Comments on: To Bamboo Or Not To Bamboo http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/ eco fashion news and reviews brought to you by Greenloop Fri, 16 May 2008 17:16:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Criterion D: FINISHED! | Christy R.'s blog http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-435 Criterion D: FINISHED! | Christy R.'s blog Thu, 01 May 2008 14:51:54 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-435 [...] Loop; eco fashion news and reviews brought to you by Greeloop. 13 Mar 2008. Greenloop. 26 Apr 2008 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/. [...] […] Loop; eco fashion news and reviews brought to you by Greeloop. 13 Mar 2008. Greenloop. 26 Apr 2008 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/. […]

]]> By: Criterion C, Individual Plan | Christy R.'s blog http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-434 Criterion C, Individual Plan | Christy R.'s blog Thu, 01 May 2008 07:11:24 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-434 [...] iiBreckenridge , Jenn. “To Bamboo Or Not To Bamboo.” In The Loop; eco fashion news and reviews brought to you by Greeloop. 13 Mar 2008. Greenloop. 26 Apr 2008 <http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/>. [...] […] iiBreckenridge , Jenn. “To Bamboo Or Not To Bamboo.” In The Loop; eco fashion news and reviews brought to you by Greeloop. 13 Mar 2008. Greenloop. 26 Apr 2008 <http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/>. […]

]]> By: Aysia Wright http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-391 Aysia Wright Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:22:47 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-391 New article from <a href="http://seattle.consciouschoice.com/2008/04/spincycle0804.html" rel="nofollow">Conscious Choice Seattle</a> - basically, despite the chemicals used in processing, its still a greener option than conventional cotton or most synthetics. Read here: Bamboo clothes have gone fashion-forward. Gone are those linen-like muumuus; now we have soft bamboo T-shirts, plush bamboo robes and silky bamboo socks. Many environmentalists praise bamboo because it’s a fast-growing plant that shoots up and thrives without requiring any chemicals or pesticides, making it a sustainable, regenerating resource. And to the joy of eco-fashionistas who can’t afford Loomstate’s $55 organic cotton T-shirts, many bamboo items are very affordably priced. So what’s the eco-conundrum? The problem is in the processing. Most bamboo clothes are made using a process that requires strong chemical solvents, such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. Both of those chemicals are linked to health problems for the workers making the stuff, as well as the wearer who’s unknowingly absorbing the lingering toxins. Plus, the reason bamboo clothes are often so cheap is that most are made in China — which brings up all manner of fair labor and workers’ rights concerns. Still, bamboo clothes are an eco step up from most conventional clothes, which too are often chemically processed and made with pesticide-intensive crops or synthetic non-renewable materials to boot. And unlike pesticide residue, which can remain in your conventional cotton clothes for years, the chemicals used in bamboo processing aren’t permanently embedded in the clothes. In fact, many bamboo products carry the Oeko Tex Standard 100 certification, which shows that the end product is chemical-free — and safe for you to wear. To make sure your favorite bamboo T-shirt’s as green as possible, do your best to check up on the environmental and labor practices of the company you’re buying from. The very best companies are members of the Fair Trade Federation or have Co-op America’s Business Seal of Approval. New article from Conscious Choice Seattle - basically, despite the chemicals used in processing, its still a greener option than conventional cotton or most synthetics. Read here:

Bamboo clothes have gone fashion-forward. Gone are those linen-like muumuus; now we have soft bamboo T-shirts, plush bamboo robes and silky bamboo socks. Many environmentalists praise bamboo because it’s a fast-growing plant that shoots up and thrives without requiring any chemicals or pesticides, making it a sustainable, regenerating resource. And to the joy of eco-fashionistas who can’t afford Loomstate’s $55 organic cotton T-shirts, many bamboo items are very affordably priced.

So what’s the eco-conundrum? The problem is in the processing. Most bamboo clothes are made using a process that requires strong chemical solvents, such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. Both of those chemicals are linked to health problems for the workers making the stuff, as well as the wearer who’s unknowingly absorbing the lingering toxins. Plus, the reason bamboo clothes are often so cheap is that most are made in China — which brings up all manner of fair labor and workers’ rights concerns.

Still, bamboo clothes are an eco step up from most conventional clothes, which too are often chemically processed and made with pesticide-intensive crops or synthetic non-renewable materials to boot. And unlike pesticide residue, which can remain in your conventional cotton clothes for years, the chemicals used in bamboo processing aren’t permanently embedded in the clothes. In fact, many bamboo products carry the Oeko Tex Standard 100 certification, which shows that the end product is chemical-free — and safe for you to wear.

To make sure your favorite bamboo T-shirt’s as green as possible, do your best to check up on the environmental and labor practices of the company you’re buying from. The very best companies are members of the Fair Trade Federation or have Co-op America’s Business Seal of Approval.

]]> By: Ahmad Mahdavi http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-324 Ahmad Mahdavi Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:14:34 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-324 No pesticide regulations in developing countries: How pesticides are handled in developing countries: Pesticides have a dilemma nature and because of this nature to use them safely there must be done lots of research and there should exist lots of laws and regulations and enforcement, now let say that this is followed correctly in developed countries where the industry exists but the story and scenario is quiet different in developing countries. In most of these developing countries there are no research/ regulations or if there is it is not followed / enforced absolutely and this is the problem and because it deals with the life of people and health of the environment it is a real big problem. When it comes to spraying technology and worker protection it is never practiced by ordinary farmers in these countries. These are my personal experiences/ observations during more than 35 years being involved in pesticide science work. Living more than 15 years in Mazandaran, Golastan and Gillan the three beautiful Northern Provinces of Iran by the Caspian Sea I observed so many cases of pesticide intoxication. This is because people do their spraying without any protective clothing, most of times with bare foot and body because of hot weather and with any type of spraying equipment that they can find and they use lots of pesticides in their rice paddies, cotton fields and citrus orchards etc. So as a result where there is no scientific research and laws and regulations as in developing countries then most use of pesticides should stop because no rules are followed. With best regards, Ahmad Mahdavi, PhD, pesticide environmental toxicologist, Guelph, Canada. No pesticide regulations in developing countries:
How pesticides are handled in developing countries:
Pesticides have a dilemma nature and because of this nature to use them safely there must be done lots of research and there should exist lots of laws and regulations and enforcement, now let say that this is followed correctly in developed countries where the industry exists but the story and scenario is quiet different in developing countries. In most of these developing countries there are no research/ regulations or if there is it is not followed / enforced absolutely and this is the problem and because it deals with the life of people and health of the environment it is a real big problem. When it comes to spraying technology and worker protection it is never practiced by ordinary farmers in these countries. These are my personal experiences/ observations during more than 35 years being involved in pesticide science work. Living more than 15 years in Mazandaran, Golastan and Gillan the three beautiful Northern Provinces of Iran by the Caspian Sea I observed so many cases of pesticide intoxication. This is because people do their spraying without any protective clothing, most of times with bare foot and body because of hot weather and with any type of spraying equipment that they can find and they use lots of pesticides in their rice paddies, cotton fields and citrus orchards etc.
So as a result where there is no scientific research and laws and regulations as in developing countries then most use of pesticides should stop because no rules are followed.

With best regards,
Ahmad Mahdavi,
PhD, pesticide environmental toxicologist,
Guelph, Canada.

]]> By: Cristina http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-316 Cristina Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:27:20 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-316 I am so happy to see some coverage on this topic. I recently read Patagonia's founder talking about why he doesn't use bamboo in their products exactly for the reason that although bamboo can be grown organically and sustainably the manufacturing is still very toxic. I hope to hear more in the future on bamboo and the start to finish processing of newer eco textiles. I am so happy to see some coverage on this topic. I recently read Patagonia’s founder talking about why he doesn’t use bamboo in their products exactly for the reason that although bamboo can be grown organically and sustainably the manufacturing is still very toxic. I hope to hear more in the future on bamboo and the start to finish processing of newer eco textiles.

]]> By: Victoria Everman http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-315 Victoria Everman Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:17:13 +0000 http://thegreenloopblog.com/2008/03/to-bamboo-or-not-to-bamboo/#comment-315 Thanks for mentioning my article about bamboo! Whether or not the fabric is truly sustainable (say, as, organic cotton), it is still a lot better than a number of synthetic fabrics on the market. Thanks for mentioning my article about bamboo! Whether or not the fabric is truly sustainable (say, as, organic cotton), it is still a lot better than a number of synthetic fabrics on the market.

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