Advancing engineered bamboo materials for sustainable construction

Rapid urbanization, particularly in developing countries, requires renewable building materials that reduce dependence on carbon-intensive concrete, steel, and increasingly scarce timber. Bamboo, an abundant, fast-growing and highly productive resource, offers strong potential for low-carbon construction; yet its uptake remains limited by gaps in processing technology, material consistency, and code approval. This review synthesizes current knowledge of bamboo biology and culm structure, and evaluates the material, environmental, and socio-economic attributes that shape its suitability for engineered products. We summarize recent advances and remaining challenges in manufacturing and structural applications, highlighting how culm variability and processing choices influence product performance. A roadmap is proposed to guide future progress, emphasizing reliable culm supply, improved manufacturing efficiency, enhanced durability, certification pathways, and circular end-of-life strategies. Properly processed engineered bamboo can outperform commodity softwoods in structural performance and renewability, positioning it as a viable and complementary material for sustainable construction. • Synthesizes bamboo biology, culm structure, production advances and performance. • Carbon footprints compared; processing raises emissions in engineered bamboo. • Highlights bamboo's rapid growth, high strength and potential to reduce timber use. • Roadmap covers supply, manufacturing, products, certification, buildings and reuse. • Challenges: variable culms, low recovery, costly processing, resin use, code gaps.