It’s Not Easy Being Green

You know how every few months scientists/government/nutritionists/doctors give us new – often conflicting – information about what foods and lifestyle choices are actually making us fat/sick/tired? And how hard it is to keep up with the changing landscape of “official” recommendations? Well, that same feeling of confusion is starting to rear its ugly head in the realm of social and environmental responsibility.

Bamboo, which for a while had seemed like such an idyllic substitute for silk, cashmere, even cotton, is starting to raise doubts about its validity as a “green” fabric. Shellie & Michael Lackman of Lotus Organics have done a thorough investigation of the bamboo industry, and their findings are less than supportive of the plant’s use as fabric:

“In part because of its luxurious softness, smooth hand, flowing and gentle drape, and easy price – at least compared with silk and cashmere – and eco friendly cachet, bamboo has gained entry throughout the fashion industry. But it has been the trumpets heralding bamboo as the latest and hottest sustainable eco-fabric that have been the most strident. And some of the hoopla is justified. Growing bamboo is a wonderfully beneficial plant for the planet and most is naturally organic bamboo. The manufacturing processes where bamboo the plant is transformed into bamboo the fabric are where the sustainability and eco-friendly luster of bamboo is tarnished because of the heavy chemicals, some of which are toxic, that are often required. Very, very little bamboo clothing would qualify as sustainable or organic clothes.”

You can read the whole post, chock full of fascinating information, on their Organic Clothing Blog.

[via Treehugger]