Lesson · Bamboo

Bamboo grows fast and needs little care, so “bamboo” sounds like the greenest fabric there is. On a clothing label, it usually isn’t what it seems.

• Is bamboo fabric really bamboo?Almost always, no. Most soft “bamboo” fabric is rayon (viscose): bamboo is pulped, dissolved in chemicals and spun into a new fiber. The plant is the starting point, not the fabric. More on the rayon family
• What must the label say?In the US, the Federal Trade Commission says a product can only be called “bamboo” if it’s made of actual bamboo fiber. Otherwise it must say “rayon made from bamboo” or “viscose made from bamboo”. The FTC has warned and fined retailers over this.
• Is bamboo fabric toxic?The fabric itself is not known to be harmful to wear. The concern is how it’s made: the usual viscose process uses carbon disulfide, which has harmed factory workers’ health and polluted rivers near some factories.
• Is bamboo fabric breathable and good for skin?Yes. Like other rayons, it’s soft and absorbs moisture well (about 11–13%). Skin: A.
• Is bamboo fabric biodegradable?Yes, more slowly than cotton: in water, rayon fibers lost 61% of their weight in 220 days, against 74% for cotton (NC State). Bamboo blended with polyester or elastane won’t break down.
• Bamboo vs cotton?Bamboo rayon is softer and more absorbent, but weaker when wet and made with harsher chemicals. In our grades bamboo rayon is a C, regular cotton a B, organic cotton an A. More on cotton
• Our grades (as viscose)Overall C · Water C · Chemicals D · Climate C · Durability D · Back to nature B · Microplastics A · Skin & comfort A. How we grade
• What to look for“Bamboo lyocell” (the cleaner process), or viscose with a named standard: FSC for the source, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for the finished fabric. Real bamboo fiber that’s processed mechanically (sometimes sold as “bamboo linen”) is rare. Check a piece with the Clothing Check

Sources: FTC, Bamboo textiles · FTC, How to avoid bamboozling your customers · Changing Markets, Dirty Fashion · Zambrano et al. 2019, NC State · Shuvo 2020