How Sustainable is Bamboo Fabric?
When you see a piece of clothing brightly labeled “Made with Bamboo,” would you naturally expect it to be an eco-friendly sustainable product? To understand this, we must learn the natural property of Bamboo plants and the treatment process from turning the bamboo plant into bamboo fibers.
Bamboo grows rapidly and is regenerating. It needs very little water, fertilizer, or pesticides. It sequesters a large amount of carbon dioxide, absorbing five times more carbon dioxide and 35% more oxygen than similar plants.
Bamboo fabrics are comfortable, very breathable, moisture-wicking, fast-drying, and thermal regulating. It is sometimes described as having the “ultra-softness of cashmere and the sheen of silk.” In theory, bamboo textiles could be one of the most sustainable options for an eco-friendly closet; the problem arises in processing the grass into the fiber.
We must understand currently, bamboo is turned into a fiber in one of the two ways: mechanical or chemical. There are three types of bamboo fabrics: natural bamboo (bamboo linen), lyocell processed bamboo rayon, and conventional viscose bamboo. Bamboo rayons are processed by chemical means, while bamboo linen is turned into a fiber by mechanical means. Unfortunately, the most common way is the chemical process which has a heavy impact on our planet and ourselves.
Natural Bamboo (Bamboo Linen) - The true green
Natural Bamboo can be processed mechanically. The woody part is shredded and turned into a mash using natural enzymes, then can be combed and spun into yarn. This process is similar to the eco-friendly approach to produce linen fabric from linen or hemp textiles. This type of bamboo is called bamboo linen, which has a lower impact on the supply chain. It requires minimum pretreatment and absorbs dye more quickly than other types of fabric.
Natural Bamboo textile waste can be 100% biodegradable, and the production process is environmentally friendly.
However, this process is more labor-intensive yet cannot be done on a large industrial scale as other textile manufacturing. It is also the most expensive bamboo treatment and thus is quite rare in the market nowadays.
Lyocell Processed Bamboo rayon - The “compromise choice.”
Lyocell is a favored option in the sustainable fashion industry. In a Lyocell process, bamboo fiber is made in a closed-loop cycle; chemicals and water are recycled and not released into the environment. Lyocell processed bamboo is becoming popular in the sustainable fashion industry. The given manufacturing process is not as eco-friendly as natural bamboo fabric; it is a cheaper, compromised alternative.
Conventional Viscose Bamboo rayon - Not so Green
The manufacturing process of Conventional Viscose bamboo rayon is the same as the viscose process as rayon, which requires a chemically intensive process in the fiber-spinning stage. The dyeing stage has a heavy impact on the environment than polyester and other synthetic fibers. The process is not a closed-loop cycle, the chemical and water used in the production process cannot be recycled and released, possibly contaminating the local community's group water.
Conventional Viscose Bamboo rayon is the most common form of bamboo fabric on the market. It is the cheapest to produce, we can assume that all bamboo rayon is processed like conventional rayon unless otherwise stated.
