Is bamboo sustainable? A few weeks ago, I replaced an old threadbare set of bamboo sheets. When I bought them several years ago, I didn’t give any thought to bamboo as a sustainable choice. I chose them because someone told me they are super soft, and cool for hot summer nights. This time I did some research to learn more about this plant and to find out if it’s as sustainable as many people think.

Some facts about bamboo

(Source: Britannica.com)

If you thought bamboo was a tree, you’re not alone. One of the first things I learned in my research is bamboo is actually a family of tall tree-like grasses called poaceae. There are more than 1500 species, typically found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Some species of this fast-growing perennial grow as much as 30 centimetres (1 foot) per day. The tallest species can grow to 40 metres (130 feet).

Something that surprised and fascinated me is bamboo is stronger than steel as a building material. (Source: Interestinengineering.com)

Other uses for bamboo

(Source: Britannica.com)

While today’s post focuses on bamboo as a fabric, there are many other uses for this versatile plant.

• Human food. The seeds of some varieties are harvested as grain, and young bamboo shoots are eaten as vegetables.
• Animal feed. Raw leaves are used to feed livestock.
• Paper. The pulped fibres are used to make high-quality paper. You can also buy bamboo toilet paper.
• Building lumber. Jointed stems of larger species are used to build houses, furniture, flooring, and anything else made of wood.
• Other household items. A couple of years ago, I switched to a bamboo toothbrush and will never go back to plastic. You can also buy bamboo utensils, drinking straws and a variety of other household items.

Is bamboo sustainable? The benefits of bamboo

(Source: EcoandBeyond.co)

Bamboo has a reputation for being sustainable for a few reasons:

• Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent tree mass and can absorb as much as 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.
• It takes only three to five years for a bamboo plant to reach maturity. That’s much faster than even the fastest growing trees.
• Bamboo is renewable. It regrows from its own root system. Its shallow roots hold the soil together, improving the ability of the soil to hold water, and helping to prevent soil erosion.
• Bamboo production takes less energy than other resources, like wood and steel.

Is there a downside?

(Source: EcoandBeyond.co)

But, like everything, there can be a downside. Here are some things to consider:

• To fuel high demand for bamboo, large areas of land are being cleared to make way for it. This has an impact on ecosystems and biodiversity.
• The only commercial-scale production of bamboo is in China. Those bamboo products travel a long way to get to your house. However, the same can be said of most other consumer goods in our homes.
• Farmers may use chemical pesticides and fertilizers on their bamboo crops.
• Turning bamboo into fabric or paper is an energy-intensive process. You might be better off to buy toilet paper made from recycled paper that hasn’t travelled halfway around the world.

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Types of bamboo fabric

If you search bamboo sheets, you’ll find various options and price points.

Buyer beware: not all “bamboo sheets” are made from 100% bamboo. Many of them—usually less expensive options—contain synthetic fibres like polyester. Read labels carefully and do some research to ensure your sustainable purchase really is sustainable.

There are three main types of bamboo fabric. (Source: BambooIsBetter.com)

• Bamboo Viscose, also known as bamboo rayon, originates from the bamboo plant’s cellulose, which is soaked and turned into a pulp that is then woven into fabric. This does require a chemically-intensive process during the spinning cycle.
• Fine Bamboo involves a manual and labour-intensive process that breaks down bamboo into a pulp. Fine bamboo is coarser and less comfortable than other options.
• Lyocell Bamboo has a similar production process to bamboo viscose, but it uses recycled water and chemicals that don’t get released into the environment. The downside to Lyocell Bamboo is it doesn’t last as long or wash as well as bamboo viscose.

So while turning bamboo into fabric isn’t a perfectly sustainable choice, it’s important to consider the alternatives. Many sheets on the market are made with petroleum-based synthetic fabrics like polyester and microfibre. The most common natural alternative to bamboo is cotton. Bamboo has an edge over cotton from a sustainability point of view.. Bamboo is naturally pest resistant and consumes less water than cotton.  

The bottom line

As with any purchase, it pays to do your homework. In the end, I chose OEKO-TEX Certified 100% rayon from bamboo sateen sheets for their softness and cooling properties.

Along the way, I learned there is no perfect choice. Everything we buy has some environmental impact. The best way to live sustainably is to reduce consumption and buy only what we need.

The most environmentally product is the one you didn’t buy.

Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist

What do you think? Is bamboo sustainable? Have you ever tried bamboo sheets or other items made from bamboo? Drop me a comment below to let me know your thoughts.