FTC says claims of organic bamboo fabrics are misleading

A recent article in HFN magazine march 2010 issue says 78 U.S retailers and manufactures have received letters warning them about false claims and improper and incorrect or misleading labeling of bamboo products. The FTC says that the finished product is nothing more than a manufactured rayon product. It essentially is in no way shape or form still anything resembling the actual bamboo fiber even in microscopic form. STL Beds posted a blog on the subject of organic bamboo processing and has discussed this issue with many customers since researching the issue over a year ago when we became enlightened on the matter. Many people have come into our showroom asking for all bamboo mattresses, having claimed to have seen them at competing stores. Don’t get us wrong, there is a place in the market for bamboo. It is a great product. It is highly sustainable, breathable, and durable and we offer it in our showroom. However bamboo is what it is and calling it natural or organic in our opinion is a real stretch by the time it gets to the stores in the form of a fabric. I’d be curious if major retailers who were sent letters such as Wal-mart, JC Penny and others even know what the product really is or simply fast tracked to their shelves to hop on the green train express.

Bamboo fiber manufacturers defend claims of organic and green

If there is anything the textile and bedding industries needs is a good enforceable set of standards. Get the cowboys out of the industry. Sadly much of the problem originates overseas beyond the reach of the FTC. Interestingly the same issue of standards is a huge problem with organic mattresses which can be made from organic resources like all natural latex rubber, cotton, and wool. Terms like organic, natural, and 100% are used with way too much liberty. At this very moment the specialty sleep assoc. has a committee trying to establish a set of industry wide standards for such terms and labels.

 
The bamboo issue is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to organic and all natural claims.

 
The USDA put a set of standards in place for food that we eat helping us distinguish what is certified organic, organic, and all natural. What would be interesting is to see organizations responsible for dealing with misleading claims like FTC or attorney generals, investigate one of our pet peeves which is thread count claims on bed sheets. Consumers have been sold the idea that all high thread count sheets are high quality and that the thread counts are always legitimate making it one of the best ways to compare quality sheets. That’s simply not always the case.  Just like the claims of certified organic bamboo, and organic bamboo sheets, clothing, etc. we don’t have to look far for misinformation because it is still alive and well in the retail environment. As a consumer you have to educate and protect yourself from opportunists’. Unfortunately we are all in the same boat and will have to sort through a lot of bull to get there.

 
“ What is more earth friendly organic cotton or organci 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.

1. Does bamboo fabrics used in a mattress cost more than other all natural fabrics or synthetic materials?
   No, many of the following questions will address the growth and production of bamboo fabric.
2. Is it true that a chemical process is used to turn the cellulosic fibers of bamboo in to a fabric?
   Yes, we are able to convert plant-based fibers like all natural bamboo into a fabric that can be made into things like mattress ticking, covers, or even clothing. The process is similar to the way rayon is produced and has been around since the mid 1800’s with some current modifications.
3. Do all natural bamboo fabrics have any negative aspects?
   According to (ENN) The Environmental News Network the answer is yes. The ENN talks about one process called the advanced “closed loop” solvent rotating procedure, which is a spinning process. The claim is that is has less affect on the environment & an economical use of energy & water. This solvent is constantly recycled throughout the production process. Factory emissions from smokestacks into the air and from wastewater are drastically reduced when compared to other synthetic fiber operations. The ENN said that the solvent to digest the bamboo pulp can be toxic, but by taking advantage of this new process the solvent can be reused carefully and not thrown into local water systems. Some benefits of bamboo are that it can be incinerated, recycled, or processed in sewage. One more thing in waste treatment facilities the fiber will typically degrade entirely in just 8 days.
4. Is bamboo fabric considered an all-natural product?
   No and Yes. The fact is that 99 percent of many of the everyday products we use even the environmentally friendly ones encompass some negative ecological impact. So what it really boils down to is choosing between the lesser of the 2 evils when we buy our products.
5. Is Bamboo a tree, grass, or a plant?
   Bamboo is a relative of woody recurrent evergreen plant it is in the actuality is in the grass family. Such grass plants have the ability to reproduce outward from the parent plant and ultimately create a cloned colony.
6. Is Bamboo the fastest-growing plant on Earth?
   The Earth’s fastest-growing plant is Bamboo. The plant has been timed rising skyward up to 47.6 inches (121 cm) in one 24-hour period of time. Bamboo’s growth rate has reached a maximal growth rate exceeding 40 inches (one meter) per hour for short time periods. Environmentally friendly bamboo is a fast growing natural resource that is quickly replenishable and does not strip natural resources.
7. Is it common for people to experience allergic reactions to bamboo fibers?
   It is uncommon for people to be allergic to bamboo fibers if they are not allergic to other natural fibers like hemp or wool. There are no sharp burs and are naturally smooth with little chemical treatment to irritate when put into contact with human skin. Normally it is not necessary to use pesticides and herbicides in the growth process of bamboo.
8. Is bamboo fabric comfortable?
   Yes, it is very soft and extremely comfortable for such things as clothing and mattress construction.
9. Does bamboo fabric wick away moisture?
   Yes, bamboo fabric is extremely absorbent and can absorb up to 3 times its weight in liquid.
10. Is bamboo fabric breathable?
    Yes, because it’s able to pull moisture away from the skin so affectively bamboo fiber clothing can be comfortably worn to keep you cool.
11. What brand name mattresses use all natural bamboo fabric covers on their mattresses?
    Symbol Mattress, Englander Mattress, and just about any other mattress manufacturer you can think of. Bamboo is a popular, comfortable and durable fabric. If your favorite mattress manufacturer does not offer bamboo fabric as a choice it probably won’t be long before they do.
12. Why is using bamboo in a mattress cover is a great idea?
    Because bamboo is a sustainable natural resource and as mentioned above bamboo is a quick growth grass and it makes us less dependant on other natural and synthetic fibers that can be more chemical based from the growth process insecticides and fertilizers right through to the actual fiber production. All natural bamboo is durable, breathable, and comfortable.