A wonder plant

A But in the past 100 years or so, resources have come under 1 Comparison of bamboo with
increasing pressure as populations have exploded and large other plant species
areas of bamboo forest have been cleared to make way for 2 Commercial products of
farms and commercial plantations. bamboo
3 Limited extent of existing
research
4 A human development that
destroyed large areas of bamboo
5 How bamboos are put to a
variety of uses
6 An explanation of how
bamboo can help the survival of
a range of plants
7 The methods used to study
bamboo
B There are almost 1,600 recognized species of bamboo, but 1 Comparison of bamboo with
the report concentrated on the 1,200 or so woody varieties other plant species
distinguished by the strong stems, or culms, that most people 2 Commercial products of
associate with this versatile plant. Of these, only 38 ‘priority bamboo
species’ identified for their commercial value have been the 3 Limited extent of existing
subject of any real scientific research, and this has focused research
mostly on matters relating to their viability as a commodity. 4 A human development that
This problem isn’t confined to bamboo. destroyed large areas of bamboo
5 How bamboos are put to a
Compared to the work carried out on animals, the science variety of uses
of assessing the conservation status of plants is still in its 6 An explanation of how
infancy. “People have only started looking hard at this bamboo can help the survival of
during the past 10-15 years, and only now are they getting a a range of plants
handle on how to go about it systematically,” s 7 The methods used to study
bamboo
C Bamboo’s ecological role extends beyond providing food 1 Comparison of bamboo with
and habitat for animals. Bamboo tends to grow in stands other plant species
made up of groups of individual plants that grow from root 2 Commercial products of
systems known as rhizomes. Its extensive rhizome systems, bamboo
which tie in the top layers of the soil, are crucial in 3 Limited extent of existing
preventing soil erosion. And there is growing evidence that research
bamboo plays an important part in determining forest 4 A human development that
structure and dynamics. destroyed large areas of bamboo
5 How bamboos are put to a
variety of uses
6 An explanation of how
 bamboo can help the survival of
a range of plants
7 The methods used to study
bamboo
D However, bamboo’s most immediate significance lies in 1 Comparison of bamboo with
its economic value. Modern processing techniques mean that other plant species
it can be used in a variety of ways, for example, as flooring 2 Commercial products of
and laminates. One of the fastest growing bamboo products bamboo
is paper-25 percent of paper produced in India is made 3 Limited extent of existing
from bamboo fiber, and in Brazil, 100,000 hectares of research
bamboo are grown for its production. Of course, bamboo’s 4 A human development that
main function has always been in domestic applications, and destroyed large areas of bamboo
as a locally traded commodity it’s worth about $4.5billion 5 How bamboos are put to a
annually. variety of uses
6 An explanation of how
bamboo can help the survival of
a range of plants
7 The methods used to study
bamboo
E ‘ “Some plants are threatened because they can’t survive 1 Comparison of bamboo with
in the habitat-they aren’t strong enough or there aren’t other plant species
enough of them, perhaps. But bamboo can take care of itself- 2 Commercial products of
it is strong enough to survive if left alone. What is under bamboo
threat is its habitat.”It is the physical disturbance that is the 3 Limited extent of existing
threat to bamboo, says Kapos. research
4 A human development that
destroyed large areas of bamboo
5 How bamboos are put to a
variety of uses
6 An explanation of how
bamboo can help the survival of
a range of plants
7 The methods used to study
bamboo
F Around the world, bamboo species are routinely protected 1 Comparison of bamboo with
as part of forest eco-systems in national parks and reserves, other plant species
but there is next to nothing that protects bamboo in the wild 2 Commercial products of
for its own sake. However, some small steps are being taken bamboo
to address this situation. The UNEP-INBAR report will help 3 Limited extent of existing
conservationists to establish effective measures aimed at research
protecting valuable wild bamboo species. Townsend, too, 4 A human development that
sees the UNEP report as an important step forward in destroyed large areas of bamboo
promoting the cause of bamboo conservation. “Until now, 5 How bamboos are put to a
 bamboo has been perceived as a second-class plant. When variety of uses
you talk about places such as the Amazon, everyone always 6 An explanation of how
thinks about the hardwoods. bamboo can help the survival of
a range of plants
7 The methods used to study
bamboo

A Ian Redmond 8 Destroying bamboo jeopardizes to

B Valerie Kapos wildlife.
C Ray Townsend 9 People have very confined knowledge
D Chris Stapleton of bamboo.
10 Some people do not think that
bamboo is endangered.
11 Bamboo has loads of commercial
potentials.

A Although there are at almost 150 types of plant, as well as various insects and
other invertebrates, bamboo accounts for up to 90 percent of their diet at this time
of year.Without it, says Ian Redmond, chairman of the Ape Alliance, their
chances of survival would be reduced significantly. Gorillas aren’t the only locals
keen on bamboo.

B Of these, only 38 ‘priority species’ identified for their commercial value

have been the subject of any real scientific research, and this has focused
mostly on matters relating to their viability as a commodity. This problem
isn’t confined to bamboo. Compared to the work carried out on animals, the
science of assessing the conservation status of plants is still in its infancy.
“People have only started looking hard at this during the past 10-15 years,
and only now are they getting a handle on how to go about it systematically,”
says Dr. Valerie Kapos, one of the report’s authors and a senior adviser in
forest ecology and conservation to the UNEP.
D Today, more than one billion people worldwide live in bamboo houses.
Bamboo is often the only readily available raw material for people in many
developing countries, says Chris Stapleton, a research associate at the Royal
Botanic Gardens. “Bamboo can be harvested from forest areas or grown
quickly elsewhere, and then converted simply without expensive machinery
or facilities,” he says. “In this way, it contributes substantially to poverty
alleviation and wealth creation.”

E Those who’ve followed the recent vogue for cultivating exotic species in
their gardens will point out that if it isn’t kept in check, bamboo can cause
real problems. “In a lot of places, the people who live with bamboo don’t
perceive it as being endangered in any way,” says Kapos. “In fact, a lot of
bamboo species are actually very invasive if they’ve been introduced.”So
why are so many species endangered?

12. What environmental problem does the unique root system of bamboo
prevent?
Bamboo tends to grow in stands made up of groups of individual plants that grow from
root systems known as rhizomes. Its extensive rhizome systems, which tie in the top
layers of the soil, are crucial in preventing soil erosion.
13. Which bamboo product is experiencing market expansion?
However, bamboo’s most immediate significance lies in its economic value.
Modern processing techniques mean that it can be used in a variety of ways,
for example, as flooring and laminates. One of the fastest growing bamboo
products is paper-25 percent of paper produced in India is made from
bamboo fiber, and in Brazil, 100,000 hectares of bamboo are grown for its
production.

The Sweet Scent of Success

A However, most ideas never make it to the market. Some 1 Description of one family
ideas that innovators are spruiking to potential investors member persuading another of
include new water-saving shower heads, a keyless locking selling cleaning products
system, ping-pong balls that keep pollution out of rainwater 2 An account of the cooperation
tanks, making teeth grow from stemcells inserted in the of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
gum, and technology to stop LPG tanks from exploding.
3 An account of the creation of
the formula of Shower Power
4 An account of buying the
original OzKleen company
5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
B One of Australia’s latest innovation successes stems from 1 Description of one family
a lemon-scented bath-room cleaner called Shower Power, member persuading another of
the formula for which was concocted in afactory in Yatala, selling cleaning products
Queensland. In 1995, Tom Quinn and John Heron bought a 2 An account of the cooperation
struggling cleaning products business, OzKleen, for of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
250,000. It was selling 100 different kinds of cleaning
3 An account of the creation of
products, mainly in bulk. The business was in bad shape,
the formula of Shower Power
the cleaning formulas were ineffective and environmentally 4 An account of buying the
harsh, and there were few regular clients. original OzKleen company
5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
C He detested all the chlorine-based cleaning products that 1 Description of one family
dominated the market. “We didn’t want to use chlorine, member persuading another of
simple as that,”he says. “It offers bad working conditions selling cleaning products
and there’s no money in it.”Peter looked at citrus 2 An account of the cooperation
ingredients, such as orange peel, to replace the petroleum of all factory staff to cope with
by-products in cleaners. He is credited with finding the sales increase
Shower Power formula. “The head,”he says. The company 3 An account of the creation of
is the recipe is in a vault somewhere and in my sole owner the formula of Shower Power
of the intellectual property. 4 An account of buying the
original OzKleen company
5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
D To begin with, Shower Power was sold only in 1 Description of one family
commercial quantities but Tom Quinn decided to sell it in member persuading another of
750ml bottles after the constant “raves” from customers at selling cleaning products
their retail store at , near Brisbane. Customers were 2 An account of the cooperation
travelling long distances to buy supplies. Others began of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
writing to OzKleen to say how good Shower Power was.
3 An account of the creation of
“We did a dummy label and went to see Woolworths,”Tom
the formula of Shower Power
Quinn says. The Woolworths buyer took a bottle home and 4 An account of buying the
was able to remove a stain from her basin that had been original OzKleen company
impossible to shift. 5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
E Shower Power was released in Australian supermarkets 1 Description of one family
in 1997 and became the top-selling product in its category member persuading another of
within six months. It was all hands on deck cat the factory, selling cleaning products
labeling and bottling Shower Power to keep up with 2 An account of the cooperation
demand. OzKleen ditched all other products and rebuilt the of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
business around Shower Power. This stage, recalls
3 An account of the creation of
McDonnell, was very tough. “It was hand-to-mouth,
the formula of Shower Power
cashflow was very difficult,”she says. OzKleen had to pay 4 An account of buying the
new-line fees to supermarket chains, which also squeezed original OzKleen company
margins. 5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
 ideas
F OzKleen’s next big break came when the daughter of a 1 Description of one family
Coles Myer executive 1 used the product while on holidays member persuading another of
in Queensland and convinced her father that Shower Power selling cleaning products
should be in supermarkets. Despite the product success, 2 An account of the cooperation
Peter Quinn says the company was wary of how long the of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
sales would last and hesitated to spend money on upgrading
3 An account of the creation of
the manufacturing process. As a result, he remembers long
the formula of Shower Power
4 An account of buying the
original OzKleen company
5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
G Peter Quinn says OzKleen’s approach to research and 1 Description of one family
development is open slather. “If I need it, I get it. It is about member persuading another of
doing something simple that no one else is doing. Most of selling cleaning products
these things are just sitting in front of people ... it’s just 2 An account of the cooperation
seeing the opportunities.” With a tried and tested product, of all factory staff to cope with
sales increase
OzKleen is expanding overseas and developing more
3 An account of the creation of
Power-brand household products. Tom Quinn, who
the formula of Shower Power
previously ran a real estate agency, says: “We are 4 An account of buying the
competing with the same market all over the world, the original OzKleen company
cleaning products are sold everywhere.” 5 Description of Shower Power’s
international expansion
6 The reason of changing the
packaging size of Shower Power
7 An example of some innovative
ideas
 List of Statement 8 Grant Kearney
A Described his story of selling his 9 Tom Quinn
product to a chain store 10 Peter Quinn
B Explained there was a shortage of 11 Belinda McDonnell
money when sales suddenly increased
C Believe innovations need support to
succeed
D Believes new products like Shower
Power may incur risks
E Says business won’t succeed with
innovations

Grant Kearney, chief executive of the Innovation Xchange, which connects

businesses to innovation networks, says he hears of great business ideas that
he knows will never get on the market. “Ideas by themselves are absolutely
useless,”he says. “An idea only becomes innovation when it is connected to
the right resources and capabilities".

E This stage, recalls McDonnell, was very tough. “It was hand-to-mouth,
cashflow was very difficult,”she says. OzKleen had to pay new-line fees to
supermarket chains, which also squeezed margins.

F Despite the product success, Peter Quinn says the company was wary of
how long the sales would last and hesitated to spend money on upgrading the
manufacturing process. As a result, he remembers long periods of working
round the clock to keep up with orders. Small tanks were still being used, so
batches were small and bottles were labelled and filled manually.
G Tom Quinn, who previously ran a real estate agency, says: “We are
competing with the same market all over the world, the cleaning products are
sold everywhere.” Shower Power, known as Bath Power in Britain, was
launched four years ago with the help of an export development grant from
the Federal Government. “We wanted to do it straight away because we
realised we had the same opportunities worldwide.”
12. Tom Quinn changed the bottle size to 750ml to make Shower Power
A Easier to package.
B Appealing to individual customers.
C Popular in foreign markets.
D Attractive to supermarkets.
D To begin with, Shower Power was sold only in commercial quantities but
Tom Quinn decided to sell it in 750ml bottles after the constant “raves” from
customers at their retail store at , near Brisbane. Customers were travelling
long distances to buy supplies.
13. Why did Tom Quinn decide not to sell OzKleen?
A No one wanted to buy OzKleen.
B New products were being developed in OzKleen.
C He couldn’t make an agreement on the price with the buyer.
D He wanted to keep things unchanged.

G OzKleen has been approached with offers to buy the company, but Tom
Quinn says he is happy with things as they are. “We’re having too much
fun.”