Development of low-tech laminated bamboo esterilla sheet made of thin-wall bamboo culm

•Relevance of LBES production using the low-tech method to the local community.•Technical feasibility through the improved low-tech method was presented.•Thin-walled bamboo LBES showed higher MOE which is superior for flexural member.•LBES have comparable flexural properties to those of other bamboo- and wood-based SCL. Bamboo sheets, called pelupuh, made from thin-wall bamboo culm and isocyanate adhesive, were used to produce laminated bamboo esterilla sheets (LBES) based on a low-tech method. The present work investigated the fabrication technique and the flexural properties of LBES. The study results support the idea of using a low-tech method for producing bamboo-based composites with flexural properties comparable to those of wood-based composites. From the perspective of flexural strength property, the LBES made of thin-wall bamboo culm has the potential to act as a substitute for timber and as an alternative to bamboo composites produced using high-tech processing technology.