Growing up, we have always been used to wearing apparel made from cotton, wool, cashmere, and synthetics. Over the years, we have learned that these fabrics may not be as healthy for us, the wearers, and even more so for the environment as we first thought. Manufacturers and consumers alike are looking to find a healthier alternative. Will the search finally end with bamboo fabric? What makes bamboo fabric so sustainable?
The wide use of bamboo products has been ushered in by this need for a healthier change. But is bamboo really the healthier alternative? Aren’t there any dangers to growing them so rapidly? If you are curious to learn more about this incredible material, here we have a list of the factors that make bamboo fabric sustainable.
Bamboo Grows Incredibly Fast!
Bamboo is classified as a grass, and like most grass types, it needs minimal care to grow and multiply on its own. The most amazing aspect of bamboo is that it does not require excessive cultivation practices to guarantee its survival. Unlike plants like cotton which requires heaps of water, pesticides, and labour, cotton needs simply a good amount of sun and moisture to flourish.
We also mentioned fast, right? Compared to normal trees which can take up to 30 years to fully mature, bamboos can be readily harvested in as early 3-4 months. This is great news since it cuts down the need for pesticides and other harmful chemicals to ensure its growth. Although its environmental effects are still not down to 0%, growing bamboo is paving the way for cleaner and greener farm practices.
Bamboo-Made Products Last a Long Time
Bamboo, combined with materials like cotton, has proven to make really strong fabrics that can stand the test of time. Under the microscope, bamboo viscose can be seen as compact but highly versatile. They show great tensile strength under pressure, whilst still keeping its breathability intact.
Where other fabrics show that you cannot have strength without compromising on comfort, bamboo viscose that is then turned to a plethora of bamboo clothing prove otherwise. However, it does show signs of wear and tear after rigorous years of use. But even if the due date for bamboo fabric does come, it is very easy to recycle back into something useful.
Bamboo is Highly Versatile
Bamboo fabric can stand on its own or be combined with other materials for a more hybrid look and feel. Whether it is combined with merino wool or cotton, the overall quality of the garment it is made from is never compromised. In fact, it is even enhanced. As long as the right materials have meshed in with it, the wearer should have no trouble finding comfort in their bamboo clothing.
It is not only versatile in that aspect, but it is also versatile in the sense that it can be used to make many kinds of products. From bamboo socks to bamboo mittens, there is seemingly no end to the possibilities of bamboo fabric and its uses.
Product Manufacturing is Made Healthier
The part that makes bamboo fabric sustainable does not only end with it being grown in farms. It also extends up to its manufacturing process. There are many ways to turn raw bamboo into a workable bamboo fabric, like combing out the fibres and spinning them into threads. Though this process is a bit labour-intensive, it uses fewer chemicals that the typical fabric manufacturing process. From the manner it is grown to the way it is processed, bamboo fabric is sustainable from start to finish.
Bamboo Can Support the Community
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of bamboo fabric’s sustainability is its effect on the community. It does not only support the community by giving them a healthier option, but it also supports the local businesses by ensuring they have steady streams of income. Its economic effects are most notable in countries like China, where the biggest bamboo plantations can be found. Jobs and businesses are created, giving them a stable stream of income in exchange for quality bamboo.
Bamboo Farms Help Purify the Air
Cutting down trees for raw timbre is not unheard of in many parts of the world. Trees are hard to replace, yet illegal loggers still find a way to exploit them anyway. This incessant logging has depreciated the carbon sinks that could have absorbed human’s excess carbon dioxide emissions in the last 10 years. Thanks to bamboo farms, however, the harm of depreciating carbon sinks are lessened.
Although the after-effects of the last years are still catching on, bamboo farms are helping curb its speed by up to 15%. It might not seem much, but in the rising threats of climate change, any small help is better than no help at all.
Other Things to Consider:
Transporting the material might still affect its carbon footprint.
Even though bamboo and bamboo growing in general has immensely helped with its ability to sequester carbon, its transportation from one country to another still raises its carbon footprint. Having a local producer in each region in every country might help solve this problem. But until then, this is still something that can dampen bamboo fabrics’ claim to sustainability.
Different bamboo plantations will have varying practices.
Although the facts listen here are generally true for most farms and manufacturers, there are still bamboo plantations out there that might not adhere as much to the above-mentioned eco-friendly practices. These farms might be operating outside of government authority or may have gone unnoticed. The responsibility lies therefore on our shoulders to make the final call on which manufacturers to trust.
As much as possible, choose bamboo products that are made with eco-friendly practices. You can use the internet to do some digging on the shop that you’re planning to purchase your bamboo products from. Always be keen on checking where they get their materials from and if their products are made with the environment in mind.
Overall, Bamboo Fabric has still proven that it’s the Healthier Alternative, so why not try out Bamboo Socks today?
If you are interested in trying out garments made from bamboo fabric, why not start with a simple bamboo sock? Check out the products in our shop and enjoy the many benefits of wearing bamboo socks.
We hope you enjoyed this article on what makes bamboo fabric sustainable. For more content like this, browse Soles’ blog pages. For customised sock orders, feel free to contact us.