Uh-oh. You've probably heard by now that last month the Federal Trade Commission charged four companies that sell bamboo-made textiles with false advertising for claiming their products were still bamboo after a chemical process that essentially turns them into rayon...
Although it remains true that the process of farming bamboo and its quick growth make it a sustainable plant, it still needs to be treated with harsh and likely toxic chemicals in order to turn it into a soft, wearable fabric — a process that basically turns it into rayon, the fiber that's made from the cellulose of a tree or plant.
The FTC's Statement states that "there’s also no evidence that rayon made from bamboo retains the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, as some sellers and manufacturers claim. Even when bamboo is the “plant source” used to create rayon, no traits of the original plant are left in the finished product."
The FTC is now requiring companies to provide reliable evidence through scientific tests and analysis to show that their products are made of actual bamboo fiber. The four companies charged with false advertising include Sami Designs (Jonäno), CSE (Mad Mod), Pure Bamboo, and The M Group (Bamboosa). All except The M Group have settled.
Does this change your perception of bamboo, and will you alter your buying habits because of it?
• Bamboo: Is It Really As Eco As We Think?
• Green or Not: Bamboo?
• New Floors? Why Cork Beats Bamboo
Via Natural Home
Image via Furniture Home Design