Bamboo=Rayon? New FTC Laws regarding Bamboo and how it affects the Cloth Diaper Industry

August 26, 2009 · Posted in Cloth Diapering · 5 Comments

The FTC has recently laid down the law on numerous bamboo fabric manufacturers for “greenwashing” their product. Bamboo is touted by many to be the ultimate “green” fabric. It is sustainable, meaning that bamboo grows like a grass, very quickly. It is absorbent, soft, is biodegradable, and it is supposed to be anti-microbial. While some of these factors mean nothing for your t-shirt, bamboo has taken over the cloth diaper world. The very properties of bamboo that are so attractive to diaper maunfacturers and comsumers alike my not even be true! Because bamboo has to be processed in order for it to be a fabric it now has to be called either “rayon” or “rayon from bamboo.”
Lets break down the claims and examine what is true, what is false, and what matters.

First? What makes bamboo “rayon”? Rayon is defined by the process by which it is made, not the material to make it. Rayon can be made by wood pulp, cotton, and bamboo. Rayon is in fact a “natural” fabric since it does not use man made materials. The process to make rayon, however, can have harmful environmental effects. Many consumers of bamboo buy products made with it because they feel it is organic, natural, and chemical free. The process of making bamboo into fabric has many critics wondering if that negates everything. If you are truly interested, I have found a very scientific explanation of how rayon in manufactured, including the equation. I had flashbacks from my balancing equations in chemistry. Visit Mindfully.org for more on this.

Closed Loop and Open Loop are terms used the for how bamboo is manufactured. A Closed loop process would continually recycle the water and by products of the manufacturing process which in theory means a greener production. An open loop process means those chemicals are released in some form. With either process, because the bamboo is turned into a pulp and then treated with chemicals, do any of the natural properties of bamboo remain?

The Fashion Incubator has broken down the claims about bamboo and what remains after processing.

Examples of questionable claims:
Claim: Organic bamboo fiber clothing is naturally anti-microbial… It …prevents bacteria from cultivating on it.
Fact: Rayon, regardless of input (wood pulp or bamboo) and whether organic or not, doesn’t mildew as easily as some other natural fabrics. If “anti-microbial” is intended to convey the characteristic of preventing bacteria growth (mildew resistance), then this would be true -of all rayons, not just bamboo.

Claim: Bamboo apparel is thermal regulating, anti-fungal, anti-static and will keep you cooler, drier, warmer and odor free.
Fact: This is characteristic of rayon, regardless of whether made by wood or bamboo.

Claim: Bamboo is grown without pesticides.
Fact: Trees used to make rayon are also grown organically without pesticides. The only trees sprayed with pesticides are fruit and nut trees and this wood is not likely to be used in rayon production because the lumber harvested at the end of the tree’s life cycle is highly coveted. Fruit and nut lumbers are used in expensive furniture, veneers and consumer products. Furthermore, it is not possible for residual pesticides to remain in the fiber at the end of the rayon process.

Claim: Bamboo is hypoallergenic, breathable, and absorbent.
Fact: Again, true of all rayons.

Claim: Growing bamboo improves soil quality and helps rebuild eroded soil. The extensive root system of bamboo holds soil together, prevents soil erosion, and retains water in the watershed.
Fact: This is also true of trees used to make rayon.

Claim: Bamboo grows naturally without the need for agricultural tending and large diesel exhaust-spewing tractors to plant seeds and cultivate the soil.
Fact: Also true of trees used to make rayon.

Claim: Bamboo fabrics and clothing can be manufactured and produced without any chemical additives
Fact: This is wildly untrue of any rayon regardless of the material used for the cellulose base.

Claim: Bamboo grows rapidly and naturally without any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.
Fact: On the face of it, this is all true. As a practical matter, the rise of bamboo’s popularity has led to the hazards common to commercialization. For example, clearing vast tracts for bamboo production has contributed to deforestation, rendering a mono-culture at the expense of biodiversity. Similarly, acreage formerly used for food production has given way to bamboo cultivation. What’s more, herbicides are increasingly used to reduce competing foliage.

I am personally shocked about how bamboo is marketed versus the truth. As this excerpt states, any Rayon has many of the same properties.

So, what does this mean for Bamboo in cloth diapers? First, since the FTC has changed the definition of Bamboo, diapers will now have to be labeled as Rayon or, if they can substantiate it, Rayon from Bamboo. They will still be able to call Organic Bamboo Velour just that, but from an ingredients standpoint the tag will have to read rayon. Take a cotton t shirt, it is labeled “cotton” but if you read the label it will most likely read “95% cotton 5% spandex”. In this case they can probably say “Organic Bamboo Velour” but the label will read “90% Rayon from Bamboo 10% cotton.”

I am still of the opinion that bamboo diapers are great. They work well because they are very absorbent, they are made from a sustainable resource but just happened to be processed. All of us knew somewhere that bamboo has to be processed. Like you, I never thought twice about how. You cannot weave bamboo stalks into a squishy soft diaper.

Here is what some of the leading makers of bamboo diapers have said about the situation:

Goodmama, makers of organic bamboo velour diapers-

1. Most of this concern in the industry is related to people that use bamboo fabrics which are chemically treated in a way that is environmentally harsh and would therefore lend itself to be harsh on the consumer. I would point out that there are two ways of chemically treating bamboo cellulose – one way with this harsh hydrolysis with alkalization and multiple stages of bleaching — the other way with a solvent is non-toxic and completely recycled during the manufacturing process. This is what we use.

2. I can tell you that we personally have our bamboo velour processed, milled, woven, and sheared here in the United States. Suzanne has personally toured this facility. I am in constant contact with them regarding the 6-week process of turning bamboo fibers into our gorgeous velour. I know the status of both our bamboo velour and our bamboo fleece, and I know what stage of the process each of our fabrics is in.

Having this facility make it for us here in the U.S. is a huge part of why I love working for goodmama in production. We are one of a very, very, very small list of companies who uses only U.S. made bamboo velour. Just because a diaper is made in the United States does not mean that the fabrics are made there — but with goodmama, you can know that your bamboo velour was not part of a coop velour order from China but that it was milled, woven, sheared, and laundered all right here! I’m so proud of that!!!

I have been reading, however, that the FTC wants people to use the term “rayon” rather than bamboo velour, as it is a fiber that does not occur in fiber form unless processed. I’m continuing to read and gather all my data. 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. I’ll continue reading from the FTC to be sure that we label accordingly

In rebuttal to the process by which their bamboo is manufactured:

No, when it comes to chemically creating a bamboo product — there are two different processes — the problem is that the FTC is not differentiating these two. They are only saying that if the wood pulp is being changed into a different state in ANY way, it is considered rayon:

1) “cooking” the bamboo leaves and woody shoots in strong chemical solvents such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH – also known as caustic soda or lye) and carbon disulfide in a process also known as hydrolysis alkalization combined with multi-phase bleaching.

We do NOT use this process.

2) The second way is more benign and eco-friendly. The same chemical manufacturing process used to produce lyocell from wood cellulose can be modified to use bamboo cellulose. N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide to dissolve the bamboo cellulose into a viscose solution. N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide is a member of the amine oxide family. Amine oxides are weak alkalines that act as surfactants and help break down the cellulose structure. It is certified safe for consumers, as they are agents found in nature.

This IS the process that we use.

Simply put, bamboo cannot be used as a fabric unless it is changed structurally.

Kim from GadBaby.com of the bamboo they use:

The material used for GAD’s was awarded the OCIA International Organic Certification, which is done by an independent third party. That being said, this issue is being discussed with the supplier, and if need be the labels will be changed to reflect the new verbiage.

Bagshot Row Bamboo is in the process of placing information about their bamboo on their website.

I also wanted to direct you to another article written in defense of bamboo. This article maintains that bamboo does have the proported proerties that the FTC is stripping from it. Green Earth News examines why the FTC believes bamboo is not biodegradeable and counters that.

I want to hear what you think. Does the new classification change your decision to buy bamboo diapers (or other bamboo goods)?

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Tags: bamboo, bsrb, cloth diapers, FTC, gad, goodmama, rayon

Green Acre Diaper (GAD) Cloth Diaper Video Review

July 20, 2009 · Posted in Cloth Diaper Video Review, Giveaways, Product Reviews · Comment

Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰

The only reason this diaper wouldn’t get 5 stars is that snaps are not the easiest thing for some people to pick up. Side snaps take some getting used to, but they are worth it for that nice clean front. The pocket opening is wide enough that stuffing isn’t a chore. The hemp insert takes quite a bit of prepping, but for the amount of absorbency you get for the thin insert it makes up fir the time spent.

Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰✰

The diaper shell costs 15.95 and a hemp insert will run you 6.00. The microfiber insert costs 4.00. For a hemp/ shell combo you are looking at 21.95. This is about middle of the pack. You can get diapers for cheaper, but you can also find plenty that cost more. However, you get a well made diaper with luxurious Organic Bamboo Velour, which is a sustainable resource. Microfleece will run you the same but it has the bonus of wicking moisture away from baby’s skin. Another reason you will be willing to pay the $$$ for this diaper is that they come in the best colors!

Performance✰✰✰✰

The hemp insert is really absorbent. We used this diaper for long periods of time just to make sure it could hold a lot of pee. My son isn’t a heavy wetter, so this is why we left it on for a while. It worked for naps, overnight (I did insert a microfiber doubler to be safe) and regular daytime use.

Fit ✰✰✰✰✰

The Medium diaper should fit a baby from 12-25 pounds. My son is about 18 lbs now. He was in the middle snap on each side, although sometimes I could snap the top set of snaps on the tightest, and the lower thigh snaps to the medium. I was really impressed that these diapers didn’t leave any red marks on my son. Most diapers leave marks, which doesn’t bother me immensely, but not having marks is a plus! I see plenty of room to grow in this size as well.

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Tags: gad, video review

Wordless Wednesday- Strong Man!

July 15, 2009 · Posted in Blog Life · 9 Comments

Doing Push Ups!

Look at me Ma! (in a GAD diaper)

Bonus: Pimp Collar Baby

For more Wordless Wednesday go to Wordless Wednesday.com!

Pssst: Video Review of the diaper pictured (GAD) coming on Monday!

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Tags: Fletcher, gad, pimp

Fluffy Mama of the Week- Kim from GADBaby

July 12, 2009 · Posted in Fluffy Mama of the Week · 5 Comments

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Hi, I’m Kim the mom behind GADbaby.com! I spend my days chasing around my 2 crazy boys and sending fluffy mail to the masses. I also recently starting selling my own cloth diaper detergent called Rockin’ Green, so I always smell like cherry almond, fresh linen, buttercream…etc. So if you ever come visit, you will be bombarded with lots of colorful fluff and the overwhelming desire to have cupcakes.

How long have you been cloth diapering? Oh wow, it’s been almost 3 years now I guess. I started when my son was about a year old and went until he potty trained about a year and a half later. My youngest son, who just turned 9 months has never been in a disposable diaper. My husband was there to put on his first cloth diaper! He was in the NICU for 3 days even, and wore cloth the entire time. He was a big boy at 9.7 pounds too- so all those cute little newborn diapers never saw the light of day.

What made you decide to start? My kids have really sensitive skin, and my oldest began breaking out in horrible bleeding sores. Diaper changes were really hard, and we would both be in tears by the end of it. My mom suggested that we get a few cloth diapers just to let his bottom air out. Within 3 days of being in cloth, his skin was healed and looked great. We never went back.

What was your first purchase and why? Our first purchase was a dozen huggabuns with trifold inserts off of craigslist. My son has really bad bleeding sores, and we were desperate! I found a girl down the street with a stash of diapers so I snatched them up. His rash was better in 3 days.

How much do you think you have spent on your diapers total? This information is usually classified, so we can’t send my husband this link! LOL Honestly, I have put in about $500 and then resell things when I am done with them to fund new things. I did go through a wool phase that got a little expensive, but I am still saving a ton of money over buying disposables. And my love of cloth has turned into a career, and that is really priceless. I get to do what I love every single day.

Have your family/ friends been supportive? Absolutely! My mom was the one that suggested cloth in the first place, and then when she saw how different they were from the prefolds and vinyl pants that she used on me, she was a huge supporter. My husband is the cutest thing ever though. He goes with me to trade shows, wearing a GADBaby t-shirt and talking to Dad’s about how easy and economical cloth diapers are. He passes out my cards to pregnant women in the grocery store, and is the delivery man for the business. Every morning he goes to post office to deliver fluffy mail. I love him so! I run a playgroup here in town with 90+ moms, and I have converted quite a few of them. Most people I think, really have no idea what modern cloth diapers are really about. And I make it a point to change my son’s diaper out in the open, and let him run around in just a diaper on hot summer days. I even wear a button that says “Ask me about cloth diapers” to get people talking.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of cding? I loved it when my son was old enough to tell me how he liked his “comfy diapers” over disposables. When they are little, you know that the yummy bamboo and microfleece inners are soft, but it really makes you happy when they say “thank you mommy!” Beyond that, I love helping others. My customers do cloth for so many reasons, some it’s due to allergies and skin issues, some are trying to save money, and others are concerned about their environmental footprint. Whatever the reason, I love being about to help. It just makes my day when I get an email or a note from a customer saying “thanks”.

What is your favorite diaper to use? I know I am a bit biased, but I stand behind my GAD diapers and think they really rock. It’s all we use in this house. I have dabbled in fitteds here and there, but I always go back to the GAD’s. I have 60 right now in my son’s stash. We have 2 of every color (except for pink) and I love the fit. We are all about the bamboo inners right now, with hemp inserts. Super trim, and oh so soft.

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What has been the biggest challenge to your success at cding? For me, it was washing cloth diapers with our hard water. Commercial soaps broke my kids out, and caused repelling and stinkies. Then I started dabbling in WAHM detergents, and still battled with repelling and stink. I burned up the motor on our last washing machine because I was stripping diapers so much! So it became an obsession of mine to come up with a cloth diaper detergent that would work with all types of water and rinse clean. It took me over 6 months, and several rounds of testing to come up with Rockin’ Clean. I now know more about chemistry than I ever learned in college, and couldn’t be happier with the results.

And anything else you want to discuss!!! Hmmm let’s see- – A diaper sprayer is worth every cent, so invest in one once your kiddo starts solids. – If the poop isn’t “ploppable” don’t sweat it. Just throw it in the wash….it will rinse away. I am not going to get a spatula or anything else and work that hard to get poop off a diaper. I paid a lot of money for my washing machine, so I put it to work! -Don’t be afraid to dry PUL in the dryer. It actually works better when dried on medium or HOT heat, (it was created for the medical industry) If you have a cover or diaper that is leaky, put it in the dryer on hot to reseal the PUL. -Get involved in the cloth diaper community. Not only will you have like-minded people to talk diapers with, but they truly are a great group of ladies that care about each other. -If you hate changing diapers, then you are using the wrong kind. You change a lot of diapers, so make it fun by picking cute diapers, and yummy smelling detergents, wipe solutions, etc. Even my cloth wipes are cute. -Sunning diapers is like magic. I know when I first heard about it, I thought that it was a crazy idea that wouldn’t work. But an hour later my diapers looked brand new! – If your husband is hesitant on cloth diapers, buy him one or two that are especially for him. Get them in his team colors, etc and pick a style that are easy for him to use. My husband’s first pick was a camo print. He would pick that diaper at every change, and would pout if it was in the wash. Thanks so much for letting me do this!

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Thanks so much Kim for sharing your story! I will be reviewing one of Kim’s Gadbaby diapers soon, so keep an eye out for that video! If you want to be featured as Fluffy Mama of the Week, send me an email at dirtydiaperlaundry@gmail.com.

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Tags: fluffy mama, gad

Fluffy Mail- June 29- Monday

June 29, 2009 · Posted in Product Reviews · Comment

The carnage of Fluffy Mail excitement.

Today my mailbox was stuffed! I got two diapers: a GAD (Green Acre Designs) in meadow lime with an organic bamboo velour inner and a hemp insert, and a Sweet Pea One Size diaper with 2 microfiber inserts. These were sent for me to review. They are currently being prepped and will get the Fletcher treatment soon enough. I am excited to try the GAD most of all. This company has a great reputation, not to mention the diaper is way too cute. It is side snapping, which is something I have wanted to try for a while. Sweet Pea is a Canadian company, with a few retailers carrying their diapers in the states. I have also read a great review about their diaper. It is a snapping one size. I love my snaps! Besides these two, I have a Smartipants, ES Baby, and Kissaluvs Marvel review either filmed, or set to be tested. I am extremely excited about all of the amazing reviews coming up. I hope everyone is finding them informative.

If there is a diaper you are dying to see on video, let me know. I will try and get it to review. And, if you are a company that would like me to try your diaper and film a review, contact me at dirtydiaperlaundry@gmail.com.