Bamboo Charcoal filters are the green plastic free alternative to water filters like Brita: Thanks to the carbon adsorption qualities, they remove impurities from your tap water caused by chlorine and other chemicals and release back minerals such as magnesium and calcium to ensure your water tastes, looks and smells absolutely amazing.
For a true zero waste solution, once it's time to dispose of your bamboo filter, you can use it as dehumidifier for your cupboards and then you can either throw it in your home compost to remove odours or smash it up and use it as fertiliser to add vital nutrients to the soil.
How bamboo charcoal is made
Bamboo charcoal is made through a process called carbonization.
The bamboo stalks selected for the process are cut into smaller pieces and cleaned to remove any dirt or impurities. They are then dried in the sun or using a dryer to reduce the moisture content.
The dried bamboo pieces are placed in a sealed container and heated to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen. This process breaks down the bamboo's molecular structure and creates a porous structure, resulting in the formation of charcoal.
After carbonization, the charcoal is cooled slowly to prevent cracks and brittleness and can be then activated by exposing it to high temperatures and steam to create even more pores, which can enhance its absorbent properties.
The process of making bamboo charcoal is considered eco-friendly because it does not involve the use of chemicals and uses a renewable resource.
Why it’s important to purify tap water?
Some of us are luckier than others and can enjoy very good tasting tap water but regardless it’s always a good idea to add an extra layer of filtering to it.
It is important to purify tap water for several reasons:
- Safety: Tap water can contain harmful contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals, which can cause illness and disease if consumed.
- Taste and odor: Tap water can have an unpleasant taste and odor due to the presence of chemicals, minerals, and organic matter.
- Health benefits: Purified water is free of contaminants and can help improve overall health and well-being by providing clean and safe drinking water. While there is no direct evidence to suggest that filtered water is specifically better for the liver, consuming clean and safe drinking water is important for maintaining liver health. The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying the body, and it relies on clean and healthy water to function properly. Consuming water that is contaminated with harmful chemicals, toxins, and bacteria can put extra strain on the liver and compromise its ability to detoxify the body.
- Environmental concerns: Water purification can help reduce the amount of plastic waste generated from bottled water consumption and decrease the environmental impact of chemical and industrial waste disposal.
Overall, purifying tap water is an essential step to ensure that it is safe, clean, and free of harmful contaminants for consumption.
How bamboo charcoal purifies water?
Bamboo charcoal can effectively purify water due to its unique porous structure. The porous structure of bamboo charcoal is created during the carbonization process, where bamboo is heated to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the formation of tiny pores and cavities in the charcoal.
These pores and cavities provide a large surface area for water to come into contact with the charcoal, allowing impurities, chemicals, and bacteria to be absorbed and trapped within the porous structure. The porous structure of bamboo charcoal also helps to regulate the pH balance of the water, making it more alkaline and improving its taste.
Furthermore, bamboo charcoal has a negative ion charge, which can attract positively charged ions such as chlorine, fluoride, and heavy metals, effectively removing them from the water.
Overall, the porous structure and negative ion charge of bamboo charcoal make it an effective and natural way to purify water. It is also a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional water purification methods that often rely on chemicals and artificial processes.
Our Bamboo Charcoal Filters
Our Taketora bamboo filters are made in Japan in an area called Awa, where the special tiger bamboo grows. People in Japan have been using bamboos to make tools for their everyday life, religious rituals and many other different purposes. Nowadays, there are many cheap bamboo goods on the market but Taketora harvest bamboos in their local mountains and cut it down manually, not using any machinery. The harvesting is done in winter in order to protect the bamboos from bugs.
How to use bamboo water filters:
- Boil them for 10 minutes
- Let the, dry in the sun.
- Pop them in your jug of water and let them filter it for at least an hour.
- Each piece can be re-used for up to 3 months, depending also on the frequency of usage.
Please note that bamboo charcoal does not adsorb pathogens, so we don't recommend using it to filter creek water.
You can purchase our natural bamboo water filters here.
More than just water filtering
Bamboo charcoal can be used in several ways around your home:
- Air Purifier: Bamboo charcoal can be used as a natural air purifier by absorbing and filtering out impurities, chemicals, and odours. You can place bamboo charcoal in a decorative container and use it in any room of your home.
- Refrigerator Deodorizer: Bamboo charcoal can also be used as a deodorizer in your refrigerator to absorb unwanted smells and moisture. Simply place a small bag of bamboo charcoal in your fridge to help keep it fresh and clean.
- Shoe Deodorizer: Bamboo charcoal can be used to eliminate shoe odour by placing a small bag of bamboo charcoal inside each shoe overnight.
- Water Purifier: As mentioned earlier, bamboo charcoal can be used to purify water by absorbing impurities and contaminants.
- Soil Amendment: Bamboo charcoal can be added to soil as a natural fertilizer and soil amendment. It helps to retain moisture, regulate soil pH, and improve soil structure.
- Composting: Bamboo charcoal can be added to compost bins to help absorb excess moisture and neutralize odours.
Overall, bamboo charcoal is a versatile and eco-friendly material that can be used in various ways around the home and can be easily disposed of when it stops serving its use without creating any waste.
