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BAMBOO TOWELS VS COTTON TOWELS

With so many people striving to lessen their carbon footprints and live "greener" lives, bamboo fabric sounds like the perfect solution. Bamboo grows freely almost anywhere, it grows so fast that it's infinitely renewable, and it can be cultivated with no chemicals whatsoever. The manufacturers of items made of bamboo cloth---especially terry-cloth towels---claim that their products are better than cotton towels because they are organic, pesticide-free, antimicrobial and biodegradable.

1. The Plants Themselves

   • Bamboo grows faster than any other plant and requires no pesticides or fertilizers. It is an adaptable plant and can grow under almost any water and soil conditions. Cotton can be grown organically (i.e., with no chemicals) or fertilized, sprayed with pesticides and bleached. Cotton plants require fertile soil and constant irrigation. Both plants grow so quickly and well that they're considered to be renewable resources.

   Organic or Not?

   • Both plants can be grown organically---that is, using no pesticides, weed-killers, fertilizers or other chemicals. Either bamboo or cotton fibers can be certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program as a crop.

   Processing

   • Cotton fiber can be carded, spun, loomed and sewn into towels without changing its essential character as a natural product. Even if it is grown with chemicals and bleached or dyed in the manufacturing process, these steps won't change its fundamental makeup. Bamboo thread is prepared by using harsh chemicals to liquefy the bamboo pulp, which is then spun into strands---a process similar to the one used to make rayon from pine trees, and one which expels pollutants into the air.

   Claims

   • Manufacturers of bamboo towels claim that they are more absorbent than towels made of cotton and that they are antimicrobial. While it's true that raw bamboo displays these characteristics, once it has been processed it is no different from rayon. Manufacturers also claim that bamboo towels are softer than cotton towels, but in a Wall Street Journal test, testers' preferences depended on the weave and thickness of the towel more than on the fabric source. Some bamboo towel manufacturers also claim that their products are biodegradable, which is false.

   Considerations

   • Growing bamboo is quicker and easier on the soil since it doesn't necessitate the use of any harsh chemicals. Growing cotton uses a great deal of water and releases chemicals into the soil if not grown organically. Processing cotton can be completely organic or utilize bleach and dye to tint the final product, while processing bamboo uses harsh chemicals and renders the fiber an almost completely synthetic material.

     Thankx : Ehow.

VACANCY

LAUNDRY DIRECTOR OPENING AVAILABLE IN EAST ASIA (725 rooms). INTERESTED CANDIDATE CAN SEND THEIR CV TO venkattex@yahoo.co.in

FUTURE TEXTILES.

Bamboo fibre is a regenerated cellulosic fibre produced from bamboo. Starchy pulp is produced from bamboo stems and leaves through a process of alkaline hydrolysis and multi-phase bleaching. Further chemical processes produce bamboo fibre.

Repeated technological analysis has proved that this kind of fibre has a thinness degree and whiteness degree close to normal finely bleached viscose and has a strong durability, stability and tenacity.

Bamboo fibre fabric is made of 100% bamboo pulp fibre. It is characterized by its good hygroscopicity, excellent permeability, soft feel, easiness to straighten and dye and splendid color effect of pigmentation.

Features

• Softer than cotton, with a texture similar to a blend of cashmere and silk.

• Because the cross-section of the fibre is filled with various micro-gaps and micro-holes, it has much better moisture absorption and ventilation. Moisture absorbency is twice than that of cotton with extraordinary soil release.

• Natural antibacterial elements (bio-agent “bamboo kun”) in bamboo fibre keep bacteria away from bamboo fabrics.

• Garment of bamboo fibre can absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split of second just like breathing. Such a garment makes people feel extremely cool, comfortable and never sticking to skin even in hot summer.

• 100% bamboo yarns show a great elasticity i.e. nearly 20%. Even in 100% bamboo woven fabrics a remarkable elasticity can be obtained wherein the use of elastomeric fibres like elastanes may be eliminated.

• Bamboo fabrics need less dyestuff than cotton, modal or viscose. It seems that the absorption of dyestuffs is remarkably better. Bamboo absorbs the dyestuffs faster and shows the colors better.

• Anti-ultraviolet nature of bamboo fibre has made it suitable for summer clothing, especially for the protection of pregnant ladies and children from the effect of ultraviolet radiation.

• Product of bamboo fibre is eco-friendly and bio-degradable.

End-use

1. Intimate apparels include sweaters, bath-suits, underwear, tight t-shirt, socks.

2. Due to its anti-bacterial nature, non-woven fabric has wide prospects in the field of hygiene materials such as sanitary napkin, masks, mattress,food-packing,bags.

3. Sanitary materials: bandage, mask, surgical clothes, nurses wears and so on. It has incomparably wide foreground on application in sanitary material such as sanitary towel, gauze mask, absorbent pads, and food packing.

4. Decorating items: curtain, television cover, wall-paper and sofa slipcover.

5. Bathroom products: towel and bath robe.

Thankx fiber to fashion.

About the author:

Dr. Subrata Das has done his Ph.D (1997) and M.Tech (1986) from the Textile Technology Department of I.I.T.Delhi after the successful completion of B.Sc(Tech) in Textile Technology(1983) from Calcutta University. He has around two decades of work experience in Shop floor, Research & Development, Quality Assurance and Teaching. Dr. Das has been abroad several times and has received special training in Social Accountability, Laboratory Management Systems and Excellence in Retail Store Operations. He has performed more than 100 audits in Bangladesh as a lead auditor in Social Compliance for reputed garment buyers throughout the globe.

Dr. Das is currently heading the Consumer Testing Laboratories (India) Limited, Inc., Bangalore. He has around 75 publications in reputed national and international textile journals to his credit and has presented 20 technical papers in various national and international conferences. He is in the panel of referees of Indian Journal of Fibre and Textile Research. Dr Das has recently been empanelled as NABL assessor in Laboratory audit as per ISO/IEC 17025. You can contact him on:drsubratadas2000@gmail.com