bamboo on the run
Since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged four companies last month with deceptive labeling and advertising, there has been quite a bit of attention paid to so-called “eco-friendly” bamboo fabrics. We just came across a new article from the AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorist) that clearly lays out how the fabric we see in stores and online is far from “green.”
Natural bamboo stalk that’s been separated into fibers is a course fabric, similar to linen. But the soft garments offered are not made that way. The truth is that the bamboo’s cellulose is used to create rayon. And that is what is being sold to us, often with the label of “organic bamboo.” You may wonder if the rayon is still bamboo? As a matter of fact, tests do not show any differences between rayon made from bamboo and other types of plants once they’ve been processed.
On top of that, does this sound like an eco-friendly product to you…?
Strong chemicals are used to break down the cellulose. After the polymer forms, the chemicals need to be removed by multiple washes. Like most industrial manufacturing, the process requires high water and energy use, and produces air and water pollution.
Naturally, we doubt this will be the last word and we’ll probably hear from proponents that the FTC has it all wrong. But, the facts are clear to us. Bamboo rayon is marketing greenwash and not an eco-friendly product.
What do you think about bamboo in light of these facts?
