Is bamboo vegan and sustainable? These are questions every ethical consumer asks. Here is how buying bamboo will impact you, the environment, animals and laborers.
Fabric, materials and textiles are things we consume often. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on bamboo.
You are going to learn all about bamboo’s vegan and sustainability status. Additionally, the following info will include bamboo advantages and disadvantages for your home, whether bamboo is a natural fiber, biodegradable…or perhaps even destructive!
After learning if bamboo is vegan and sustainable you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you shop.
This post is all about learning if bamboo is vegan and sustainable.
All About Bamboo + It’s Impact On Animals, People, Planet
HOME
Durability: pros bamboo is long-lasting, durable, strong
Versatility: pros bamboo is absorbent, anti-static, breathable, porous soft, may pill, uses include towels, tops, t-shirts, tote bags, sportswear, beside bed sheets, bathrobes
Accessibility: bamboo is common, easy to find
Bamboo is…
- Durable
- Common, relatively easy to find
- Increasing in popularity
- High in demand
ENVIRONMENT
Fiber source: natural, bamboo is a natural fiber, can either a naturally occurring bast fiber (bamboo linen) or a regenerated manufactured fiber (bamboo rayon/viscose or lyocell)
Biodegradable: yes, bamboo is biodegradable, it breaks down quickly with natural enzymes to produce a fabric and is often a more expensive process, manufacturers estimate that it takes 4 to 6months for organic bamboo to biodegrade naturally, if it is a blend of organic cotton, it can take as little as 1 to 5 months for organic cotton to completely biodegrade
Destruction: low, bamboo production is relatively sustainable, it is very renewable, uses very little water, needs no pesticides
Bamboo is…
- Sustainable
ANIMALS
Kills: none, bamboo production does not require any animals to die
Harms: none, bamboo production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, bamboo needs no pesticides or fertilizers, which spares ecosystems and wildlife from exposure to toxic chemicals
Bamboo is…
- Vegan
- Wildlife Friendly
LABORERS
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers often experience exploitation, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Bamboo…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
What are bamboo material uses?
Bamboo material uses include clothing, shirts, pants, socks, bedding, sheets, pillow covers and more.
What are some ethical vegan fashion brands that use bamboo?
Alkeme Atelier, Boody, Delicious California, HARA, Indigo Apparel, Luva Huva and For The Earth Sweetheart are ethical vegan fashion brands that use bamboo fibers.
bamboo is durable.
Is bamboo durable or delicate? Bamboo is durable and long lasting when cared for properly.
For every 5 garments produced, the equivalent of 3 end up in a landfill or incinerated each year!
One reason for such wastefulness society’s ever growing desire to acquire. Fast fashion (creating low-priced items at high volumes) is problematic for a number of reasons and promotes the attitude that clothing is nearly disposable.
But another component of such a quick turnaround on clothing is because it’s just not lasting long enough. Snags, stains, warping and shrinkage render items unusable and unacceptable for the donation pile. Avoid such problems by buying better quality, more durable, long lasting materials. Timeless wardrobe favorites that last for years and years are more sustainable and reduce the need for replacements.
Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of textiles burns or goes to landfills…
Keep minimalism in mind and buy less, borrow and buy items second hand. Thrift shops offer many inexpensive, unique finds that have already proven to stand the test of time!
bamboo is sustainable.
Is bamboo eco friendly and sustainable? Yes, bamboo is sustainable. It is very renewable, uses very little water and needs no pesticides.
Animal agriculture is not good for the environment, human health and of course, the animals themselves. Thus, animal derived, non-vegan materials are not only cruel and inhumane but environmentally unsustainable.
That’s not to say that all vegan materials are sustainable. There are many vegan yet unsustainable fabrics, materials and textiles. Most of us don’t realize that washing one synthetic garment releases about 2,000 plastic microfibers which then enter the ocean and food chain…or that 30% of rayon and viscose used in fashion comes from endangered and ancient forests. So because a fabric is vegan it does not necessarily mean that it is sustainable, eco-friendly and so on.
Natural fibers like cotton are actually really harmful IF they are not organic. How? Cotton seeds are often GMOs that require pesticides, which are extremely toxic! In fact, up to 16% of the world’s pesticides go to non-organic, GMO cotton farming every year. The chemicals degrade soil and pollute water as well as poison cotton pickers.
Wow! …So it’s time to start using sustainable fabrics, materials and textiles.
bamboo is vegan.
Is bamboo vegan? Yes, bamboo is vegan.
Bamboo can grow without use of pesticides or fertilizers, which spares ecosystems and wildlife from exposure to toxic chemicals.
Cows, sheep, alpacas, goats, ducks and foxes are animals commonly subject to exploitation for their skins, hair or feathers. In fact, BILLIONS of them die every single year simply in the name of fashion.
Before buying a pair of shoes, a sweater, a purse, check the materials. Common and unfortunately popular animal-derived materials include:
These materials often come from places like India and China where there can be NO animal welfare laws or enforcement. But if the item does come from a more developed area of the world, such as the United States or Europe, that animal was likely a victim of factory farming. In such overcrowded farms there is confinement, disease and animals sometimes live their entire lives indoors, never seeing the light of day.
Material from animals may involve slaughtering like leather and fur production, for instance. In regards to wool or feathers, animals struggle while workers hold them down and beat them in order to shear their coat or rip feathers from skin. This leaves them bloody and wounded in pain.
Dressing and decorating vegan is easier than ever with this: Vegan Fabrics, Materials and Textiles List
bamboo is a material that may or may not have labor issues.
Is bamboo a material that has laborer issues? At this time, there are no specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding bamboo farming but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Bamboo may or may not have laborer issues.
Did you know that the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? Whether agriculture involves crops or animals, the labor behind each and every product made from cotton, leather, wool, etc. cannot go unrecognized.
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, sweatshops and child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence. Unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation. Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards. We can improve people’s lives simply by being mindful to buy items that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Sew Guide: Fabric glossary
10 Sustainable Vegan Fabrics: The Future of the Textile Industry
Bamboo Fabric Store
