Bamboo is Not Eco Friendly

As of September 1, 2009, Canada's textile dealers must label bamboo derived fabrics as rayon, rayon from bamboo or other terms depending on the chemical process used to create it. The only exception is bamboo linen, which is processed in a similar way to linen made from flax.

In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission has recently charged four companies for making falsely green claims regarding bamboo fabric products. They have delclared that bamboo based textiles, are actually made of rayon, are not antimicrobial, and they are not made in an environmentally friendly manner or biodegradable.

Bamboo textiles are essentially rayon, which is wood that is chemically liquified and extruded into a filament, then it is spun into a thread and knit or woven into fabric.

This is another case of Green Washing, where companies are taking advantage of uneducated consumers. Becareful, read labels and ask questions.