Don’t Get Bamboozled By Bamboo

When you search eco-friendly towels on google, you’ll get a list of different eco-friendly alternatives and options. A super vogue and common fabric that is used in different home products such as clothing, bed sheets, towels etc is bamboo. 
But for those who prioritize eco-friendly and sustainable products, is bamboo a good option?

The answer is yes - and no. It really depends on what you define as sustainable and what you prioritize. 

Here’s the quick rundown of three important points regarding bamboo fabrics and sustainability: 

1. Bamboo uses less water than traditional natural fibers: Bamboo traditionally takes less water to grow than other natural fibers. However, compared to hemp for example, it still uses a significant amount of water to grow. It depends on how important water conservation is to you when choosing a sustainable and eco-friendly fabric for your towels. 

2. Most bamboo fabrics on the market are a form of rayon: This essentially means that it isn’t a super natural fiber because the manufacturing process is intensive and involves a lot of harmful and intensive chemicals. Not only does this mean your bamboo fabric product might have residual chemicals that you now wear and use, but those chemicals were also emitted into the air and environment. 

However, this point really is specific to the brand. If the brand uses lyocell bamboo then it is a much more sustainable alternative. Bamboo is definitely a step up from traditional polyester or non-organic and sustainably grown cotton. This point isn’t meant to slander bamboo fabrics, but rather, just emphasize the importance of doing your research when it comes to what type of bamboo the brand uses and their manufacturing process. There are some amazing brands that utilize bamboo in a sustainable way for home furnishings and decor. 

We have another article outlining more differences between bamboo towels that are currently available on the market and how they differ from our hemp + organic cotton blend Anact towels. You can read it here. 

If you’re looking for a more sustainable and eco-friendly fabric option for your towel purchase, check out our hemp + organic cotton blend towels that on average save 526 days of water with one purchase. Check out our most popular bundle here.