Bamboo fabric has gained attention as a sustainable and innovative alternative to traditional sportswear fabrics. Renowned for its softness, eco-friendliness, and versatility, bamboo fabric is increasingly used in sports and activewear fashion, home goods, and other industries. But what exactly is bamboo fabric? How is it made, and why is it considered a sustainable option?
In this blog, we’ll delve into the details of bamboo fabric, exploring its production, properties, benefits, challenges, and uses.
Understanding Bamboo as a Resource
The Bamboo Plant
Bamboo is an extremely fast-growing, perennial grass found in many parts of the world, especially in Asia. Unlike trees, bamboo can grow up to three feet per day, depending on the species, and regenerates naturally without replanting after harvesting. Its growth requires minimal water, no pesticides, and it sequesters large amounts of carbon dioxide, making it one of the most sustainable plants available.
Why Bamboo?
Bamboo’s ecological benefits extend beyond its growth. Its versatility is unmatched, as it is used for construction, paper production, food, and increasingly, textiles. Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows in degraded soils and improves land quality over time, further solidifying its reputation as an environmentally friendly material.
What Is Bamboo Fabric?
Bamboo fabric is a textile derived from the cellulose fibers of bamboo. Depending on the manufacturing process, bamboo can be transformed into various types of fabric, including:
- Bamboo Viscose (or Rayon): The most common form, made through a chemical process that extracts bamboo cellulose and reconstitutes it into fibers.
- Lyocell Bamboo : A more eco-friendly variant, produced using a closed-loop process with fewer harmful chemicals.
- Linen Bamboo (or Bast Bamboo Fiber): Made through mechanical processing, resulting in a rougher, more natural texture akin to hemp or flax.
At Blue associates Sportswear, we tend to look at qualities from the Lyocell family as these are much more sustainable in their manufacturing process.
Bamboo Manufacturing Process
1. Bamboo Viscose Production
The process involves:
- Harvesting: Bamboo stalks are cut and transported to fabric mills for processing.
- Pulping: The bamboo is crushed, cut and split into chips, and the cellulose is extracted using chemical solvents like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide.
- Spinning: The cellulose is dissolved into a viscous solution, extruded through spinnerets, and solidified into fibers.
- Weaving or Knitting: These fibers are woven or knitted into the final fabric. The fabric is often blended with other materials, especially for sportswear requirements such as Lycra for added stretch.
While bamboo viscose is soft and versatile, its production involves toxic chemicals that can harm workers and the environment if not handled responsibly. It’s therefore important to select a fabric mill that has strong ethics and standards in place and can back these up by audits that have been certified. At Blue associates, we work with over 150 fabric mills around the world and if were using sustainable fibre, we look to only work with ethica fabric mills.
2. Bamboo Lyocell Production
This process is similar to bamboo viscose but uses a non-toxic solvent (N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide) in a closed-loop system, meaning almost all the chemicals are recovered and reused. Bamboo lyocell is considered a more sustainable option and this is our preferred choice when we selct bamboo fabrics for our projects.
3. Bamboo Linen Production
In this mechanical process, bamboo stalks are crushed, and natural enzymes are used to break down the bamboo walls. The fibers are combed out, spun into yarn, and woven into fabric. Although more eco-friendly, this method is labour-intensive and results in a coarser material. This is usually used for fashion (not sportswear) or furnishing.
Properties of Bamboo Fabric
- Softness: Bamboo fabric is often compared to silk or cashmere due to its smooth, luxurious feel. This makes it ideal for sportswera garments that are next to the skin
- Breathability: Its natural fibers allow for excellent air circulation, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable. Bamboo will generally keep you far cooler than synthetic fibres such as polyester or nylon.
- Moisture-Wicking: Bamboo fabric absorbs moisture better than cotton, making it ideal for activewear or humid climates.
- Antibacterial and Odor-Resistant: Bamboo contains a bio-agent called “bamboo kun,” which naturally resists bacteria and odors.
- Hypoallergenic: Bamboo fabric is gentle on sensitive skin, free from harsh chemicals found in synthetic textiles. It is also a natural fibre so concerns about wearing toxic petrochemicals next to the skin when exercising are removed.
- UV Protection: Bamboo fibers offer some protection against harmful UV rays, adding to their functionality.
The Sustainability of Bamboo Fabric
Environmental Benefits
- Renewable Resource: Bamboo regenerates quickly without the need for replanting.
- Low Resource Use: Requires less water and no pesticides compared to cotton.
- Carbon Sequestration: Bamboo forests absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change.
Challenges to Consider with Bamboo fabric
While bamboo as a plant is eco-friendly, the production process for certain types of bamboo fabric, especially viscose, raises concerns:
- Chemical Use: The solvents used in bamboo viscose production can harm the environment if not properly managed.
- Energy Consumption: Processing bamboo into fabric requires significant energy.
- Certifications: Consumers should look for certifications like OEKO-TEX or GOTS to ensure the fabric meets environmental standards.
Key Benefits of Bamboo Fabric
- Eco-Friendly Appeal: For those seeking sustainable options, bamboo fabric offers a compelling alternative to cotton, nylon or polyester.
- Comfort: The fabric’s softness and breathability make it ideal for sportswear clothing, bedding, and next to skin wear.
- Versatility: Suitable for various products, from luxurious dresses to sportswear.
- Durability: Bamboo fabrics often maintain their quality after multiple washes.
- Health Benefits: Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic properties make bamboo fabric suitable for people with sensitive skin or allergies. It’s also a natural fibre and therefore kind to the skin.
Biodegradable
Like other cellulose-based clothing materials, bamboo fibre is biodegradable in soil by micro-organisms and sunlight. Having reached the end of its useful life, clothing made from bamboo can be composted and disposed of in an organic and environmentally friendly manner. Bamboo garments can degrade completely within months unlike synthetic garments like polyester or nylon that can take decades to decay. It is believed that every synthetic fibre garment is still in existence today which is a really scary thought.
Greenhouse gases
All plants fix carbon dioxide CO2 but deforestation results in fewer trees to fix rising levels of CO2.
Because it is fast-growing, bamboo fixes more CO2 and generates up to 35 percent more oxygen than similar stands of trees.
A bamboo plantation sequesters 62 tonnes per hectare (28 short tons per acre) of carbon dioxide per year, as compared with 15 tonnes per hectare (7 short tons per acre) for a young forest .
With this said, the CO2 only remains fixed, if the resulting product is not burnt at the end of its lifetime or it naturally decomposes again. If the same area of land is not used for harvesting, a typical forest can persist more Biomass in the long term while also providing a more divers biotope, however the slower growth rate of trees delays this effect significantly. The benefit is, that the same amount of harvested Biomass requires less deforestation of trees compared to planting other cellulose producing crops for the same expected yield, still resulting in less CO2 emissions.
Common Uses of Bamboo Fabric
1. Fashion and Apparel
Again, Bamboo fabric is used in everyday clothing like T-shirts, dresses, activewear, and undergarments. Its comfort and moisture-wicking properties make it ideal for loungewear and sportswear.
2. Home Textiles
Bamboo fabric is increasingly popular in bed linens, towels, and curtains due to its luxurious softness and durability.
3. Baby Products
Hypoallergenic and gentle, bamboo fabric is a go-to choice for baby clothes, blankets, and reusable diapers. Parents want to protect children from any harm and dressing their child in bamboo is a natural choice.
4. Accessories
Products like scarves, socks, and face masks leverage bamboo’s natural properties to enhance comfort and performance.
Challenges and Ethical Concerns of Bamboo Fabric
While bamboo fabric has many advantages, its production isn’t without issues. Here are some challenges:
- Greenwashing: Some manufacturers exaggerate bamboo fabric’s eco-credentials, leading to misinformation. Make sure you look for auditted fabric mills or certyificates or only look to buy from credible suppliers.
- Chemical Pollution: The production of bamboo viscose, unless carefully managed, can release harmful chemicals into the environment. Again, use credible suppliers and look for audits.
- Labor Practices: The rapid growth in bamboo-based industries has raised concerns about fair wages and safe working conditions. Look for ethical suppliers and audits to guarantee you are sourcing bamboo from a good supplier.
To address these issues, consumers can prioritise brands that are transparent about their sourcing and production processes and explain the process and resources they use to manufdacture their prodfucts.
The Future of Bamboo Fabric
As the demand for sustainable textiles grows, bamboo fabric has significant potential. Innovations in production technology, such as closed-loop processes, could reduce the environmental impact of bamboo fabric manufacturing. Moreover, increased consumer awareness and certification programs will likely encourage ethical and eco-friendly practices across the industry.
Whats more, Bamboo fabric represents a unique intersection of sustainability, comfort, and versatility. While its environmental benefits and luxurious properties make it a strong contender in the textile market, it’s essential to critically evaluate how it’s produced. By choosing responsibly sourced and certified bamboo fabric, consumers can enjoy its many advantages while supporting a more sustainable future.
As awareness of eco-friendly materials grows, bamboo fabric is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the textile industry. Whether you’re shopping for clothing, bedding, or accessories, bamboo fabric offers a compelling option for those who value style, comfort, and the planet.
Finally, If you are interested in Bamboo Fabrics oir producing sportswear using Bamboo, please get in touch.
