Long story short, I decided to keep it. “It’s the responsibility of everyone to vet these and other similar terms to ensure that the eco-friendly product you’re putting your purchasing power behind is actually eco-friendly,” according to Natural Awakenings. © pexels.com, © shutterstock.com. If the viscose rug sits wet for days, mildew finds viscose as a fantastic food source. Before I knew about the intense chemical processing involved in bamboo fabric, I thought: How could my bedding have chemical residues on it when it was eco-friendly? Required fields are marked *. Enter your debit or credit card information. Rarely will you see a label that will read “Made with bamboo” anymore says Donatelli. The Curtain Scan: A Comprehensive Tool for Healers, How to Heal Yourself with Quantum Techniques, A Review of Truth Techniques for Your Healing. Rayon) and Lyocell is primarily the solvent and process used to dissolve the plant-based material. In the meantime, here are some other natural fabrics to sport: organic cotton (but do check on this one), hemp, organic wool, and silk. Directly to your inbox. Besides using a harsh chemical on something you are going to sleep with every night, the water can't be re-used and the waste is toxic. If a fibre is manufactured, then it is made from cellulose or protein. (Does the last sentence sound a bit evasive and vague to you or is it just me?). I started having anaphylactic type reactions that I never had before, but was too sick to see the correlation. Viscose Bamboo: If you remember the early days of bamboo fibers when it was first introduced, like hemp, it didn't receive enough positive feedback to thrive for textile purposes because it wasn't very soft for clothing. Essentially, the plants are dissolved and the cellulose fibers are then regenerated and reformed into a fabric for sewing. Viscose is semi-synthetic due to the many chemicals involved in the viscose process, like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. Luxome only uses top-grade Lyocell bamboo. a regenerated cellulose fiber, but processed with a non toxic spinning solvent in a closed-loop system. Bamboo silk rug, entire end full of mildew growth. The key difference between Viscose (a.k.a. If you can, purchase and wear organic fabrics and organic clothing. However, because of the growing fast fashion industry, much of the viscose on the market today is manufactured cheaply using energy, water and chemically-intensive processes that have devastating impacts on workers, local communities and the environment. This creates a truly organic fabric that you can feel good about draping over you for 6-8 hours a day. Pay in 4 interest-free installments so you can spread the cost. Besides using a harsh chemical on something you are going to sleep with every night, the water can't be re-used and the waste is toxic. po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; I couldn’t sleep on my bed and had to sleep on top of the toilet. Yet the manufacturing process and chemicals used have rayon imitating silk while viscose imitates cotton. The key difference between Viscose (a.k.a. At Spring Hometextile, we work with textiles that are made with both materials. Viscose bamboo uses a corrosive chemical (Sodium Hydroxide) as the solvent in order to dissolve the plant pulp. BedVoyage 100% bamboo linens are also made using Oeko-Tex approved fibers, which are tested to be safe for babies, as well; our bamboo is grown organically and has the proof of certification from Eco-Cert, which is an organic certification organization based in Europe but conducts inspections in over 80 countries. A 6-minute QT session revealed that the bedding had pesticide and herbicide residues that were causing the reactions. Laura Mathews of Eco Promotional Products, Inc, a company that sells environmentally responsible merchandise to businesses and consumers decided to ditch selling bamboo products altogether. Bamboo (bamboo from viscose) and eucalyptus (or TENCEL®) are two similar textile fibers in the way they are grown and processed. The different generations have vastly different e… Ethically speaking, the major complications for bamboo clothing start with the process of making viscose. These rugs are blends of “regenerative cellulose” (wood pulp fibers and cotton by products) and chemicals. While bamboo exudes beauty and strength and is even said to symbolize “morality,” it’s not so moral after all when bamboo fabric processing is scrutinized further. Bamboo may seem like a miracle fibre. Learn how this is possible and if it is toxic for your pets! Rayon) and Lyocell is primarily the solvent and process used to dissolve the plant-based material. For CA residents loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. Besides using a harsh chemical on something you are going to sleep with every night, the water can't be re-used and the waste is toxic. Bamboo Lyocell is one of the most contemporary and sustainable textile materials which are used in our century. Not only is the production of this textile toxic for the environment, it makes incredibly WEAK fibers. While bamboo is “rapidly renewable and requires few pesticides to grow,” reports Natural Awakenings, for bamboo fabric, some deem it a “textile fraud.”, According to Eco-Chick, Juliette Donatelli who holds an M.S. Toxic fibers and fabrics Humans only wear clothes; therefore the textile manufacturing, different types and effects of clothing and related things are just meant for human beings. The first payment is taken when the order is processed and the remaining 3 are automatically taken every two weeks. Exposure to this chemical in low levels causes irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “[t]he truth is, most “bamboo” textile products, if not all, really are rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals in a process that emits hazardous pollutants into the air. Most other bamboo weighted blankets use Viscose bamboo. These highly hazardous substances harm the environment and put workers' health at risk. Acrylic. Viscose is made from tree wood pulp, like beech, pine, and eucalyptus, but can also be made from bamboo. Manufacturers use it as a fabric finish. Your email address will not be published. Busted: Bamboo Fabric Loaded with Toxic Chemicals, https://foodrevolution.org/blog/how-to-wash-vegetables-fruits/, Food War: 3 Reasons to Muscle Test Your Foods. First, it's important to understand how these fibers are made. Commonly Used Chemicals and their Effects: Formaldehyde is chemical conscious consumers are becoming more aware of and is often found in many fabrics. The viscose … But most of that clothing has historically been made from viscose rayon, which is created from bamboo or wood pulp processed in a toxic soup of chemicals that generates significant pollution. The first step is called defoliation. Some parts of the bamboo … Acrylic fabrics are made of acrylonitrile, which is a … Lyocell bamboo uses an organic solvent to dissolve the plant pulp, allowing the water and solvent to be recovered and re-used in a "closed-loop", environmentally friendly process. There are four varieties of bamboo fabric on the market now. Here’s link to a more current article that offers some other options https://foodrevolution.org/blog/how-to-wash-vegetables-fruits/. Regenerated cellulosic fibers are manufactured by taking raw cellulose, AKA. in Ecology and a B.A. The waste produced by viscose rayon production, however, is contaminated with carbon disulfide, which is a toxic chemical that can cause a variety of health problems. “Bamboo viscose may be better for the environment than polyester, but even if bamboo is organically grown, we don’t allow bamboo textiles on the organic register We have mentioned some of the (considerable) negatives of the production process above. Looking at bamboo viscose vs cotton, it might seem as though bamboo viscose has a shorter manufacturing process, but in our opinion in the end it is largely the same. While bamboo itself is great for the environment and produces more oxygen and absorbs more carbon dioxide, marketing it as sustainable when it’s technically not no matter how hard companies try to hide this fact has led some to call this greenwashing. plant fiber – like bamboo or eucalyptus, and then taking it through a chemical process to turn it into a fabric. Please note that a higher initial payment may be required for some purchases. Additionally, the fibers size & quality wasn't consistent enough making it hard to work with. Viscose bamboo uses a corrosive chemical (Sodium Hydroxide) as the solvent in order to dissolve the plant pulp. The viscose process is the name of the method used for the transformation of the bamboo fiber. ... Rayon: Viscose or rayon is derived from cellulose of wood pulp or bamboo. When planting bamboo in a garden, it is important to know whether it is toxic to your family or pets. Think cashmere but made of grass. var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; On top of that, viscose is described as a form of rayon which may add to the confusion. Bamboo viscose production is generally toxic. The reason for that is that rayon is usually made from wood cellulose or bamboo, viscose adds in plant fibers as well as those two fabric sources. The chemical processing of bamboo, without the presence of a closed loop system, or a way of capturing waste water and chemicals and solvents used in the production process, can be damaging to the environment, and not as sustainable as mechanical processing. Instead, what you see might be a mixed blend of rayon, spandex, and cotton somewhere on the label. When she is not empowering through words, you may find her in the kitchen whipping up some no-sugar added paleo and raw desserts. The worst happened after I used the sheets. The FTC urges sellers of bamboo products to disclose the material used in their products as consumers need to know. This supposedly “eco-friendly” textile is a far cry from being so. Again, long story. Cellulose, being a plant-based material, is great at absorbing water and heat, which is what gives bamboo its moisture-wicking and cooling properties since it draws those away from your body. They’re different or at least processed differently. Viscose from bamboo is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and is hypoallergenic. It does not certify that no chemicals were used in the processing nor does it make any evaluation of what processes were used or any evaluation of the facilities that participated.”, And that is according to one site that sells bamboo products. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Well, the viscose process describes the way the bamboo is turned into fabric. I would have returned the product like my gut instinct had told me. The overwhelming majority of viscose is still produced using toxic chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide, and the safe disposal of the excess still poses a significant environmental challenge. What is Viscose? What is cellulose? (function() { Rayon): viscose, modal, lyocell. Cellulose is … Organic bamboo clothing? While wearing breathable clothing made of bamboo seems like a perfect combination of eco and chic, you might just have to lay low on the bamboo fabric and bamboo clothing radar for now. The Viscose Process Let’s start with the first question – What is the viscose process? As a plant-based fibre, viscose is not inherently toxic or polluting. Special Note: I purchased bamboo bedding years ago and did research and lots of muscle-testing before purchasing. Berkshire Hill Dash Stripe Bamboo Fabric Production of viscose rayon begins with the extraction of cellulose from wood pulp. Pay later in 4 installments. Because of this, the toxic by-products from rayon viscose processing in developing countries tend to be disposed of illegally, being dumped into local waterways. tweet Three varieties of bamboo fabric are the different manufacturing generations of regenerated cellulosic fiber (AKA. })(); Yes, vinegar is traditionally one of the best ways to wash veggies of pesticide residue. Promotions, new products and sales. The raw material is wood pulp harvested from eucalyptus The Problem with the Viscose Rayon Process tree farms, and the pulp is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC). Why is Energy Medicine and Psychotherapy Not Enough to Bring Complete Healing to My Life? Rayon is a fiber produced from recycled wood pulp or bamboo cellulose processed by a combination of many chemicals involving carbon disulphide, sulfuric acid, ammonia, acetone and caustic soda to bear regular washing and constant wearing. Toxic chemicals in fabrics is really an issue affecting everyone. Bamboo; Take Away’s. In addition, it is soft, affordable, it saves water and is free from pesticides. Rayon fibers rest in large quantities at the bottom of our oceans. Today, a lot of experts believe that the “bamboo” label on rayon clothing is fundamentally a misrepresentation. There are bamboo shoots, though, that can be eaten. While they still might be processed to some extent, they are often a better choice than synthetics. It is possible to use bamboo, or other sources And pet damage, unless you can get to it immediately (and you have had fiber protector applied to help), that is the most harmful thing that can happen to … This step is essentially the process of the leaves getting removed from the plants. If you don’t catch her there, then you may just find her somewhere with a notebook and pen—writing. Bamboo can also be processed using the Lyocell process, which uses less toxic chemicals and a closed-loop manufacturing process, thus a more sustainable alternative to the rayon viscose process.