Annie suggested I start a thread on this subject to get other member's thoughts on this subject.

Just about every magazine or newspaper article on Being Green seems to tout bamboo fibre as being the new wonder eco-textile but I'm concerned that it may largely be a case of greenwashing. My thoughts are pretty much summed up by Treehugger on these two pages:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/is_bamboo_cloth.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/09/bamboo_flooring.php

Personally we're not stocking anything made from bamboo yet because I haven't found a supplier who can reassure us on all the points raised. I have a concern that creating a fast-growing market for bamboo textiles may contribute to extensive deforestation and related issues, just like the current problems with palm oil harvesting. From the perspective of personal health I know that there is anecdotal evidence that people are allergic to modal (presumably to the chemicals involved in the manufacturing process) - has anyone here heard of similar problems with bamboo products?

I'd be interested in others' thoughts on this.

Alison Jackson-Bass
[apologies if this thread is a bit disjointed but my Mac doesn't like Wetpaint very much!]

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