With sustainable fabrics taking center stage, it's no surprise that bamboo is at the top of the list. Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly and versatile materials and is quickly becoming a popular fashion staple for those who appreciate silky soft clothing that stands the test of time and won't end up in a landfill even when worn out. While bamboo is growing in popularity, there are two types of bamboo fabric worth knowing about - bamboo viscose and bamboo rayon. Both bamboo materials are popular eco-friendly textile choices, and we are here to break down the differences between them and give you all the information you need to select the best fabric for you.
Understanding Bamboo as a Fabric
The Basics of Bamboo Fabric
Bamboo fabric is made from bamboo pulp harvested from the bamboo plant. First and foremost, raw bamboo is harvested from bamboo forests or plantations. Once the bamboo stalks are collected, they undergo either a chemical or a mechanical process to turn them into a usable fabric. The breakdown of bamboo is to get the cellulose fibers, so the plant matter will either be crushed or chemically treated to get to this stage. The cellulose fibers can then be manufactured into yarn, which can be spun into threads, creating the common bamboo fabrics we adore. As you can see, bamboo viscose and bamboo lyocell come from the same plant and undergo many of the same steps - the key difference being that one method is mechanical and the other chemical.
Why Bamboo?
But why bamboo in the first place? Bamboo is actually a member of the grass family and is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. The fact that some species can hit up to 3 feet in one single day means that bamboo is highly sustainable. There are other benefits too - bamboo is a hardy plant and requires no chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides to help it grow. It also takes minimal water usage, especially when you compare bamboo vs cotton. Bamboo plants don't strip the soil and, instead, feeds back nutrients into the earth. It also helps sequester C02. Bamboo is also biodegradable, meaning that when its life span is over, it will break down without causing harm to the planet. It is a completely renewable resource.
Bamboo Viscose Explained
Production Process
Turning bamboo into viscose includes several steps to extract the cellulose fibers and make the plant a usable textile.
First, the bamboo plant is harvested and broken down into a cellulose pulp. This is often done using chemical solvents to dissolve the plant into a cellulose solution and to create a viscose liquid. The chemicals used are sodium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda) and carbon disulfide. This liquid is then extruded to create long fibers. These fibers are then treated with chemicals to solidify them so they can be spun into yarn and woven into a usable fabric.
Pros and Cons
There are pros and cons to this process of creating the viscose varieties of bamboo fabric. The pros include
- Pro - Bamboo viscose is famed for its heavenly softness. This method creates a truly soft and luxurious fabric that is often compared to silk. The rounded fibers move with the skin rather than against it, making it excellent for sensitive skin.
- Pro -Bamboo viscose is highly durable and can withstand the test of time. Its solid tensile strength makes it a long-lasting fabric choice that will easily withstand wear and tear.
- Pro -Bamboo viscose also tends to be the more affordable option when it comes to bamboo bed sheets, bamboo clothing, and products in the textile market. This is because the chemical composition method isn't as labor intensive when compared to cotton or bamboo lyocell.
- Con—Bamboo viscose is made using chemicals, which does raise some environmental concerns. If not properly managed, the chemicals could run off into the surrounding landscape and waterways and negatively impact workers.
- Con - Bamboo viscose could also be considered an energy-intensive method as the process requires high heat and electricity, contributing to a higher carbon footprint.
Bamboo Lyocell: An Eco-Friendlier Alternative
Production Process
Bamboo lyocell is made in a closed-loop process, which reduces the usage of harmful chemicals and water and is, therefore, a more eco-friendly solution. Like bamboo viscose, the bamboo is harvested and broken into cellulose pulp, often by machinery. However, the next step differs. The bamboo will then be dissolved in a non-toxic solvent (typically amine oxide or N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)) to create a solution.
The solution is then extruded and put through a spinner to create fibers. As the fibers emerge, the solvent is removed, leaving pure cellulose fibers. These fibers can then be turned into yarn. While the chemicals are disposed of using the viscose method, the chemicals and water are in a closed-loop cycle in the lyocell method. This means that they are recycled rather than released, adding another element of sustainability to this method.
Pros and Cons
Pro—Bamboo lyocell is an eco-friendly and sustainable way of turning bamboo into a usable textile. It reduces the use of chemicals, which means there is no chemical runoff into the environment, especially as it is a closed-loop process.
Pro - Bamboo lyocell also uses less water than bamboo viscose production.
Pro—Bamboo lyocell is also soft to the touch and a completely biodegradable product, meaning that at the end of its life cycle, it can be reabsorbed into the earth without leaving a trace of damage.
Con—Bamboo lyocell's main drawback is that it tends to have higher manufacturing costs than bamboo viscose. It is a more labor-intensive process requiring more machinery and overheads.
Comparing Bamboo Viscose and Lyocell
Environmental Impact
Water use - When it comes to water use, bamboo lyocell tends to use less water than bamboo viscose. This is also because the lyocell method is a closed-loop method, meaning that the water used is regenerated and recycled. Bamboo viscose often uses more water to wash and rinse the bamboo fibers to remove any chemical traces.
Chemical use—Bamboo lyocell uses non-toxic solvents, whereas bamboo viscose uses chemicals in the creation process. The lyocell method also uses a closed-loop process, meaning solvents won't be released into the environment.
Overall sustainability - Compared to conventional textiles, bamboo lyocell, and bamboo viscose fabric are great choices that offer higher sustainable value. However, when compared to each other, bamboo lyocell is the more sustainable choice as a textile created from organic ingredients and doesn't use harsh chemicals.
Use and Care
Care instructions—Bamboo lyocell and bamboo viscose are easy to care for. They can be machine washed, although washing your clothing or bamboo linens on a low-temperature setting is always recommended; use a gentle cycle and a mild detergent. You should also avoid high heat settings in the dryer, as this can run the risk of shrinking, color fading, and weakening the bamboo fibers.
Durability - both lyocell and viscose are highly durable, which is one of the major reasons people turn to bamboo sheets and clothing. Over time and even with multiple washes, these textiles shouldn't lose their integrity or softness.
Typical uses: bamboo viscose sheets, organic bamboo lyocell sheets, bamboo clothing, bamboo t-shirts, underwear, bamboo socks, and bamboo loungewear. These wonderful textiles are used across the board to create bedding and clothing that is super soft, has natural hypoallergenic properties, and is eco-friendly, too.
Cost Considerations
The difference between bamboo viscose and lyocell can also be found in their cost bracket. Bamboo lyocell tends to have a higher price point than viscose as it doesn't use toxic chemicals and, therefore, has a more labor-intensive and expensive manufacturing process. Bamboo viscose tends to be more widely available on the market due to its affordability, large-scale production, and the fact that it has been on the market for longer and is widely distributed. However, as more and more consumers are always seeking cleaner pathways to sustainable status, the popularity of bamboo lyocell will surely grow.
Making an Informed Choice
Deciding whether to buy bamboo viscose or bamboo lyocell depends on a number of personal factors. For those wanting the benefits of bamboo sheets and clothing but operating on a budget, perhaps bamboo viscose is a more suitable choice. Bamboo lyocell cannot be beaten by those who want to take the more sustainable route. Whichever option you choose, both these bamboo products are ethical alternatives to synthetic fibers and conventional textile choices.
Conclusion
While bamboo viscose (also known as bamboo rayon) and bamboo lyocell come from the same plant and share many qualities, the difference really comes down to how the plant fibers are processed. Bamboo lyocell is a more sustainable solution as it doesn't use harsh chemicals and relies on a closed-loop system. Bamboo viscose is the more common method, but it does raise some environmental concerns if not properly managed. Both have their benefits, and both invite you to snuggle up and enjoy the super soft and silky feel of bamboo against your skin.
FAQs
Is lyocell better than viscose
Bamboo lyocell is made from the bamboo plant, just like viscose; the difference is in processing the plant fibers into a usable textile. While viscose uses chemicals to treat it and turn it into fabric, bamboo lyocell uses nontoxic solvents and undergoes a closed-loop process, making it more eco-friendly.
Is lyocell better than bamboo
Lyocell can be made from the bamboo plant. The lyocell refers to how the plant fibres are treated to turn them into usable textiles. Lyocell is an eco-friendly method of fabric creation as it doesn't use harsh chemicals and stays in a closed-loop process, meaning the solvents and water can be recycled and reused.
Is bamboo viscose good quality
Bamboo viscose can be very high quality, and if you choose high thread count bedding, it can feel as good as Egyptian cotton or silk. Bamboo is famed for feeling super soft against the skin and for keeping the body cool as it is moisture-wicking and highly breathable.
What are the disadvantages of bamboo viscose
The main argument against bamboo viscose is that it uses chemicals to turn it from plant fiber into fabric. If these chemicals aren't correctly managed, there is the risk of chemical run off into the environment.
