Comments on: Organic Cotton vs. Organic Bamboo http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2009/12/21/organic-cotton-vs-organic-bamboo/ Tips, Techniques and Articles that Lead to a Better Night's Sleep Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:01:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doug Miller http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2009/12/21/organic-cotton-vs-organic-bamboo/#comment-975 Doug Miller Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:23:42 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/?p=2016#comment-975 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. 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.

]]> By: Kit http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2009/12/21/organic-cotton-vs-organic-bamboo/#comment-722 Kit Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:49:02 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/?p=2016#comment-722 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. 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.

]]> By: Doug Belleville http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2009/12/21/organic-cotton-vs-organic-bamboo/#comment-708 Doug Belleville Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:51:30 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/?p=2016#comment-708 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. 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.

]]> By: Jane http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2009/12/21/organic-cotton-vs-organic-bamboo/#comment-707 Jane Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:44:15 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/?p=2016#comment-707 interesting facts. i had no idea that organic bamboo was not really organic. interesting facts. i had no idea that organic bamboo was not really organic.

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