Bamboo, a super ecological culture
Indeed, bamboo is a plant, natural therefore, and its culture is very far from an ecological disaster.
If Grandpa wanted a hedge to no longer see the neighbor Michel, we would probably have suggested the bamboo: it grows very quickly, very well, and even a little too good sometimes ...
It is a fact, the traditional culture of bamboo would even be favorable to the environment. This is on average 4 times less greedy in water than cotton cultivation for example, and the roots grow without needing to sow.
This plant does not require any adding chemical or pesticide fertilizer, and it produces a lot of oxygen thus participating in air regeneration.
In addition, its culture, requiring an exotic environment, also allows many emerging countries to make it a real economic asset!
So far, everything is going pretty well, except for Papy who just wanted to no longer see Michel mowing his lawn in underwear and who finds himself in the middle of the tropical jungle ...
Bamboo, a fiber with super powers
Again, we cannot contradict this argument.
Yes, the fabric from bamboo has many properties that make it a fiber of choice for textile design:
• Resistance and solidity
• Breathable and absorbent
• Lightness
• Naturally antibacterial
• Easy to maintain, not very crisp
And that's where you say to yourself: but they have eaten bamboo too much at Lilikiwi, why not use it if it's so great? We explain the back of the medal to you:
Bamboo, a fiber difficult to transform
If you've already met a bamboo, you've probably noticed how solid it is.
This plant is downright used for the construction of buildings, floors, partitions and not only in Asia elsewhere!
Besides, passing the info to Grandpa, he could undoubtedly make a garden shed for Michel's mower.
This rigidity and solidity are obstacles to its transformation into a textile fiber.
Imagine the effort that must be made to transform your bamboo trunks into a delicate sponge to clean the face (or buttocks) of your babies ...
Indeed, to become fabric, bamboo must go through a very long and very polluting process, we tell you:
From fabric bamboo: the epic of miracle fiber
First of all, our bamboo fiber (even if cultivated in an eco -responsible manner) is reduced to powder by a mechanical process.
Then, is linked a whole series of chemical processes to extract the cellulose and thus obtain bamboo viscose (also call radius of bamboo):
- Dissolution in caustic soda in order to swell cellulose and remove fibers (possible water pollution).
- Adding carbon disulfide to make cellulose soluble (toxic solvent, harmful for human health and the environment)
- Dissolution of cellulose in sodium hydroxide to obtain a viscous liquid (viscose)
- Viscose filtration in a sulfuric acid bath in order to form continuous threads (strong, dangerous acid, harmful to human health and the environment)
All these chemical components are obviously not recyclable.
In addition, their production and use are responsible for important pollution of the atmosphere and the groundwater.
Not to mention that some of them are very controversial in terms of health. In particular carbon disulfide which is considered an endocrine disruptor.
We are therefore far from organic culture and respect for health or the environment.
Bamboo, victim of greenwashing
To conclude, you will understand, the bamboo fabric is the false good idea!
Its sweetness and all its qualities have made this fiber the star of Greenwashing textiles par excellence!
But the pretty green fairy tale stops at the exit of the bamboo field ...
It is therefore for all these reasons that at Lilikiwi we favored cotton.
Our wipes are therefore in cotton certified GOTS, a label guaranteeing traceability and eco-responsibility throughout the production sector.
Particularly in children's textiles:
The GOTS label assures you that no controversial product for the health of your little ones was used in the manufacturing process.
We will tell you a little more in a future article on textile labels and how to choose the textile materials of your little stingy!
For any questions, do not hesitate to write to us at cowcou@lilikiwi.fr