Gunter Pauli & Orin Hardy - Bamboo and the Courage to Act Now

The Bamboo U Podcast is back with a few special episodes!

(Catch all of them over the next few weeks on your favorite podcast app!)

In this episode, Orin sits down with Gunter Pauli, the mind behind the concept of the Blue Economy to talk about Gunter's journey and the life experiences that shaped his optimistic, action-driven worldview. We also discuss how Gunter got involved with bamboo and how Bali was the starting point of his journey with the material.

In this podcast, we discuss the following topics:
Gunter Pauli’s personal journey and the life experiences that shaped his mindset
The origins of Gunter’s work in bamboo and how Bali played a pivotal role in his bamboo journey
The creation of the ZERI Pavilion with Simón Vélez and how it became a turning point for modern bamboo architecture
Overcoming permitting, engineering, and fire safety challenges for large-scale bamboo structures
How the term “vegetable steel” emerged from structural testing of bamboo
Bamboo as a regenerative material for land restoration, water production, and climate resilience
Scaling bamboo for social housing: lessons from Ecuador and Colombia
Bamboo housing as a pathway from extreme poverty to long-term stability
Shifting the narrative from “temporary housing” to safety, dignity, and opportunity
The importance of acting quickly when windows of opportunity appear
Why “analysis leads to paralysis” and the power of prototyping with your hands
Unexpected future applications of bamboo, including fiber-based products like diapers
How bamboo fits into the broader Blue Economy philosophy: Using what you have to meet immediate needs
Why trust, timing, and action matter more than perfect plans