According to a statement released on Tuesday, Numat’s mission is to transform raw bamboo into sustainable products, starting with primary processing. This helps the Philippines-based startup provide rural communities with sustainable income – by processing bamboo at source, while cutting down on its environmental impact.
With bamboo’s remarkable ability to soak up around 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton harvested, Numat aims to harness its potential in helping fight against climate change.
“Our goal is to not only help the planet but also uplift communities,” said Mark Sebastian, Founder and CEO of Numat. “With Wavemaker Impact’s support, we can strengthen our operations, empower our bamboo harvesters, and deliver positive returns to our investors.”
To meet this mission, Numat is rolling out the world’s first mobile bamboo processing unit – which helps them set up operations at harvest sites, cutting down on transportation costs and making operations more efficient.
The startup has also launched the BambooPreneur Program, helping landowners kickstart their own bamboo processing ventures and generate steady income.
Numat’s goal ties into Wavemakers own aim to reduce 10% of the global carbon budget by 2035. Each startup they back, including Numat, is designed to tackle big carbon goals and drive major revenue—up to 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide abated and US$100 million in revenue annually.
“Bamboo is one of the most compelling nature-based solutions we have in the fight against climate change and provides an effective alternative to less sustainable construction materials,” says Marie Cheong, Founder Partner, Wavemaker Impact. “We believe that bamboo material from the Philippines can be cost competitive with exports from around the world.”
Numat is also eager to team up with other like-minded businesses to accelerate eco-conscious initiatives and community development.
