Bamboo Rayon: Facts behind the Fiber.

While bamboo the plant is wonderfully sustainable; bamboo the fabric isn't so easy to categorize. Chemically manufactured bamboo is a regenerated cellulose fiber also called BAMBOO RAYON because of the many similarities in the way it is chemically manufactured and similarities in its feel and hand.

Bamboo Rayon is chemically manufactured by "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. Both sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide have been linked to serious health problems. Breathing low levels of carbon disulfide can cause tiredness, headache and nerve damage. Carbon disulfide has been shown to cause neural disorders in workers at rayon manufacturers. Low levels of exposure to sodium hydroxide can cause irritation of the skin and eyes. Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkaline base also known as caustic soda or lye. In its dry crystalline form, caustic soda is one of the major ingredients of Drano. This is basically the same process used to make rayon from wood or cotton waste byproducts.

This gives some feel for how chemically intensive the hydrolysis-alkalization and multiphase bleaching manufacturing processes are for bamboo rayon fabrics that some companies promote as being sustainable and eco-friendly.

Because of the potential health risks and damage to the environment surrounding the manufacturing facilities, PlushBeds refuses to distribute, endorse or promote any mattress covers made from Bamboo Rayon.