Frequently Asked Questions Click on any topic below to find out more
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • Species used for bamboo fiber • Geographical location • Renewability / Sustainability • Harvest Practices/ Land quality & use • Use of pesticides and fertilizer PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING • How is bamboo fiber made? • Use of toxic chemicals • Waste from factory • Labor and sweatshop issues GENERAL • History of bamboo clothing • Learn about bamboo
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Species used for bamboo fiber
Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens, commonly known as Moso bamboo.
This is the largest of the temperate zone bamboo species and is the most economically important bamboo species in China. It is most commonly used for construction purposes and edible bamboo shoots.
Geographical location
Moso bamboo is prevalent throughout China. Bamboo Textile's factory however, owns and maintains its own plantations on a large mountainside located in Zhejiang Province, which is south of the factory in Suzhou.
Renewability
Bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth, making it naturally highly renewable. In fact, bamboo grows to its maximum height in approximately 3 months and matures in 3-5 years for harvest.
Sustainability Harvest Practices
Like all plants grown and managed for commercial purposes, harvesting practices must be exercised. Crop rotation and intercropping with bamboo is not unheard of, but they are not common practices integrated with bamboo plantation management. Our factory in China is utilizing the best harvesting practices to ensure a long-term supply of bamboo fiber.
Land quality and land use
Bamboo's growth characteristics enable it to spread rapidly across large areas. Because of its growth characteristics and ability to spread, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.
Use of pesticides and fertilizer
Bamboo's natural growth habits allow it to reproduce in abundance without the use of fertilizers and without the need for pesticides.
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PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING
How is bamboo fiber made?
The process to make bamboo fiber and yarn is similar to the process used to make rayon. Stalks of bamboo are essentially crushed and pulped to separate the natural fibers. The fibers are then mixed with chemicals such as caustic soda to convert the plant fiber into textile quality fiber.
Use of toxic chemicals
As with many textiles, the process to make bamboo into fiber uses caustic soda. There are, however, alternatives that are more environmentally friendly.
Waste from factory
We are currently researching the answer to this question. Please stay tuned.
Labor and sweatshop issues Our factory has established labor practices that are based on SA8000 principles (Social Accountability International 8000) and plans are underway to receive full-fledged SA8000 certification. For more information about SA8000, go to www.sa8000.org.