Bamboo fabric use has been slowly growing across the last few years and is fast becoming something of a consumer trend, owing to its array of uses and benefits.
Across this article we will investigate why the fabric has become so popular, alongside the related benefits, both for the end user and also for the environment.
With a growing focus on sustainability and conservation over the past decade, recent manufacturing innovations have paved the way for both commercial and sustainable fabric alternatives for us to choose from, where we would have previously used traditional textiles - such as cotton fabrics and polyester.
An eco friendly fabric
Bamboo, of course, is one of these sustainable alternatives, and the reason why Misona sells a range of Bamboo Towels alongside our more traditional range of Organic Cotton Towels.
Raw bamboo has been used for over 7,000 years – with the versatile and fast-growing material being used for clothing, housing, food, medicine, musical instruments and even weapons.
Being a versatile and biodegradable crop, nowadays bamboo can be used for an array of purposes, including as a substitute for single use plastics in household items such as:
- Toothbrushes
- Straws
- Cutlery
- Phone cases
- Cleaning cloths
- Cotton buds
Holding the title of the world’s fastest growing plant, a natural bamboo plant can achieve a maturation of 3 feet in just one day, making it a perfect and quick growing substitute to many less sustainable single use items.
On top of that, bamboo can also absorb more carbon dioxide than trees, and releases 35% more oxygen into our air, creating additional benefits when it comes to preventing global warming.
Perfect for sensitive skin
And we’ve not even started on how it feels on the skin!
Bamboo fabric takes on an ultra-soft and smooth feeling on the skin due to the round structure of the fibres, complimented by its highly absorbent and extremely breathable characteristics.
Many people find bamboo fibres to be preferable to Egyptian Cotton in many instances.
This is especially the case in warmer regions where the lower thread count of bamboo allows for a more breathable and cooler in comparison.
And one more thing to add – this lower thread count means there are less places for allergy causing dust, skin particles, organisms, and other contaminants to hide.
This means Bamboo fabric is not just naturally hypoallergenic, but also innately antibacterial as well.
Is bamboo environmentally superior to other materials?
Bamboo can be a more sustainable choice when we look at the typical production methods surrounding mainstream synthetic/plastic fibres.
These fibres come from the mining and refining of fossil fuels such as coal and oil - not only does the use of fossil fuels contribute towards global warming, but synthetic fibres and the processes used to create them can damage the environment.
Couple this with issues surrounding synthetic garments shedding microplastics, and you can already see a big environmental reason for choosing bamboo towels and fabrics over synthetic materials!
Compared to other natural materials there is also less of a carbon footprint generated when we look at the production of bamboo fibres.
Bamboo plants are grown without the use of chemical pesticides and also require up to one third less water in the production process when compared to cotton.
The physical labouring of cotton is much more intense than that of bamboo, and also produces a higher yield as a crop.
This also means less risk of deforestation and damage to wildlife and habitats. Bamboo naturally benefits the ecosystem in which it is grown and can also help restore damaged land.
Organic bamboo towels even keep fresher for longer than cotton. As a result, less water needs to be used for regular washing.
As well as this, bamboo towels also come with benefits of drying faster and being wrinkle resistant, meaning less energy consumed in the home overall.
That's why we choose bamboo
Therefore, bamboo fabrics, alongside ethically and organically sourced cotton, are key focus points for Misona, where we have pledged to cease the use of plastics in our production process, and provide products that stay fresher for longer, which limit water consumption and negative effects on the environment because of overuse.
Misona also has an energy-saving Diatomite Bath mat range, made from diatomaceous earth stone.
You can be sure that your product is made sustainably by looking to see if it has been approved by a standard expert such as the OEKO-TEX® partner, which ensures that no harmful chemicals or dyes were used during production.
Standards agencies such as these partners test regulated and non-regulated substances in every thread that may be harmful to human health in each stage of processing.
Misona are proud to sell OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics as part of our mission to contribute towards a sustainable future.
Have a look at our Ultrasoft Bamboo Towels collection, as well as our Organic Bath Mat collection as examples of certified products.