In this article, I will focus on the strengths but also the weaknesses of bamboo fiber, or more precisely bamboo viscose.
Unfortunately, the scale tips toward the negative side, and that doesn't please me.
I'm used to praising the benefits of this multi-use plant. However, after doing some research on the topic of bamboo used in textiles, it turns out that the combination of the two is not entirely eco-friendly.
The idea of fair trade promoted by some textile industries is not so respectful of the environment and I owe it to you to be as transparent as possible. 🧐
What is natural fiber?
Before starting, it is important to understand what a natural fiber is.
You may learn that this fiber can be of animal or plant origin.
Rayon viscose is nothing more than fiber derived from hemp, silk, or cotton which are natural fibers and components of our clothing for centuries.
The term viscose refers to an artificial material resulting from a processing method invented by a Frenchman in 1884, Mr. Count Hilaire de Chardonnet.
He wanted to obtain a material similar to silk.
It was a great success. Indeed, silk was very expensive at that time.
However, in 1938, synthetic fiber derived from petroleum appeared, giving rise to polyamide and polyester fibers.
Today, we have made use of natural fiber from several plants such as jute, sisal, coconut, and even bamboo. They all have distinct characteristics and ecological properties that are more or less controversial depending on their use.
2 fibers stand out from the rest in terms of eco-friendliness:
- Tencel fiber, very silky and produced from eucalyptus pulp▶▶▶I want to know more.◀◀◀
- Lyocell fiber made from wood pulp ▶▶▶ I want to know more.◀◀◀
Bamboo fiber (bamboo viscose)
It is highly successful due to its recognized and approved ecological benefits.
Indeed, bamboo is grown without pesticides or fertilizers. It grows very quickly and requires no toxic treatment. As a result, this plant has been used for thousands of years in many fields.
It's no surprise to find it in textiles.😉
It is not uncommon to find underwear, T-shirts, and beanies made from bamboo fiber in supermarkets and online.
Lighter and 5 times more absorbent than cotton, it is most often used in the design of sportswear, towels, washcloths, and bathrobes.
Soft to the touch, it is also used in bedding.
Indeed, its antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties make it a perfect fiber for making pillows, duvets, mattress toppers, and memory foam mattresses that guarantee support, firmness, and motion isolation.
Comfort is guaranteed, but don't be fooled! You are not buying a 100% ecological and eco-responsible mattress.
The manufacture of your mattress is a blend of artificial and synthetic fibers mixed with polyurethane and HR foam.
The most eco-friendly way to have bamboo in your bedroom is to choose a Borneo-style bamboo bed. 👌
How is bamboo fiber made?
To obtain the desired components, bamboo fiber is treated with very polluting substances such as caustic soda, carbon disulfide, sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid. All these additives used in the manufacture of bamboo textiles give it a soft, comfortable feel but strip it of its eco-responsible label.
The manufacture of bamboo viscose encourages overexploitation to the detriment of our ecosystem.
To produce 500 grams of bamboo fiber, twice as much raw material is needed, i.e. 1 kg.
A large part of production comes from independent operations that respect the environment.
But it does not escape deforestation, a victim of its success due to its many uses.
It is nonetheless possible to make bamboo fiber in a completely natural way using boiling and steaming extraction methods.
A Chinese company Bambro tex has specialized in natural bamboo fiber.
However, the production cost associated with this manufacturing method is high. Consequence: this company reserves its production for high-end products.💲
Bamboo fiber: manufacturing steps:
Natural processing methods for extracting the fiber are carried out by boiling and steaming, as mentioned above.
These processes ensure the harvesting of a high-quality eco-friendly fiber with antibacterial, deodorizing, and elastic properties.
But in return, it remains hard and coarse, which makes it poorly suited to textile manufacturing.
- Cellulose extraction
- Dissolving in caustic soda to swell the cellulose and separate the fibers
- Adding carbon disulfide to make the cellulose soluble. Dissolving the cellulose in sodium hydroxide to obtain a viscous liquid, Viscose
- Filtering the viscose and, finally, a sulfuric acid bath to form threads.
You don't need to be a chemist to understand that all these manipulations turn our "eco-friendly" knitwear into a scam.
Please note, I am not questioning the quality of the product in terms of pure use.
It should be noted that it is especially the use of carbon disulfide that makes the process highly toxic. This chemical product cannot be reused and is carcinogenic. It results in air and water pollution (microfibers) and, very likely, an impact on workers' health.
For all these reasons, you will not find any bamboo textiles in your Bamboo Home Store shop.
What may begin as a good intention in wanting to buy organic clothing could backfire on you without you even knowing it. In addition, your money will end up in the pockets of unscrupulous resellers.
I invite you to be extra vigilant on this subject and to carefully check the label of the product you want to buy.
The only label that certifies traceability from A to Z is the GOTS label, unlike the Oeko-tex label, which does not provide the same guarantees. This latter label applies to fabrics, household linens, and mattresses.
I invite you to follow the link below for more information.
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