Ecological Value of Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo fabric is not only popular because of how soft and versatile it is, but because it is also environmentally friendly. Requiring fewer chemicals for processing as well as being more productive makes bamboo fabric the organic choice of many people who are concerned about finding fabric and fabric products that don’t harm the environment.

Production

The production of bamboo fabric begins with ecologically sound farming. Unlike cotton, bamboo can be planted in a number of areas that are not usually seen as being desirable for farming. The root systems of bamboo can live very well in places that have been ravaged by soil erosion and mudslides. These root systems also thrive in places that have become worthless to other crops because of soil degradation and deforestation.

When planted, bamboo is also very easy to care for. They are very disease and parasite resistant because of a bio-agent called bamboo kun. It is the bamboo kun that also keeps the finished product of the fabric from harboring incubating bacteria as cotton is known to do. This means there is less surface run off from pesticides and other chemicals that would be sprayed on less resistant plants like cotton. Bamboo crops also need less water than other pants, so they are excellent plants to grow when observing water conservation.

After the bamboo has been harvested and pulped to make the fabric, the pulp is bleached without using chlorine. This is more environmentally friendly than the way other textiles are made. The bamboo pulp is also very easy to dye, and dying bamboo pulp takes less water and harsh chemicals than conventional dying methods.

Natural Attributes

The other reason that many people like bamboo fabric is because of the natural attributes of the plant. It helps the environment as it grows, providing several necessary benefits to keeping the environment healthy. The most noticeable is the fact that bamboo grows as large and mature as older trees in a fraction of the time. With wood scarce, bamboo makes an excellent alternative, as it grows to full size in two to three years, while trees can take up to seventy years to mature completely.

Bamboo is a wonderful renewable resource because it is always growing and working to create more plants. Even when the bamboo is cut off and harvested, there are roots, or rhizomes, underground that are continually sprouting new plants that will become new cane. The rhizomes are very difficult to get rid of as well, almost always ensuring that new plants will sprout when the old ones are taken away for other purposes. Of course, there are all kinds of reasons to choose bamboo fabric. Aside from the soft feel and beauty of the fabric, there are also great environmental values to bamboo fabric. From being a completely renewable resource to being easy to process, bamboo fabric is an ecologically friendly choice for the future.

Bamboo Fabric Products and Uses