Bamboo Fabric

This article focuses on bamboo fibre for textiles, fabric and furnishings. My article on the material bamboo may also be of interest to you.

Description

Bamboo fabric comes from the bamboo plant, a type of grass that is quick growing, flexible and with the strength of steel.
Bamboo fibre is used in textiles as 100% pure content or as a fibre blend.
The bamboo stalk is processed to extract the strands of plant fibre.
The plant fibre is natural cellulose and without additives.
Chemicals are used to turn the plant fibres into textiles using a process similar to rayon production.
When blended with other fibres e.g. cotton – this creates a heavier weighted fabric.

Textiles such as bed linen, bath robes, flannels, bath mats, towels, aprons, oven gloves, tea towels, nappies, clothing.

As with all products that originate from overseas, high levels of embodied energy are created with transportation and distribution.

Currently China dominant the industry with the methods to process bamboo into fibre.
Mexico are in the process of establishing a bamboo fibre industry to compete with China (this will lower transportation kilometres which will lower the levels of embodied energy).
Manufactured in Asia, USA & Europe.

Bamboo agriculture doesn’t need any chemicals during farming; pesticides, fertilizers etc.
Bamboo trees/stalks absorb up to 45% more carbon compared with timber trees.
The bamboo tree is rapidly renewing.
The solvent used to process bamboo fibre into fabric is toxic.
Some manufacturers of bamboo fibre use a ‘closed loop’ production process which looks at using less solvent through recycling, less water, energy and resources whilst creating less waste – lowering the negative effect on the environment.
Bamboo fibre processing has much less of an environmental impact than cotton.
Source organic bamboo fabric where possible, as this is odour free and manufactured without any chemicals.

Employee standards must be overseen in areas where harvesting takes place.
The impact on the surrounding environment must be observed for any negative changes.