Bamboo-based construction gains momentum as cross-laminated bamboo emerges as a viable alternative in the PH

Using cross-laminated bamboo in construction could provide an eco-friendly, cost-effective solution for housing and infrastructure while supporting local resources and communities.

The construction sector is under pressure to rethink the way it builds. As demand for new homes, buildings, and infrastructure rises, so does the industry’s environmental footprint, accounting for about 37 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With timber supplies tightening and imports growing costlier, the Philippines is looking for renewable alternatives, locally available, and structurally reliable. 

This is where engineered bamboo, particularly cross-laminated bamboo (CLB), is increasingly entering the conversation as a compelling option.

Across Asia, CLB is gaining traction as a climate-friendly building material, supported by growing market demand and a shift toward lower-carbon construction. In the Philippines, researchers and sustainability groups are now treating CLB as more than an experimental product, framing it instead as a realistic pathway to reducing construction-related emissions and easing pressure on forest resources.

When talking about climate change, people usually think of smoke-belching cars, burning plastics, or factories. But an often-overlooked factor is that buildings and their construction account for about 37 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, nearly half of global output. This is why industry experts are pushing for newer, greener materials, including bamboo. 

In fact, recent momentum in the Philippines and Southeast Asia shows that bamboo, especially in engineered form, is emerging as one of the region’s most promising alternatives to carbon-heavy materials.

Local research also shows that cross-laminated boards made from bamboo are structurally sound. A 2023 study by DOST–FPRDI reported that CLB made from local species such as kawayan tinik and giant bamboo meets performance levels comparable to those used for cross-laminated timber in load-bearing walls, floors, and ceilings.

Bamboo beauty

Private and public experts cite that one of the primary appeals of bamboo as an alternative is its sustainability. Trees—the main source of timber—need 10 to 20 years to grow before they can be cut, and once cut, the tree dies.

But giant bamboo species can be harvested in three to five years, and even after cutting, the plant regenerates. This makes bamboo an abundant, renewable resource that could ease pressure on local forests. Its rapid growth cycle also means it can support long-term supply for construction, a key advantage as the country faces a worsening housing backlog. CLB is now increasingly cited as a possible solution for the Philippines’ housing shortage, helping reduce overall construction costs by 20–30% in some bamboo-based systems.

Cross-laminated bamboo is the new technology that has been used in small-scale structures such as pavilions and watersheds. 

It is within this broader shift that Philippine developers such as Arthaland are beginning to test CLB in actual projects. “It’s nature-based. Since it’s a plant, it absorbs carbon, unlike cement and steel that produce carbon,” Samantha Pobre, head of sustainability at green real estate company Arthaland, told radar Business in an exclusive interview.

But despite its promising potential, cross-laminated bamboo remains underutilized in construction—not just in the Philippines, but globally. Most applications today are for waiting sheds and other small builds.

The hesitation comes from two things: it’s a new technology, and many still have concerns about its durability and long-term performance. Advocates are currently advocating for the formal integration of bamboo and engineered bamboo into the National Building Code, a move that could potentially expand its applications to medium- and large-scale construction.

Surprising strength

But studies by Arthaland and several government agencies find that cross-laminated bamboo is comparable to concrete and steel in strength and durability. Concrete and steel can burn or crack under extreme heat, but fire-resistant treatments help prevent this—treatments that experts say can also be applied to cross-laminated bamboo.

“So basically, whatever we build in concrete and steel today can also be built by cross-laminated bamboo,” Pobre said. Though, she admits that because bamboo is rarely used, further study is needed to test its effectiveness in larger structures, especially in the long term.  

Arthaland recently launched Project BEAM, which aims to build a clinic in Sevina Park in Biñan, Laguna made entirely of cross-laminated bamboo. The project aims to showcase the use of bamboo in full-scale buildings, providing a practical model for the local industry and government. 

Bamboo’s growing credibility

Another recent development strengthening confidence in bamboo-based construction is Lambooply, an engineered composite material created by a student team from Mindanao and recognized as a James Dyson Award finalist in the Philippines earlier this year. The material combines bamboo laminates with locally sourced yakan fibers, addressing the country’s reliance on imported wood while using resources already available in Northern Mindanao.

Mechanical testing showed that Lambooply outperformed commercial plywood in flexural strength, tensile strength, and water resistance—key indicators for structural performance in humid environments. The project also aims to support local livelihoods by tapping communities that already cultivate bamboo. As a homegrown innovation with verified structural potential, Lambooply provides further proof that bamboo-based materials can perform reliably in Philippine conditions.

More businesses, jobs created

The push for alternatives to timber is growing as deforestation continues, contributing to worsening floods and landslides during storms—disasters that have led to hundreds of casualties. For the Philippines, the rise of greenhouse gases has made super typhoons more frequent.

To help mitigate these risks, eco-friendly alternatives like bamboo offer both environmental and economic potential. In fact, housing groups such as the Base Bahay Foundation have already built hundreds of bamboo-based social housing units nationwide, showing the material’s viability not just as a green alternative but as a tool for safer, more affordable communities.

With reports from Kenneth M. del Rosario

 

 

Cross-laminated bamboo offers a sustainable, high-strength alternative to concrete and steel, helping curb deforestation and reduce construction-related carbon emissions.

 

 

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