Bamboo Sheets – Sustainability and Comfortable Bedding

bamboo bedding

Anyone who has been shopping for building materials recently knows that bamboo is a sustainable plant used for a range of products, from blinds to flooring. However, its use in the textile manufacturing industry is less well-known, so you might be surprised to discover how many companies sell bamboo sheets for your bedroom!

As more people recognize the urgent need to protect Planet Earth from the harmful effects of human activities (from mining to various forms of pollution), sustainability has become the key word for survival. It’s understandable that textile manufacturers are turning to sustainable plants with fibrous content, such as hemp and bamboo.

Benefits of Bamboo

In its natural state, bamboo is antimicrobial, requiring no herbicides or pesticides for growth. It grows incredibly quickly, unlike trees, which generally take much longer to mature.

While bamboo fiber is naturally biodegradable when left in the earth, it is also a valuable, long-lasting material for creating durable textiles and cellulose. Manufacturers of bamboo sheets claim that textiles made from bamboo retain their natural antibacterial qualities and are resistant to fungus due to better absorption rates than other fabrics, including cotton.

Organically made bamboo sheets are as soft as cotton—some even compare them to silk—but their thread count is typically lower, around 300 for bamboo compared to 1,000 for high-quality cotton sheets. This difference is because bamboo fibers (once treated) are finer and softer than those used for weaving cotton.

A widely publicized benefit of bamboo sheets is that the “breathable” material can adapt to your body heat while you sleep. Even if you’re sweating and your partner is shivering, the material adjusts to both of you.

Another advantage is that bamboo sheeting has the ability to repel body odor.

Environmental Issues

Environmental concerns related to any plants used for textiles include:

  • genetic engineering, and
  • the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Fortunately, neither of these issues applies to the cultivation of bamboo. However, there is some debate about the processes used to convert clean-growing bamboo into a usable form for bedding production.

When plant fibers are processed into textiles for clothing and soft furnishings, including sheets, the fibers must be softened before weaving. If the manufacturing process is not environmentally friendly, it can negate the natural antimicrobial properties of bamboo.

Nevertheless, research from China and Japan indicates that “100% bamboo” fabric maintains its antibacterial properties. For instance, in 2003, the China Industrial Testing Center (CTITC) tested bacteria on bamboo fabric for 24 hours. Almost all of the bacteria had died when the material was examined later.

While you may not be able to check manufacturing procedures on packaging, bamboo fiber should be processed in a “closed-loop system” to ensure that most sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide can be recovered and recycled. Only chemicals that are Oeko-Tex certified or that meet Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) should be used.

Accusations of False Claims by Some Textile Manufacturers

With the increasing demand for sustainable products, it’s not surprising that some companies may misrepresent their offerings. This seems to have happened in the textile industry as more manufacturers turned their focus to “bamboo-based” textiles.

In a shocking revelation at the end of 2009, the USA’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged four companies selling clothing and textile products (including bamboo sheets) with violating the Textile Act and Rules by “falsely and deceptively labeling and advertising their products as bamboo when they should have been labeled and advertised as rayon.” Three of the companies were also charged with failing to disclose the country of manufacture. All the companies had labeled their products as being 100% bamboo!

Rayon is a man-made fiber created from cellulose found in plants, including bamboo. The issue is that while bamboo may be the source of the cellulose, it requires a harsh, toxic chemical process to create rayon, releasing hazardous pollutants into the air. As the FTC found, these so-called “bamboo” textiles were actually made from rayon, meaning they were not antimicrobial, not produced in an environmentally friendly manner, and not biodegradable.

The FTC has since published guidelines for accurately labeling bamboo products, including the phrase “rayon made from bamboo.”

Canada’s Competition Bureau has also taken steps to ensure textile dealers do not use misleading labels, having found that most so-called “bamboo” textiles on Canadian shelves were made from rayon derived from bamboo pulp, not 100% bamboo at all.

So, if you see any mention of “rayon” or “viscose” (another term for rayon) on the packaging of bamboo sheets, you’ll know they are made from man-made rayon, not eco-friendly bamboo. If you’re uncertain, look for certifications on the packaging, such as Oeko-Tex.

Certifications for Bamboo Products

The international Oeko-Tex 100 Standard has been in existence for nearly two decades and tests for harmful chemicals and pesticides during the manufacturing process. It does not certify the manufacturing process itself or guarantee that a product is organic. Instead, it requires companies to:

  • limit or avoid the use of harmful substances in textile production,
  • follow stringent guidelines regarding wastewater and air pollution,
  • optimize energy consumption during manufacturing,
  • minimize noise and dust pollution,
  • ensure health and safety requirements on site,
  • comply with statutory regulations and requirements,
  • NEVER use child labor!

Other certifications to look for when purchasing bamboo sheets include the USDA certification that the bamboo is organic, the certification from the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) indicating that the bamboo farm is organic, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification for the fiber.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.