Bamboo is a very versatile crop, and it is considered a long-lasting, adaptable, and eco-friendly substitute for wood.
However, is bamboo sustainable in all its forms?
Even though bamboo is a versatile material, the question is should you make the switch to bamboo toilet paper, bamboo linen, bamboo clothing, bamboo straws and other bamboo based products?
How Sustainable is Bamboo?
Bamboo has been neglected in the West for a long time, but it recently experienced a surge in popularity.
So not only it is panda’s food, but it’s also used to make bicycles, flooring, kitchen counters, iPod covers, casing for consumer electronics, towels, nappies and clothes.
These items could all be eligible for joining the green club automatically because:
- Bamboo is ready for harvest in 3 years rather than 10 – 20 like softwood trees.
- Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and produces 35% more oxygen. than trees of a similar size.
- Bamboo requires little rainfall or pesticide.
- Bamboo thrives in regions affected by soil erosion.
In more recent years, bamboo fibres have been used as a sustainable alternative for conventional organic materials such as cotton.
The textile industry is starting to rely more and more on it as a standard resource, and companies that make toilet paper are starting to use bamboo pulp in lieu of virgin wood sources.
If compared to cotton farming, which demands a lot of water, pesticides and labour, the benefits of this tree-like grass are obvious.
Bamboo is frequently used as scaffolding, upright supports, and even as a building material for huts and houses, so as such provides shelter for about 1 billion people.
This is due to the fact that bamboo is very strong – even stronger than steel! Steel has a tensile strength of 23,000 PSI, whereas bamboo boasts a tensile strength of 28,000 PSI.
However, it is interesting to note that despite being so strong, harvested bamboo is actually very light, which makes it easy to transport.
It appears to be promising at first: bamboo is a very sustainable crop since it is a fast-growing grass that requires no fertilizer and self-regenerates from its own roots.
However, there are a few things to consider before you go and restock your wardrobe.
So bamboo only has good things going for it, right?
Well, let’s see.
It is important to note that when determining the environmental impact of bamboo there are a number of other considerations that need to be made, including the impact that shipping bamboo (and products made from bamboo) has on the environment, and the chemicals that are utilized in the manufacturing processes of certain products, such as clothing and textiles.
Farming Bamboo
Even though it grows incredibly fast, with some varieties growing at a rate of 3 feet (90 cm) each day, the misconception that it spreads like wildfire is simply incorrect.
Harvest bamboo at the wrong time or in too large quantities and you risk irreversible forest devastation as well as possible shortages for those who need it most.
China continues to be the only country that grows bamboo commercially and on a large scale.
As bamboo products are becoming increasingly profitable, farmers are beginning to cultivate it as a mono-crop, which reduces biodiversity and increases pests.
As a result, pesticides must be used.
Commercial growers focus on a small number of bamboo species (out of 1,600), resulting in the risk of monocultures.
Large expanses of land are being cleared in order to be planted with bamboo. This can result in the displacement of wildlife and a reduction in the ecosystem’s biodiversity.
Monocultures cause difficulties for fungi, bacteria, insects, and animals that rely on a diverse ecosystem for food and shelter.
This is true of any monoculture, not just bamboo. Avocado plantations in South America, eucalyptus forests in Portugal, and corn and soy fields in North America have all raised similar concerns about their ecological impact.
The Guardian states that there is evidence that farmers are using chemical fertilisers to increase their yields.
And there is no reason why they shouldn’t since bamboo farming in China does not follow any prescribed standards or environmental norms.
However, this does have a negative effect on the environment as well as farmers’ health.
Another problem brought on by this large-scale bamboo production is that the harvesting techniques are often unsustainable since they slow the pace at which new bamboo shoots regenerate.
Today, on The World Conservation Union’s Red List of endangered species are also 27 species of woody bamboo, as well as the one preferred by west African mountain gorillas and giant pandas.
Bamboo Fabrics
Many various fabrics manufactured from the bamboo plant are referred to as “bamboo fabric”.
Bamboo has been used to create textiles for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until modern times that the method of turning this resilient and rapidly growing wood into textiles was mastered.
Different ways can be used to make bamboo textiles, depending on what kind of fabric is being made.
Despite having negative effects on the environment and posing safety risks in the workplace, bamboo viscose makes up the vast majority of bamboo fabric produced globally because it is inexpensive to manufacture.
So, bamboo has certain drawbacks, but it still uses far less chemicals than cotton and is thus more environmentally friendly, right?
While this is potentially true during the cultivation process, it is not always true during the production process.
There are two ways to obtain fabric from the bamboo plant, and I will leave it up to you to determine wether a bamboo fabric is an eco friendly material.
Mechanical Method
Through this method the plant is crushed into a mush with natural enzymes to break it down.
Then the fibres are combed out and spun into a yarn producing the fabric that resembles linen. Although there are some environmental disadvantages, this method could be sustainable.
However, due to its labor-intensive nature, high cost, and lack of softness, it is not suitable for use in the increasingly popular bamboo fiber underwear.
Chemical Process
Compared to the mechanical process this is a much more popular method.
For bamboo to be turned into bamboo viscose, cellulose is extracted from the wood pulp of the plant through the use of harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and carbon disulfide.
These chemicals are extremely dangerous to both human health and the environment. The use of these chemicals in factories has a very negative impact on factory workers, the air, and nearby water systems.
The result is silky soft bamboo fabric you find in sheets, underwear, and more. 95% of the bamboo on the market is bamboo viscose.
The bamboo viscose fabrics are very breathable and far stretchier than cotton, making it ideal for close-fitting clothing such as underwear, socks and leggings.
It’s also simple to weave into high-thread-count fabrics to make a thin, durable material that can be used for everything from garments to bedding.
Unfortunately, there is no solid proof that many of the stated benefits of bamboo, such as antibacterial characteristics or UV resistance, are still present in the fabric after such a rigorous treatment.
Also, depending on the factory, bi-products such as carbon di-sulphate and zinc sulphate are released during the viscose process.
Both of these chemicals are extremely dangerous to water-based creatures. When chemicals aren’t disposed of as hazardous waste, they’re carried away in water systems.
It is important to note that even when bamboo textiles are made in a closed loop, there will always be toxic waste.
However, some companies are still not straightforward about how they dispose of that waste, and some even deny completely that any waste is produced. If that is the case, it is a good sign to walk away.
To learn more about misleading business practices, read our article Greenwashing Explained – How We Are Being Fooled.
Bottom line is, even if a company says their products are made form sustainable bamboo, it would be advisable to do your own research.
Bamboo Toilet Paper vs. Regular Toilet Paper
The majority of toilet paper used in the United States is created from virgin wood pulp from the Canadian boreal forest and is neither recycled nor sustainable.
And considering that the typical American goes through more than 140 rolls of toilet paper in a single year, that amounts to a significant number of trees being cut down.
For example P&G, Kimberly-Clark, and Georgia-Pacific all continue to manufacture their domestic tissue products using only virgin forest fibre.
Bamboo stalks are broken up into fibers that are then used to make bamboo toilet paper. The fibers are treated to make pulp, which is soaked, pressed, and turned into toilet paper rolls.
Due to the fact that bamboo is a form of grass, it may be safely flushed down sewers and septic tanks.
Because bamboo is a natural substance, it will naturally and swiftly disintegrate in water, and it will not leave anything behind that will cause your septic tank to clog up.
Final Thoughts on Bamboo
Bamboo is very versatile and is currently used in a growing number of products from bamboo coffee cups and straws to bamboo toothbrushes, clothing, flooring, furniture…
To date, it’s been tough to assess how Chinese bamboo is grown and harvested.
Even though bamboo does not require chemical help to grow at a natural speed, it is likely that farmers use pesticides and fertilisers on their crops in order to boost production and earnings.
Moulded bamboo is an environmentally friendly substitute for plastic kitchenware and tableware. As long as it’s free of melamine, which many people consider toxic.
However, as with many green initiatives, the answer to the question “is bamboo sustainable?” isn’t simple or straightforward.
While the majority of bamboo textiles on the market are a type of rayon produced via a labor-intensive method that uses toxic chemicals, recent years have seen an improvement in how these chemicals are controlled.
That is a positive move in the right direction.
Bamboo materials are a step up from polyester and ordinary cotton, and as long as the company is upfront about their origins, they may be a safe choice and a more eco friendly alternative.
Perhaps consider the following factors when you’re looking into whether a particular bamboo product is sustainable:
- Where does the product come from, and how is it being transported from the origin location?
- How is the product processed? Take into account the amount of energy and water used throughout the manufacturing process.
- Have any harsh chemicals been used in the product’s production?
- Is there a more environmentally friendly alternative product on the market that isn’t as trendy?
However, because the supply chain is not always particularly transparent, getting answers to these questions might be challenging.
Until the production process becomes more transparent and environmentally sustainable, it might be best to keep an eye on bamboo.
Shop wisely.