Cuddling Up in Bamboo
It’s hard to be eco-chic these days without buying at least SOMETHING made out of bamboo. First it was bamboo flooring and home building materials. But now it’s all about bamboo clothing and home textiles.
At first glance, you’d think a bamboo shirt would be scratchier than a burlap sack. Not so! Oddly, bamboo fabric is super silky. Who knew!? But beyond that, bamboo contains a natural element called “bamboo kun” that acts as a natural antibiotic, protecting the wearer from the nasty germs that cause body odor. Deodorant doesn’t get much more convenient than that. And because it naturally protects from germs and BO, bamboo fabric doesn’t have to be washed as frequently.
Bamboo is much more environmentally friendly than cotton. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), conventional cotton uses more water than any other agricultural commodity. Bamboo, on the other hand, requires little water for maximum growth. “So why is it better than polyester, or other synthetic fibers?” is the next question. Well, the industrial production of synthetic fibers releases pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, particulates, carbon monoxide and heavy metals into the air—all very eco-Unfriendly. The production of bamboo doesn’t. Bamboo is also appreciated because it sequesters carbon more efficiently than slow-growing oak forests, which can take 10 times as long to reach maturity. This makes it a dream for flooring and building materials use, although folks will want to make sure these materials are properly treated in an environmentally conscious way before purchasing.
Bamboo clothing, however, is a little more straight forward, and easier to buy. Most bamboo fabrics are actually a blend with organic cotton. Again, these fabrics can be ridiculously soft. Check out these Inhabit Living throws. They are super silky-soft thanks to a 400-thread-count Oeko-Tex® 100, certified 20% organic cotton and 80% viscose made from bamboo fabric blend. In addition, they are colored using low impact dyes, contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances, and are formaldehyde-free. It’s blankets and textiles like these that give bamboo a good name.
While bamboo blends are not perfect (what is, really?) they are a big step in the right direction, and have more going for them than against. If you haven’t worn or cuddled up with bamboo yet, maybe it’s time. And you thought it was just a plant only a hungry panda could love!