How to Choose Truly Sustainable Bamboo Sheets

Bamboo sheets are the new green bedding on the linens block. Viscose bamboo is made from highly sustainable bamboo grass that's less chemical intensive to grow and very land efficient. But not all bamboo bedding is created equal. Though growing bamboo is inherently sustainable, there are some growers and manufacturers using methods that are less green than others. In this article you'll find all of the information you need for finding truly sustainable bamboo sheets.

Typically, bamboo can be farmed in an incredibly sustainable fashion. It doesn't require pesticides and fertilizers, and almost never requires artificial irrigation, making it a grass that grows with little human intervention. Bamboo is a very diverse plant, as well. It can be grown in a variety of environments ranging from very wet to rather dry and from extremely hot to somewhat cool. It can also be grown in existing forested areas, contributing to the local ecosystem.

Bamboo offers many advantages to the regions in which it is grown. The roots of the bamboo help to anchor topsoil in place while preventing the destructive impacts of flooding and landslides. It fixes carbon much faster than trees, which means it fights climate change, and it provides habitat for many types of wildlife. It also grows from a root system that doesn't die when the bamboo is harvested, which means the lifecycle is easy to maintain for many decades without replanting.

But some farmers are now using destructive cultivation methods. Some are clear-cutting existing tropical forests to make room for mono-cultured bamboo plantations. This not only destroys local ecosystems and disrupts existing wildlife, it also opens up the environment to soil erosion and, flooding. Additionally, some farmers choose to use chemical pesticides and fertilizers to fend of pests and increase production.

To avoid these environmental hazards, look for greener bamboo bedding with the following eco-qualifications:

Certified organic - This means the farmers will not have used synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Clear-cutting-free - These farms will have been developed without clearing existing forest systems.

Sustainable agriculture - This means the bamboo is cultivated within a diverse ecosystem rather than planted in a mono-culture environment.The best way to identify really green bamboo bedding products is to look for a the following certifications:

Organic Certification - To ensure the wild bamboo was cultivated in a sustainable manner without the input of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, look for a credible organic seal such as the National Organic Program, the Japan Organic Standard, the Soil Organic Agriculture Standard or the EU Organic Regulation. Any of these organic standards are internationally recognized and highly credible.

OKEO-TEX 100 Certified - To ensure the viscose bamboo was processed and finished in a manner that minimizes environmental impact and produces the healthiest possible rayon based textiles for your bedroom, ensure the bamboo sheets have this certification.

OKEO-TEX 100 certification prohibits the use of the many toxic chemicals commonly used in textile production such as formaldehyde, azo based dyes, organotin compounds and brominated fire retardents to name a few. All of these compound are known or suspected carcinogens so the last thing you want to do is sleep in textiles laced with these toxins.

And finally, ensure the bamboo sheets were produced from Moso bamboo. There are over 1000 species of bamboo. Moso bamboo is one variety that is not eaten by the Panda bear which is a threatened species. By ensuring the bamboo sheets were produced from Moso, you help protect the Panda bear as well.

If you follow these steps when choosing you bamboo sheets and linens, you will be ensuring maximum protection for both your health and the planet's health - a win, win situation!

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