Bamboo vs. Cotton – The Climate Accounts
Short answer: In the climate account between bamboo and cotton, bamboo has advantages in the field: the plant grows fast without irrigation and usually without pesticides, while cotton is thirsty and often grown with heavy pesticide use. On the other hand, bamboo viscose needs chemical processing. Overall bamboo does reasonably well, but no textile is climate neutral.
What happens in the field?
Cotton is one of the most water-hungry crops in farming and is often grown with large amounts of pesticides and fertiliser. Bamboo is a grass that regrows after harvest, manages on rainwater and is normally grown without spraying. On the raw material side, the difference is clearly in favour of bamboo, before the fibres become fabric.
The honest but
Bamboo fibres cannot simply be spun like cotton. They must be dissolved chemically and reformed as viscose, and that process costs energy and chemicals. How well the account ends up depends on the standards of the factory. We lay it all out in the honest guide to bamboo and the environment.
From fibre to fabric
There are several ways of making textile from bamboo, and they differ in how the chemicals are handled. Some processes recover a large share of the solvents, others do not. If you want to understand the difference, read the article on how bamboo textiles are made, where the methods are explained.
Labels that help you
When you shop, labels can make choosing easier. FSC is about responsible forestry and the origin of the raw material, while OEKO-TEX Standard 100 means the finished textile has been tested for harmful substances. Browse products with FSC and products with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 if these labels matter to you.
The use phase matters a lot
A large part of a garment's footprint arises while you use it: washing, drying and ironing. Wash at low temperatures, fill the machine and line dry when you can. Bamboo often smells less after a day's wear, so many find they can air a garment and wear it again before washing.
Lifespan beats everything
The most climate friendly garment is often the one you already own. The longer you wear something, the less its production weighs per wear. Choose qualities you like and take good care of them. A T-shirt you wear for many years is a better account than several that wear out quickly.
The T-shirt as an example
The T-shirt is a good place to start, because it is worn and washed often. A bamboo T-shirt feels soft, moves moisture away and keeps its shape when cared for properly. Browse our bamboo T-shirts for men, and read the comparison of the bamboo T-shirt vs the cotton T-shirt.
What can you do yourself?
Buy fewer and better pieces that you wear for a long time. Wash gently and less often, and skip the tumble dryer when possible. Repair small damage instead of throwing clothes away, and pass them on when you no longer wear them. Small everyday habits together make the biggest difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is bamboo better for the climate than cotton?
In the field bamboo has clear advantages, because the plant manages on rainwater and normally without spraying. Processing into viscose pulls the other way, however, so no textile is climate neutral.
What does OEKO-TEX Standard 100 mean?
The label means the finished textile has been tested for a range of harmful substances. It says something about what is in the fabric, but not about the full climate footprint of production.
How do I reduce the footprint of my clothes?
Wear your clothes for a long time, wash at low temperatures and line dry. The most climate friendly garment is often the one already hanging in your wardrobe.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
