Low Impact Dyes and Bamboo Fabrics

What are low-impact dyes?

A low-impact dye is a dye that has been classified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (an international certification process) as eco-friendly.

Generally, low impact dyes:

* Do not contain toxic chemicals or mordents (which fix the dye to the fabric),
* Require less rinsing
* And have a high absorption rate in the fabric (-70%). High absorption rates and a decreased use of rinse water create less waste water.

What are Fiber-reactive dyes?

Fiber-reactive dyes are low-impact synthetic dyes that directly bond with the garment fibers rather than merely remaining as an independent chemical entity within the fiber.

The benefits

* Contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances,
* Do not need mordents.
* Are easy to apply
* Are available in a wide range of color and wash-fast bright colors.
* Fixation or absorption rate of low-impact dyes is at least 70%, creating less waste water runoff than conventional dyeing processes.
* Are applied at relatively low temperatures (30°C compared to the 100°C needed for direct dyes), saving energy.
* Require controlled amounts of salt and alkali.
* The high cost of this dye becomes an environmental advantage, as it is cheaper to reclaim dye from its effluent rather than discharge it all and start from scratch. The water can also be recycled.
* The dye cycle is shorter than it is for other dye processes, meaning less water, salt and chemicals are needed.
* The entire process normally occurs at a pH of around 7.0, meaning no acids or alkalis need to be added to the water.

Recent advances have created fiber-reactive dyes with colors that are brighter and richer, and they provide excellent colorfast properties

The disadvantages:

* Like other environmentally damaging dyes, reactive dyes are made from synthetic petrochemicals.
* The process requires very high concentrations of salt (0%-80% of the weight of the goods dyed), alkali and water. Even if the unfixed dye is reclaimed, the effluent from this process can still contain high concentrations of salts, surfactants and defoamers, and are strongly alkaline.
* It's quite expensive, whereas conventional dye is cheap.
* The effluent normally contains salt, alkali, detergent and between 0% to 50% of dye used.

Natural Dyes

Natural dyes are often not at all low-impact, depending on the specific dye and mordant used. The extremely large quantities of natural dyestuffs required for dyeing, typically in a weight equal to or double that of the fiber itself, makes natural dyes prepared from wild plants and lichens very high impact indeed.

Modern farming practices, where most natural dyes are obtained, require a remarkable quantity of petroleum fuels.

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday.

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Manufacturing Process of Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo is grown on plantations and logged by hand. It is then finely shredded and bamboo cellulose is extracted. Impurities are then removed leaving only the finest quality fibers which are pulped into a cardboard-like sheet. The pulp is then broken down before being made into a spun or filament fiber.

Natural bamboo fiber textile is extracted directly from bamboo culms, and completely different from bamboo viscose, which is produced by chemical processing.

Bamboo fiber is made of cellulose and is being produced by processing methods such as steaming and boiling, etc. in industrial machinery designed specifically for these processes.

The FTC classifies all man made fibers that use cellulose from plants as rayon. Historically viscose rayon has been manufactured using a process in which fairly toxic chemicals chemically convert the cellulose into a soluble compound which is in turn regenerated into almost pure cellulose; hence the term 'regenerated cellulose fiber'. This process removes any natural characteristics of the original cellulose.

In contrast to this is a new method for converting plant cellulose into a usable fiber. This was first done in 1992 by a company using wood fiber, and is now identified as Lyocell and marketed in the US under the name Tencel.

Bamboo fiber used in spinning yarn for textiles is manufactured the same way as Lyocell (wood fiber), with the same organic solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (amine oxide). This solvent is non-toxic and completely recycled during the manufacturing process. So although bamboo is classified as rayon by the FTC because it is made from cellulose it is actually a subset of rayon that uses a separate process from viscose to convert the bamboo cellulose to a spinnable form (bamboo rayon is NOT therefore the same as viscose rayon).

One of the great advantages of this process is that there is no formation of a derivative and therefore the natural characteristics of the cellulose are retained in the final product.

For the moment, China is the only country where natural bamboo fiber is manufactured on a commercial scale. Using natural bamboo fiber or bamboo fiber mixed with other materials such as organic cotton, spandex, and polyester, various bamboo textile fabrics with different colors and styles are produced and exported to many countries like Europe and the USA.

Conscious companies choose to manufacture finished textiles vertically to reduce multiple transportation costs and support growers and textile manufacturers who work and live nearby this abundant natural resource.

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday.

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Respect of Environment

Within the objectives of establishing a third party certification system covering fair and safe working conditions as well as clean manufacturing from fiber to finished good, Jonano manufacturers have earned the right of being certified by ISO 9000:1400 Environmental Management.

The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (cause adverse changes to air, water, or land), comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and continually improve on the above.

ISO 14000 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management in that both pertain to the process (the comprehensive outcome of how a product is produced) rather than to the product itself.

As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organizations rather than being awarded by ISO directly. The ISO 19011 audit standard applies when auditing for both 9000 and 14000 compliance at once.

The scope of the Environmental Management was established in accordance with environmental laws and regulations, some of the managing principles can be found listed below:

* Minimization of wastes at source
* Reuse or treat with an appropriate method all possible wastes
* Reduce the use of natural resources to minimum levels by effective use of energy and raw
materials
* Comply with occupational health and safety requirements
* Using latest environmentally friendly technologies in facilities
* Generating employee awareness and responsibility

OEKO- TEX100 Certification

It is absolutely essential that the chemicals used in the production of textiles must not have any negative effects on human health and the environment.

For this reason, authorized laboratories and professional certification groups test textile products; physical and chemical analysis are used to verify that textile products are safe to be used for the consumer and the environment.

Currently, the Oeko-Tex label is the most comprehensive label for insuring that the garment is healthy for consumers. This certificate is renewed every year.

For detailed information, please visit www.oeko-tex.com and www.testex.com

When buying, make sure that the "organic label" is supported by Oeko Tex100.

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday!

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Bamboo, a Sustainable Resource

The question if a fabric is eco-friendly is important and it is essential to verify that it complies with the different aspects of this qualification. The following states these fundamental criterions and confirms that bamboo fabric fulfills all of them.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Bamboo Is Environmentally Kind And Sustainable.

As a natural cellulose fiber, bamboo is 100% biodegradable and does not cause any pollution to the environment. Due to its amazing growth properties (it can grow 3+ feet in one day) and short harvesting cycle (2 to 3 years), the growth and use of bamboo do not require deforestation (a process needed for wood pulp fiber materials).

NATURAL FABRICS’ECO-EFFICIENCY FACTOR

Transitioning to a more sustainable bio-based economy includes a shift towards renewable resources. Many scientists are looking towards a measurement component that will enable us to compare textiles on an even plane using the concept of "eco-efficiency".

The concept of eco-efficiency was first coined in 1992 by the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) in its landmark report Changing Course. The WBCSD has identified seven success factors for eco-efficiency:

* Reduce the material intensity of goods and services
* Reduce the energy intensity of goods and services
* Reduce toxic dispersion
* Enhance material recyclability
* Maximize sustainable use of renewable resources
* Increase the service intensity of goods and services

RENEWABILITY:

Eco-textiles like bamboo, flax, cotton, jute, sisal, kenaf and bamboo, in use since over 6000 years BC, are renewable, biodegradable and sustainable. Hardy crops, natural fibers can grow in different climatic zones and offer environmental benefits such as erosion prevention and the natural recycling of carbon dioxide into oxygen. All parts of the plants, including the woody core, leaf, cane and straw are utilized to create materials and fabrics for a modem eco-friendly textile future.

Bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth, making it naturally highly renewable.

In fact, bamboo grows to its maximum height in approximately 3 months and matures in 3-5 years for harvest with little or no environmental impact, making it a remarkable and sustainable resource when compared to a tree forest that takes over 60 years to recover from deforestation.

BIODEGRADABILITY:

In contrast to synthetic materials, natural fibers biodegrade with the help of micro-organism compo sting and sunshine. In this way the fixed C02 in the fiber crop is released back into the environment. The potential for recycling and reusing natural fibers is just beginning to be tapped. Biodegrading textiles prolong the real life time of a resource. The possibilities of energy recovery after the lifetime use of a textile product will reduce the net energy requirements and will influence the balance of the energy requirement in the production phase.

Bamboo produces natural and eco-friendly fiber without any chemical additives. More important, bamboo fiber is a unique biodegradable textile material. As a natural cellulose fiber it can be 100% biodegraded in soil by microorganisms and sunshine. The decomposition process does not cause any pollution in the environment. Bamboo fiber comes from nature and completely returns to nature in the end. Bamboo fiber is praised as " the natural, green and eco-friendly new-type textile material of 21st century

LOW IMPACT CULTIVATION:

The environmental impact for Eco-textiles production is also influenced at the growing phase. The amount of energy necessary for cultivating and harvesting is a factor of both the hardiness of the crop and the degree of mechanization used in the crop production. In developing countries manual labor to work the fields and harvest the crop is not uncommon.

Land quality and land use
Bamboo's growth characteristics enable it to spread rapidly across large areas. Because of its growth characteristics and ability to spread, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.

Use of pesticides and fertilizer
Bamboo's natural growth habits allow it to reproduce in abundance without the use of fertilizers and without the need for pesticides.

It is rarely attacked by pests or infected by pathogen. Scientists discovered that bamboo contains a property commonly called "bamboo Kun." This substance causes its natural resistance to bacteria. It is molecularly bonded into the cellulose fibers during fabric processing.

Some fiber crops, and especially cotton, require substantial irrigation and are often cultivated with the use of pesticides to enable good yields; hardier crops such as hemp and bamboo have natural agents which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Just Any Bamboo?
Species used for bamboo fiber is Phyllostachys Heterocycla Pubescent commonly known as Moso bamboo.

This is the largest of temperate zone bamboo species and is the most economically important bamboo species in China. It is most commonly applied in construction and its bamboo shoots are edible.

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

When this much care has been taken to create a fiber that is truly natural, organic and sustainable, the manufacturing process must also be:

* environmentally responsible
* in accordance with ISO environmental standards
* and certified by an official international certification service such as OEKO-TEX 100

Bamboo fabric is made from organically grown bamboo and harvested close to vertically integrated manufacturers to curb transportation costs between fabrication facilities.

The bamboo is spun, and then dyed using low impact systems.

All conscious environmental choices extend to many other aspects along the distribution chain such as opting for shipping in preference to air transport or the use chlorine-free paper for mailings, recycled materials for labeling and packaging, etc....

Therefore, it is in total confidence that you can select clothing made of bamboo fabric.

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday!

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Inherent Characteristics of Bamboo Fabric

The All in One Fabric

In comparison with other fabrics made of natural fibers, bamboo fabric offers much more healthy properties which are the direct heritage from the bamboo plant that is recognized as a real natural and sustainable plant.

These characteristics are confirmed by the numerous applications of bamboo, in general, and bamboo fabric, in particular, targeting the improvement of our environment and our protection in specific fields such as medical products.

The following reports these mains attributes and their immediate beneficial effects for the human health.

Organic Bamboo fabric is antibacterial

Bamboo contains a natural and unique agent called "bamboo Kun" which prevents pathogens and other harmful matters from cultivating on it. This quality keeps bamboo fresher for longer, more hygienic and healthier.

A main reason for bamboo's success is that antibacterial property; It is noteworthy that for centuries, food in Japan was wrapped in bamboo leaves to keep it from spoiling. This property is maintained in the form of fabric.

Bamboo fiber and therefore fabric has natural antimicrobial, anti-odor and resilience-added benefits. Microbes love cotton, and a warm moist climate breeds germs and causes odor. The bacteria begin to thrive and multiply on their host, causing the cotton garment to break down and yellow.

Antibacterial fabric prevents textile breakdown and discoloration from bacteria and germs. The warm wet environment is eliminated by the very nature of the fiber which contains hollow cavities enabling a high level of ventilation and moisture to wick away from skin at two to three times the rate of conventional cotton.

• A quantitative antibacterial capability test was performed by The China Textile Industrial Testing Center, CTITC during July, 2003. One hundred percent bamboo fabric and cotton were exposed over a 24-hour period to bacteria strain type Staphylococcus aurous. After that period the numbers of live bacteria were counted in each sample. The results showed that the 100% bamboo fabric had a 99.8% antibacterial kill rate, much better than the cotton fabric, which exhibited bacterial growth.

• Studies at the Japan Textile Inspection Association, JTIA, revealed the long term antibacterial efficacy of the fabric. Quantitative testing was performed using 100% bamboo fabric that has been industrially washed 50 times. Incubation over a 24-hour period with bacterial strain type MRSA Staphylococcus IID 1677 was followed by a count of live bacteria. Results showed that bamboo fabric exhibits greater than 70% antibacterial efficacy, even after 50 industrial washings. (Results obtained from Shanghai Tenbro Bamboo Textile Ltd)

• It is well documented that soiled linens harbor microorganisms that can be transmitted to others, said Gang Sun, professor of clothing and textiles at the University of California, Davis. "In light of the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the development of (antimicrobial and antibacterial textiles) can be a major advancement in the battle against the spread of infection." PR Newswire, New Technologically Advanced Bed Linens Latest Development in Battle Against Microbes That Cause Hospital Acquired Infections, Wednesday, August 25 2004

• Antimicrobial and antibacterial textiles can play a part in a strategic plan to reduce healthcare associated infections. Tactics such as isolating infected and colonized patients, practicing stringent hand washing policies, and implementing antimicrobial and antibacterial textiles can help combat the spread of a wide range of resistant bacteria, viruses and other microbes including Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aurous (MRSA), a form of staph bacteria which is blamed for about 13 % of the nation's two million hospital infections each year according to the CDC

Organic Bamboo fabric is anti-fungal

Unlike cotton, bamboo fiber products will not grow fungus even if left in the moist, leaving it a fresh smell.

Chemically treated socks sell well, but unlike these types of fabrics, where chemical antimicrobial agents are included during the manufacturing process, bamboo fabric products do not need (or use) these chemicals, which can cause skin allergy and other irritations

* Fifty individuals suffering from the fungal infection tinea pedis commonly called athlete's foot were given antimicrobial, antibacterial socks. All fifty test subjects reported the disappearance of the burning and itching that accompanies athlete's foot within 1-2 days of wearing the socks. Within 2-6 days the blistering and sores characteristic of athlete's foot disappeared and the skin returned to normal. None of the fifty individuals reported any adverse effects after using the socks.Frykberg RG, Armstrong DG, Giurini J, et al. Diabetic Foot A Clinical Practice Guideline. J Foot Ankle Surg, 2000

Organic Bamboo fabric is Allergen Free

No chemical additives were added during the farming of bamboo nor during the production of our fabrics; therefore, our products are 100% allergen free.

Organic Bamboo Fabric absorbs 3-4 times better than cotton.

Bamboo is a natural moisture absorbent thanks to its structure made of numerous tiny gaps and holes that also promote efficient ventilation. This property is kept in the bamboo fabric. Bamboo fiber apparel has the ability to absorb and evaporate human sweat in a split second. A bamboo T-shirt, for example, keeps the skin comfortable, rather than sticky, in summer weather.

Bamboo's ability to absorb water accounts for its capacity for rapid growth and it is also retained when bamboo is transformed into fabric.

Bamboo Fabric is Cool (stays 2-3 degrees cooler in hot weather & warmer in cold)

Unlike any other fabric in the world, bamboo fabric is physically cooler to touch in hot weather. This is due to the excellent capacity of ventilation offered by its microstructure.

Just like breathing, such garments make people feel extremely cool and comfortable in the hot summer.

Being proved to be 1-2 degrees cooler than cotton, bamboo fiber offers a highly appreciable comfort during the heat! Bamboo fiber gives your skin a chance to breath free.

Bamboo Fabric Protects Skin from Ultraviolet Ray

Bamboo fabric has an Ultraviolet Ray Penetrating Rate of 0.06%, versus cotton fabric that has a Ultraviolet Ray Penetrating Rate of 25.00%. Bamboo fabric's ability to block ultraviolet ray is 417 times greater than cotton fabric. That’s great for all sensible skins like babies!

Bamboo is The All in One Fabric

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday!

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Please consider the environment before printing this document.

Bamboo Fabric - A New-Old Technology

Bamboo has 1000's of uses and its application as a textile fiber is just emerging.

Although Bamboo is known since a long time in Asia for its many unique applications, the idea of using bamboo to spin yarn is a much more recent technology. Interest in bamboo has steadily grown as more and more information becomes available concerning its inherent characteristics.

It benefits the environment not only in growing the plant (excellent carbon dioxide and nitrogen sink and produces copious oxygen), but also in its processing since it is a closed system with non toxic chemicals that will, hopefully, lessen the demand for higher polluting material.

Bamboo fabric is true organic and sustainable and replies to different criterion of the eco-efficiency factor that are:

• Renewability

• Sustainability Harvest Practices

• Low impact cultivation

• Use of pesticides and fertilizer

• Reduced Footprint

• Just not any Bamboo

By choosing bamboo clothing, you not only benefit a true organic and sustainable product that will protect your health, but you also actively contribute to the reduction of pollution on the planet and on the improvement of ecology.

Bamboo: Choosing green fulfillment for healthy living everyday!

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Amazing Clothing That Stops Body Odour

Collectively we spend a fortune on personal hygiene products to combat body odour, you can buy products that mask the smell, applications that absorb sweat and even products that stop your natural production of sweat, but did you know you can now buy clothing that prevents body odour and the main ingredient is bamboo!

Making clothing that prevents odour has been a goal for many top manufacturers for some years now with the aim to manufacture textiles that prevent bacteria from cultivating on the fabric, which produce odour. Clothes with antibacterial treatments are available now but these chemical treatments can cause skin allergies and washing reduces their effectiveness. Clothing made from bamboo fibre however is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic so even people with sensitive skin or allergies can wear bamboo and benefit from its natural antibacterial qualities.

A study by the CTITC (China Textile Industry Testing Centre) showed that after introducing bacteria to a sample of bamboo fabric a 99.8% reduction in bacteria occurred over a 24-hour period. Another study by The Japan Textile Inspection Association showed that bamboo fabric could eliminate over 70% of introduced bacteria over a 24-hour period even after 50 industrial wash cycles.

How does it work?

Because the fabric is made from pulped bamboo, which contains ‘bamboo Kunh’ a substance found in all bamboo species that kills bacteria on contact, clothing made from bamboo amazingly retains this same bacteria killing quality. So not only will bamboo fabric kill bacteria on your skin, preventing odour but it will also resist yeast, mould and fungus cultivation. A study of 50 patients suffering from athlete’s foot showed that after 2-5 days wearing bamboo socks, all 50 patients symptoms had disappeared.

Uses:

The natural antibacterial properties of bamboo fibre can be used not only for sport and fitness apparel helping to keep you comfortable and fresh but also for many other applications including: hospital gowns, wound dressing, feminine hygiene products, bathroom towels all of which benefit greatly from the natural antibacterial nature of bamboo.

So if you want to stay smelling fresh naturally without the need for deodorants, wear clothing made from bamboo!

Click here for more information about bamboo clothing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Robinson

Wrap Your Baby In Bamboo

What is as soft as silk, yet hard as oak? Can there really be something that has both of these quantities? In researching and using some bamboo baby products they are that and so much more.

Using bamboo for every day use is becoming much more common and mainstream. What are some of the qualities of bamboo that is making it a great fabric to be using today, especially for your baby? Growing as much as 18 inches a day, bamboo can be harvested within three years. Bamboo is eco-friendly, very replenishable and requires no pesticides for this quick growth.

Bamboo is a grass, not a tree and is not the same kind of bamboo that's eaten by panda bears. Linen, hemp and burlap are plant based fabrics used for clothing, only they are coarser than bamboo.

Bamboo grows here in the United States and on most continents with over 1000 species of this woody perennial grass. One other great benefit of growing bamboo is it generates 30% more oxygen than trees and is critical in the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Bamboo has many natural qualities that make it a great fabric to use for your baby. The softness of silk and cashmere in one fabric makes a great combination. Bamboo clothing has a soft, natural sheen that is easy to care for and needs no bleach or fabric softener. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and anti fungal due to "bamboo kun", a substance the plant contains to help fight off diseases and insects. Fabrics retaining odors after washing is often a problem and with the use of bamboo clothing for your baby there are no odors retain due to the antibacterial factor.

Are you looking for something different, unique and eco-friendly? Bamboo items are available in clothing, towels and soft baby blankets which help protect your baby's health and the environment. Comfort, warmth and the softest fabric against a baby's tender skin are just some of the qualities of bamboo that you can pass on to your baby. Bamboo fabric has additional benefits such as being hypoallergenic, bacteriostatic, thermal regulating and odor free.

Wrapping your baby in comfort and softness of bamboo fabric is the greatest gift of love.

Audra Jensen is concerned about the health of her family and yours and how we may be more eco-friendly in our everyday living. To learn more about organic living for your baby visit: http://www.dakotaroseorganics.com/page/1425291

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Bamboo Clothing - The Secret To Healthy Fashion

From a fashion point of view, the thought of bamboo clothing probably won't inspire images of beautiful models walking down some of the world's most famous catwalks. Not yet anyway.

If the current trend towards bamboo clothing continues then yes, it may not be long before some of the most fashionable clothes are made from bamboo material.

So what are the benefits of bamboo clothing? In this article, we'll give you at least seven main benefits to consider bamboo as an alternative material to cotton, wool and some of the more popular synthethic fibers.

Benefits of Bamboo Clothing

1. It's fashionable. Yes, consider the feel of silk combined with the strength and durability of the toughest jeans material and it won't hurt you in the hip pocket.

2. A great alternative to cotton. In fact, there is a war brewing at the moment as bamboo lays down the gauntlet to cotton. It's been described as the cotton of the 21st century and for good reason. It has superior anti-bacterial qualities and is extremely moisture absorbent.

3. It's very versatile. Bamboo fiber breathes better than it's rivals and more importantly, regulates temperatures extremely well. In fact, it's versatility means it can adapt to both cool and warm climates. It's ability to evaporate perspiration has both personal and hygienge benefits. In other words, odor is eliminated very effectively.

4. It's durability means it can withstand tough wash cycles as well as adapting to home driers. It's able to release soil and stain more effectively than it's counterpart materials.

5. Those who suffer from skin irritations will appreciate it's ability organic nature. In a nutshell, because it's organic skin irritations are almost a non-issue and for those who spend a good part of their lives out in the sun, it's ability to resist UV rays makes it a natural choice clothing in sunny conditions.

6. Because of bamboo's ability to resist disease means no harmful chemical spraying is required in it's natural growing state unlike cotton, which means less chance of allergic reaction.

7. Environmentally, bamboo clothing is hard to beat because of the renewable and sustainable nature of the plant.

Want to know more about the benefits of bamboo clothing? Get the latest tips and tricks on shopping for bamboo products including shades and bamboo wood flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Caporella