How a 19th-century paper shortage turned bamboo into a writing medium
In the 1800s, a scarcity of paper-making materials in Europe sparked a period of intense scientific experimentation. This video explores the history of bamboo as an alternative resource for paper, featuring insights from PhD candidate Frankie Kubicki.
While bamboo is widely recognized today for use in products like straws, socks, and toothbrushes, it once served as a vital ingredient in Western-style paper production. This shift was driven by the economic necessity of finding substitutes during the 1800s shortage of traditional materials.
The exploration of such botanical uses is part of the Economic Botany Collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This research sits within a much larger institutional legacy of botanical and mycological study that has spanned nearly 200 years.
Source: The Economic Botany Collection: Bamboo paper | Kew
