, we are not just creating a community of experts on bamboo, so the region can create a sustainable industry on the Iberian Peninsula. We are also establishing a hub in Europe that enables international partnerships towards sustainable development.
In 2022, we joint both technical regularisation committees in Spain and Portugal for structural use of bamboo, started a research project with University of Lisbon for mapping bamboo species in the Iberian Peninsula, supported a research project from University of Granada for bamboo structural use, and hosted our first in-person event and construction workshop in Valencia.
At this point of our journey, we have realised that AsIB is becoming increasingly a key actor for the promotion of use of bamboo in Europe, working for the transformation of the technical regulation system, specialised training and support to scientific research.
We are celebrating this, and remain totally committed to improving life on our planet.
Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows faster, has higher carbon sequestration and oxygen production capacity than any other plant species, has extraordinary structural properties, is easy to harvest and can be used to create a variety of products. That is why, from AsIB, we strongly believe that bamboo is a key player to mitigate our environmental impact, and address our current climate emergency.
With this clear commitment, we started sharing experiences, knowledge and skills, and established a strong board team within AsIB. In 2021, when we started sharing content and participating in international events, we realised that our audience was global, including also people from countries with a strong relationship with bamboo, where actually our main references were.
Therefore, we are not just creating a community of experts on bamboo, so the region can create a sustainable industry on the Iberian Peninsula. We are also establishing a hub in Europe that enables international partnerships towards sustainable development.
In 2022, we joint both technical regularisation committees in Spain and Portugal for structural use of bamboo, started a research project with University of Lisbon for mapping bamboo species in the Iberian Peninsula, supported a research project from University of Granada for bamboo structural use, and hosted our first in-person event and construction workshop in Valencia.
At this point of our journey, we have realised that AsIB is becoming increasingly a key actor for the promotion of use of bamboo in Europe, working for the transformation of the technical regulation system, specialised training and support to scientific research.
We are celebrating this, and remain totally committed to improving life on our planet.
Key objectives for sustainability
AsIB main objective is to establish a strong community of bamboo enthusiasts that would contribute to 3 specific objectives:
SO1. Support scientific research about the potential of bamboo in the Iberian Peninsula as a sustainable material, to understand the best and more adequate strategy to introduce it within the local environment and culture.
SO2. Support bamboo technical regularisation in Spain and Portugal, understanding its excellent structural properties, and high carbon sequestration capacity, which can play a key role to reduce CO2 emissions from the construction industry (more than 40% of global emissions).
SO3. Provide specialised training about the use of bamboo as a construction material and its applications in Europe.
In 2022 we have started to work on all 3 objectives, and will continue working on them.
Our key milestones related to these objectives are:
R1. Joint project with the University of Lisbon that finishes by the end of June 2023, the final product is a map with all bamboo species within the Iberian Peninsula analysed. This research is going to be essential for any bamboo sustainable forestry management initiative, which would enable local access to this natural resource.
R2. Joint both technical regularisation committees in Spain and Portugal, for bamboo use standardisation.
R3. First in-person workshop hosted in Valencia, with theoretical and practical sessions focused on bamboo construction.
Achieving the three specific objectives in parallel is bringing a great added value to our initiative, as it helps us to have a balance within our audience, including public and private sectors.
SO1. Support scientific research about the potential of bamboo in the Iberian Peninsula as a sustainable material, to understand the best and more adequate strategy to introduce it within the local environment and culture.
SO2. Support bamboo technical regularisation in Spain and Portugal, understanding its excellent structural properties, and high carbon sequestration capacity, which can play a key role to reduce CO2 emissions from the construction industry (more than 40% of global emissions).
SO3. Provide specialised training about the use of bamboo as a construction material and its applications in Europe.
In 2022 we have started to work on all 3 objectives, and will continue working on them.
Our key milestones related to these objectives are:
R1. Joint project with the University of Lisbon that finishes by the end of June 2023, the final product is a map with all bamboo species within the Iberian Peninsula analysed. This research is going to be essential for any bamboo sustainable forestry management initiative, which would enable local access to this natural resource.
R2. Joint both technical regularisation committees in Spain and Portugal, for bamboo use standardisation.
R3. First in-person workshop hosted in Valencia, with theoretical and practical sessions focused on bamboo construction.
Achieving the three specific objectives in parallel is bringing a great added value to our initiative, as it helps us to have a balance within our audience, including public and private sectors.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Even if we have already built a bamboo structure during our in-person workshop held in Valencia, whose design already focuses on the connection with nature, our purpose is to offer people the tools, knowledge and skills required to create a more sustainable, respectful and beautiful built environment, using bamboo as a construction material.
We are currently experiencing a higher level of requests from people interested in bamboo from Spain and Portugal (and other countries across Europe), who reach out to AsIb searching for guidance and training, but also for a safe space to share and discuss about bamboo as a sustainable material. We feel honoured to know that AsIB is becoming the bamboo community that people are looking for, and that they feel welcomed.
We are currently experiencing a higher level of requests from people interested in bamboo from Spain and Portugal (and other countries across Europe), who reach out to AsIb searching for guidance and training, but also for a safe space to share and discuss about bamboo as a sustainable material. We feel honoured to know that AsIB is becoming the bamboo community that people are looking for, and that they feel welcomed.
Key objectives for inclusion
AsIB is an association open to all kinds of members regardless of their race, religion, genre, age or affiliation.
AsIB is also very present in all kinds of social media and provides free knowledge and services to anyone who wishes to know more about bamboo. The editorial section of the association frequently posts about notable bamboo books and people, organising “bamboo talks” that are also published freely online or a specialised monthly newsletter. With these posts and interviews, AsIB aims to support with visibility to a diverse range of bamboo passionates.
Another important initiative is the promotion of vegetable and sustainable materials among the youngest, carrying out free in-person workshops for kids, enabling them to become familiar with bamboo and to learn about its wonderful properties
AsIB is also very present in all kinds of social media and provides free knowledge and services to anyone who wishes to know more about bamboo. The editorial section of the association frequently posts about notable bamboo books and people, organising “bamboo talks” that are also published freely online or a specialised monthly newsletter. With these posts and interviews, AsIB aims to support with visibility to a diverse range of bamboo passionates.
Another important initiative is the promotion of vegetable and sustainable materials among the youngest, carrying out free in-person workshops for kids, enabling them to become familiar with bamboo and to learn about its wonderful properties
Results in relation to category
All the details about the scope of progress in 2022 and the analysis of the achieved indicators can be found in the attachment called “Análisis Objetivos 2022”.
In summary, this is the status of our 4 main objectives:
Improvement of AsIB internal management - Achieved 59%
Promote AsIB - Achieved 71%
Organise and/or participate in workshops and educative initiatives - 50%
Support with the technical regularisation of bamboo - 56%
Our direct beneficiaries in 2022 reached a total of 828 individuals, mainly from different communities in Spain and Portugal, but surprisingly also from Brazil, Colombia, India and Indonesia.
Based on the deep analysis of our achievements and lessons learned, we have decided to adapt our 2023 indicators to optimise our resources and increase our impact by establishing new strategic partnerships for reaching more people.
In summary, this is the status of our 4 main objectives:
Improvement of AsIB internal management - Achieved 59%
Promote AsIB - Achieved 71%
Organise and/or participate in workshops and educative initiatives - 50%
Support with the technical regularisation of bamboo - 56%
Our direct beneficiaries in 2022 reached a total of 828 individuals, mainly from different communities in Spain and Portugal, but surprisingly also from Brazil, Colombia, India and Indonesia.
Based on the deep analysis of our achievements and lessons learned, we have decided to adapt our 2023 indicators to optimise our resources and increase our impact by establishing new strategic partnerships for reaching more people.
How Citizens benefit
AsIB carries out several initiatives regarding bamboo information and dissemination, in person but also online. Enthusiasts but also professionals find in AsIB a safe place to share their doubts and needs. We noted great interest from a varied group of people and more recently from the ibero-american people living in the European territory. For these citizens, bamboo is not only synonymous with sustainability, but with identity, and some of them find in AsIB an adoptive family far from their country of origin.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
If we compare the level of success and visibility that AsIB is gaining compared with other similar initiatives, promoting bamboo as a sustainable material, we could highlight our collaborative approach, which focuses on bringing people together to support each other towards our common goal: improve life on the planet. We offer technical expertise to our audience, but also express our willingness to listen and learn from others, so the exchange of experiences, knowledge and skills is in both directions. This supports people's emotional connection and feeling of belonging, which is essential for the sustainability of any initiative that involves community.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
AsIB is promoting bamboo across all sectors, but specially in the areas of architecture, engineering and design. However, considering how relevant it is to address all stages of the supply chain to ensure the sustainability of materials, the participation of biologists and agroecologists has been playing a key role. This is why AsIB considers the collaboration with the Institute of Agronomy of the University of Lisbon as one of the biggest achievements from 2022.
All content created at AsIB, and presented during the events, capture this relationship between the different fields, which supports the integration of a holistic perspective while promoting bamboo as a sustainable material.
All content created at AsIB, and presented during the events, capture this relationship between the different fields, which supports the integration of a holistic perspective while promoting bamboo as a sustainable material.
Methodology used
Building a strong team spirit has been essential to our methodology since our foundation, which has allowed all members of the team to feel empowered and use their skills and strengths to reach our common goal. This spirit is being transferred to our audience, and we are proud to feel how this is contributing to people's empowerment to take action against climate change.
How stakeholders are engaged
AsIB was founded by 12 Portuguese and Spanish participants in the 1st Iberian Bamboo Symposium held in Madrid and organised by the recent partner of NEB, INBAR - International Bamboo and Rattan Organization. At a national level, AsIB has been developing work with several entities naming the Institute of Agronomy of the University of Lisbon and the Valencia University and Botanical Garden. AsIB is also part of the technical standardisation committees for the structural use of bamboo in both Spain and Portugal. We’ve also been organising lectures and workshops within local communities in cities like Cadiz and Valencia in Spain and Curia and Aveiro in Portugal.
Global challenges
We strongly believe in the potential of bamboo to fight against climate change, as part of a circular economy, to achieve SDGs. In particular, bamboo's carbon sequestration capacity being the highest compared to all plant species, positions this material as a key player to reduce CO2 emissions from the construction industry at global level.
The most important challenge that we are facing is the fact that dealing with a subject with little research and repercussions in Europe obliges it to contact other entities around the world, where the use of bamboo is frequent and widely studied, in order to learn and transfer this knowledge. However, this transfer is not immediate as it has to be adapted to the European and local reality of each country. Not only in terms of standards but also in terms of types of use and levels of acceptance.
The most important challenge that we are facing is the fact that dealing with a subject with little research and repercussions in Europe obliges it to contact other entities around the world, where the use of bamboo is frequent and widely studied, in order to learn and transfer this knowledge. However, this transfer is not immediate as it has to be adapted to the European and local reality of each country. Not only in terms of standards but also in terms of types of use and levels of acceptance.
Learning transferred to other parties
In October 2022, AsIB organised the Bamboo Journeys in Valencia, promoting technical lectures and face-to-face training with bamboo structures, which had participants from 7 different nationalities. This event can be easily replicated elsewhere with the most advanced information on bamboo.
One of our main goals is to fight climate change and help improve life on our planet. We are aware that we live in a network environment and that it is not possible to reach it without considering all the actors involved. Which means that our strategy also involves creating real bridges for development and cooperation with other countries and organisations.
One of our main goals is to fight climate change and help improve life on our planet. We are aware that we live in a network environment and that it is not possible to reach it without considering all the actors involved. Which means that our strategy also involves creating real bridges for development and cooperation with other countries and organisations.
Keywords
Bamboo
Education
Research
Regularisation
Community
