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.
I originally published this post in September 2023. It was updated and republished in September 2026.
Some facts about bamboo
If you thought bamboo was a tree, you’re not alone. Encyclopaedia Britannica reports 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 I learned on Interestinengineering.com that surprised and fascinated me is bamboo is stronger than steel as a building material.
Other uses for bamboo
While today’s post focuses on bamboo as a fabric, Encyclopaedia Britannica lists 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 kitchen items.
Is bamboo sustainable? The benefits of bamboo
According to Sustainability Award, bamboo has a reputation for being sustainable for a few reasons:
- It grows rapidly and regenerates naturally without replanting.
- Bamboo requires minimal water and no pesticides.
- Bamboo forests absorb more carbon dioxide than trees. And they release 35% more oxygen than an equivalent area of trees, improving air quality.
- Unlike plastic fibres, bamboo is biodegradable—breaking down naturally at the end of its life cycle.
- Bamboo doesn’t contribute to microplastic pollution.
Is there a downside?
But, like everything, there can be a downside. Here are some things to consider:
- Transforming bamboo fibre into soft fabrics for clothing, towels or bedding uses of a lot of chemicals that may be harmful to the environment.
- Processing is energy intensive.
- I also find bamboo sheets don’t last as long as cotton sheets.
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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.
Bamboo is Better tells us there are three main types of bamboo fabric.
- 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.
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I appreciate the deeper dive into bamboo, Michelle. I didn’t realize bamboo sheets were a thing!
I noticed that a newer trend in the Philippines now is to cook using bamboo chutes – stuffing the food inside, covering it then roasting over a campfire. Very interesting and hopefully less environmentally wasteful too.
Bamboo sheets have been around for a while, although they’re still less popular than cotton.
Cooking inside bamboo chutes is interesting and sounds like it would be delicious. Love the creativity!
I’m wondering now how bamboo compares to linen. I use linen sheets, but they wear thin after ~3 years. I repurpose the salvageable parts into clothing, but I’ve been wondering if there’s a better alternative.
That’s a great question, Erin. I did a quick search and found this. https://householdwonders.com/bamboo-vs-linen-sheets/ It seems linen has many of the same benefits as bamboo.
Ah, great to know–thank you!!
I’ve heard all about how bamboo is a good sustainable alternative and I’ve used a bamboo toothbrush and utensils before, so it was insightful to read the downsides as well. I agree there is no perfect choice, and it is important to only buy what we need.
Yes, sometimes all the conflicting information can be confusing. So buying less is definitely a good policy!
I’ve wondered about bamboo. Thank you for pulling this all together. The conclusion to only buy what we need – so good!
Thanks Wynne. I’m reaching that conclusion more and more. Simpler is definitely better and less is more!
Great article – thanks Michelle!
Thanks for reading, Todd!
I’ve never ventured much into using bamboo. It seemed initially (like a lot of things) to be just another trendy idea with not a great deal of real thought into the pros and cons. Like you noted Michelle, there really isn’t much anymore that doesn’t bring both positive and negative impact to our planet. I am mostly of the mind at this point to live with what I already have- both good and bad, sustainable or not so much and try to forego new altogether- going to used or thrifted purchases if possible. Mentally it’s not always easy to go that route, but I’m trying.
Honestly, that’s the best way Deb. I buy very little these days and question everything I do buy. That’s why I did so much research before I bought those sheets! 😂
A while back I tried to find a bamboo toothbrush option that was actually grown in Canada and completely struck out. I feel like bamboo should be able to grow in more places than China, so am surprised that it hasn’t happened on a larger scale yet. I do think there are benefits to bamboo and it is a better choice than others in some ways. I like that you shared both the good and the bad because it’s important to have perspective on our choices.
You make a good point about bamboo only growing in China. I would expect it could grow elsewhere but didn’t investigate that aspect of it. I wonder where our plastic toothbrushes are manufactured. That isn’t something I’d considered.
Thanks for this post about bamboo! It sure grows fast!!! I haven’t explored using it as an option for anything (partly because I buy very few things these days other than food). I’ll see if Trader Joe’s sells any bamboo shoots!
Other than the bamboo sheets, the only other bamboo product I use is a toothbrush. That took a bit of getting used to!