Sustainability, Symbolism & the Power of Bamboo
At SF, sustainability is not just a responsibility, it’s a commitment to operating with care, intention and long-term purpose. We believe in giving back to the communities around us and protecting the environment we share. For us, that means using resources wisely, reducing waste and making choices that support the future rather than compromise it.
Bamboo has become our symbolic hero material because it reflects the qualities we value most. It is one of the world’s most sustainable natural resources: fast-growing, low-impact, renewable and resilient. It thrives in diverse conditions with minimal water and fertiliser, demonstrating strength and adaptability without placing strain on the environment.
Those qualities mirror our own approach. Like bamboo, we aim to be strong yet flexible, consistent yet adaptable, and able to grow even in challenging conditions. Its green, natural resilience aligns with our brand and our belief that progress and responsibility can - and should - coexist.
Bamboo represents how we choose to work: sustainable at the core, purposeful in our actions and firmly rooted in doing the right thing for the long term.
Strong, yet flexible.
Bamboo is strong yet flexible; the same qualities that underpin our commitment to thoughtful, purpose-led recruitment.
Strong: It has greater tensile strength than steel, and withstands compression better than concrete.
Flexible: Bruce Lee once said “notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo survives by bending with the wind”.
The vibrant green of bamboo reflects our brand palette and is widely connected with growth, balance and forward momentum.
Bamboo is said to bring health, love and luck to whoever possesses the plant. It has long been believed to carry wise energy.
Bamboo is remarkable and the facts speak for themselves.
- #1 Bamboo is the fastest growing plant of the planet. It can grow 3 feet in height in 24 hours under appropriate climate conditions
- #2 Bamboo releases 30% more oxygen into the atmosphere and absorbs more carbon dioxide compared to other plants. Because of these features, bamboo greatly decreases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and cleans the air.
- #3 Bamboo does not require fertilisers for optimal growth. Discarded leaves of bamboo provide all the nutrients it requires when they start to decompose.
- #4 Bamboo has stronger structure than steel, is widely used in the construction industry and in the manufacture of floors, furniture, house walls, skateboards, bicycle frames and helmets.
- #5 Thomas Edison discovered that a carbonised bamboo filament in a light bulb could last over 1,200 hours, which led to the start of large-scale light bulb manufacture in the year 1880.
- #6 Bamboo is highly versatile and can grow in all sorts of climate zones and soil types where other crops fail.
- #7 Alexander Graham Bell used a sharpened bamboo sliver as his first phonograph needle, patented on 12 November 1907.
- #8 Bamboo contains a natural bio-agent known as Bamboo Kun, making it naturally anti-bacterial. It is virtually never eaten by pests or infected with pathogens as a result.
- #9 Every part of the bamboo plant can be utilised in one way or another with zero waste. At end of life, it’s also 100% recyclable.
- #10 Bamboo can survive more than 120 years in the wild. If you're waiting for bamboo to flower, then you might wait a long time. Some species of bamboo do bloom, but only after 65 or 120 years.
- #11 Lucky for some, bamboo is said to bring health, love, and luck to whoever possesses the plant. It has been used for 5,000 years in the practice of Feng Shui.
A Smarter Choice: Bamboo.
At SF, we’re thoughtful about the choices we make and the impact they have. As part of our commitment to operating responsibly, we look for alternatives to materials that generate unnecessary waste. Bamboo offers a practical, renewable and low-impact option: it grows quickly, is fully biodegradable and can replace many everyday items made from less sustainable materials.
Across SF, we’ve introduced a range of bamboo alternatives into the way we work. Our gifting includes bamboo pens, water bottles and notebooks, and our offices use compostable bin liners and refillable water stations for all employees. These small shifts add up to meaningful, long-term habits.
For us, using bamboo is a simple, visible way to reflect our values and encourage more considered choices. It’s a material that aligns with our principles: resilient, renewable and responsible, and one that helps us contribute to a more sustainable way of working.
Our Move Away from Single-Use Plastics
The environmental impact of single-use plastics has become better understood in recent years, particularly the rise of microplastics. As plastics break down, they fragment into particles small enough to enter our soil, waterways and wider ecosystems. These particles are now found in our oceans, our food systems and even the air we breathe.
Studies continue to explore the long-term effects of microplastics on human health and the environment, but early research suggests potential links to hormonal disruption, inflammation and wider ecological imbalance. Microplastics have been detected across marine life, in drinking water and in multiple points along the global food chain.
What we do know is clear: reducing our reliance on single-use plastics helps limit the volume of material entering the environment. Choosing more sustainable alternatives, such as bamboo, is one practical way we can contribute to a healthier, more responsible future.
Bamboo offers a more sustainable choice.
The UK uses more than five million tonnes of plastic each year, yet only a small proportion is recycled. As concerns about microplastics and long-term environmental impact grow, many organisations are choosing materials that create less waste.
Bamboo is one of them. It’s fast-renewing, low-impact and biodegradable, making it a practical alternative to many single-use items. At SF, we’ve introduced bamboo across our gifting and workplace essentials as part of our effort to reduce unnecessary plastic.
Small, considered choices add up. By choosing materials that align with our values, we aim to support more responsible habits and contribute to a more sustainable future.
How bamboo shapes our values
Be Collaborative.
Our people are our greatest assets, made even greater by teamwork.
One piece of bamboo, on its own, is sturdy enough, but structures made from many pieces are incredibly robust. Bamboo bridges in China have been built to consistently support more than 16 tons.
Together, we are strong.