Materials Research Society: Advancing Materials. Improving the Quality of Life. Hemp | Industrial Hemp products, information and news- hemp. Hemp Fabric : Eco Clothing : Industrial Hemp Oil : Clothes Products : Twine : Shirt : Protein Powder : Hemp Shop : HempT. Guadua Bamboo: Discover The World's Strongest Bamboo. FTC to Retailers: "Bamboo" Fabric Isn't Bamboo. 'Bamboo' Fabrics.
Looking to be a more environmentally conscious shopper? You’ve probably heard about bamboo. Bamboo stands out for its ability to grow quickly with little or no need for pesticides, and it is used in a variety of products, from flooring to furniture. But when it comes to soft bamboo textiles, like shirts or sheets, there’s a catch: they’re actually rayon. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that the soft “bamboo” fabrics on the market today are rayon. They are made using toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air. Extracting bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth.
There’s also no evidence that rayon made from bamboo retains the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, as some sellers and manufacturers claim. This article was previously available as Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics? Cork | Materials / Finishes.