Exploring the Potential of Bamboo-based Product Design in Sarawak

Faridah, Sahari and Shaik Azahar, Shaik Hussain and Musdi, Shanat (2025) Exploring the Potential of Bamboo-based Product Design in Sarawak. In: International Seminar on Cultural Sciences (ISCS) Brawijaya 2025, 22-23 September 2025, Malang City, Indonesia.

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Abstract

Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 identifies the furniture sector as a key growth area, targeting RM30 million in annual sales through sustainable industrialisation (Sarawak Government, 2021). However, achieving this requires addressing systemic barriers while leveraging indigenous resources like bamboo, a material with untapped potential due to its rapid renewability and cultural significance in Borneo. Despite global trends favouring eco-friendly materials, Sarawak’s furniture industry faces challenges in adoption, including fragmented supply chains (76.9% of surveyed firms), limited market demand (61.5%), and skilled labour shortages. This study bridges cultural science and industrial design by examining how bamboo-based product design can align with PCDS 2030’s dual goals of economic growth and cultural preservation. Prior research highlights bamboo’s environmental advantages (Lobovikov et al., 2007) but neglects its socio-cultural integration in Sarawak’s industrialisation. Grounded in anthropological design theory (Clarke, 2022), this work asks: How can bamboo’s material culture drive sustainable furniture innovation while supporting Sarawak’s development targets? Using mixed methods, the study reveals bamboo’s role as both an ecological asset and a cultural catalyst, proposing actionable strategies for industry stakeholders.

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