Organic Cotton vs. Organic Bamboo
The demand for green products is forcing retailers like STLBeds to ask tough questions not only for themselves but ultimately their consumers who will buy their organic mattresses, sheets, and pillows.
“ What is more earth friendly organic cotton or organic bamboo?”
When produced for non-organic fabrics both are produced in chemical intensive processes that are very polluting in nature. The extensive use of solvents, bleach, chemical dyes, fertilizers and pesticides are major contributing factors to poor health and environmental pollution.
Both cotton and bamboo can be certified organic during the growing stages by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). There is however major issues with certified organic bamboo as discussed by Coral Rose of “Sustainable Life Media”. She says the certifications only cover the textiles as a grown crop and not as a finished product. The confusion comes in unbeknown to most buyers when chemicals are added which are required making a finished product. The needed chemicals to make a finished product are not taken into consideration.
Bamboo is an example of this and is actually a Rayon material made from bamboo pulp, and therefore stops being organic in the eyes of environmentalist. It is at this point it ceases to no longer be a natural fiber like cotton. The bamboo fiber is broken down by a very chemical intensive process / mechanical process which is much more eco friendly but much more costly and is seldom used.
Many people believe the major advantage of bamboo is it can be grown in areas where no other crop can grow like mountains sides for example. Bamboo is hearty and can thrive with an abundance of water or very little water. Cotton on the other hand requires intensive irrigation , although organic cotton uses less water than non-organic cotton due to more organic materials in the soil.
Some interesting points about bamboo and cotton
• Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world.
• Both bamboo and cotton are considered a sustainable resource. It is claimed that bamboo is 3 to 4 times as absorbent as cotton.
• Cotton does not shrink as bad as bamboo.
Many believe bamboo to be softer that cotton and a better fabric next to the skin such as in under garments, diapers etc.
• Bamboo is in great demand as towels and bathrobes.
• Some people feel bamboo can be made to feel softer than silk and have a natural sheen not available in cotton.
Conclusion which is more organic Cotton or Bamboo?
Organic cotton is truly an organic product. It is harvested from organic land grown in an organic manner and in the application of say organic sheets they are manufactured with no bleaches, no chemical dyes, or finishing applications. Sometimes natural dyes are used which helps organic manufacturers stay true to the eco friendly process. Although the growth process can be easier on the environment when growing bamboo the chemicals required to convert organic bamboo into a yarn is not very eco friendly with a resulting fabric that is much more synthetic than organic.
interesting facts. i had no idea that organic bamboo was not really organic.
Comment by Jane — December 30, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
From all the information that I have been able to obtain the finished product is not. However don’t be too discouraged because bamboo even though it has its own issues is a much needed sustainable natural resource that can reduce need of cotton significantly, which in my eyes from beginning to end is not as environmentally friendly. I hope someone with even more inside industry knowledge will put their 2 cents in.
Comment by Doug Belleville — December 31, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Each purchase decision we make has environmental ramifications. I totally agree with you that plant fibers, like bamboo and beechwood, require chemical processing to process into fibers, and that processing can be environmentally damaging.
Other issues to consider include how far the plants and then fibers have to be transported to be spun into fabric and how far that fabric has to go to be made into sheets, towels, clothes, etc. The more transportation methods and the further it all has to go the more environmentally damaging it is.
Not all organic cotton stays organic through the manufacturing process. While some dying processes are organic and less environmentally damaging not all cotton is treated as gently. Some cottons are dyed with harsh chemicals, or combined with non-organic fibers to create the end product.
What a conundrum we all face every day! But, if we keep focused on the best decision for the moment and situation the better it is than being blind or indifferent.
Comment by Kit — January 10, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
This is a very interesting article. I have done alot of research and I have been very updated on both sides of the bamboo vs. cotton. Here are some of my own research and opinions. I first of all really like the feel of bamboo and I also like cotton for certain items. I would have to say from a green stand point organic cotton is the greenest item on the market but very expensive and not always grown locally, but hey what is now a days. Bamboo is a green product in the growing stage and needs to have chemicals to break it down from a hard plant to a soft as silk feel. Right here is where you need to stop and understand your choices. You have to know that the factory producing bamboo is certified and by who, and what is the certification process. There are a couple ways to breakdown bamboo and the best way is in a “closed loop process.” The main reason people are concerned with chemicals is that they go into the enviroment and in the closed loop process the chemicals are reused and never go into the enviroment. In the process there is either rayon or viscose, which you will commenly see used to “market” bamboo now with all the FTC regulations on green products. And good companies that sell bamboo will educate there clients on their products. Now you have your bamboo product that is a great product and very durable. Now Cotton on the other hand uses a a huge amount of pesticides in the growing process. So if the discussion is bamboo or cotton or organic cotton, you have to choice your luxury. If you want the greenest product and an expensive product buy organic cotton, if you want a soft as silk affordable product then go with bamboo with companies that have a certification and used a closed loop process for breaking down bamboo and have info on viscoes or rayon, and 3rd if you want a an inexpensive, don’t care how it’s made product then pick our old buddy cotton. Again there is always something to learn but this is a good starting point for bamboo vs. cotton 101.
Comment by Doug Miller — August 6, 2010 @ 4:23 pm