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Doing our part to help the environment is super important – we all know that. But I think sometimes people are pressured into the “all or nothing” mindset, which is really damaging and not helpful in any way. We can all do our bit. And as long as we’re all making some small changes in various areas of our lives, then that’s amazing!
Photo by Elton Sipp on Unsplash
For me, I’m very cautious of my skincare. I only use cruelty free products and have started to make sure my products are also Vegan, so I know I’m never contributing towards harming animals, for the sake of a face cream. Fashion is another area of sustainability I’ve been keen to explore too.
Related read: 10+ Sustainable Living Tips For a Greener 2021
At the start of 2020, I began my own journey of sustainable fashion. Although I have definitely slipped up once or twice along the way (which is also important to note because humans aren’t perfect), I’m still much more sustainable with my fashion than I was before.
Related read: Sustainable Fashion Tips From A Complete Beginner: 6 Month Update
Starting small and starting somewhere is my motto. That might mean cutting out meat for one day of the week. Or swapping your skincare for something more eco-friendly. Even finding one or two new sustainable fashion brands to keep on hand for when you next need to purchase something for your wardrobe.
Brands like bamigo for men are a great starting point because all their products are made from bamboo. Bamboo is carbon neutral; a plant that absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it releases during harvesting. I’ve purchased a couple of pairs of bamboo leggings in the past and I can confirm that they are super soft and mega comfortable! Bamigo also have a great post on the benefits of bamboo clothing here!
4 environmental benefits of using bamboo clothing:
It doesn’t need artificial watering to grow
Bamboo is amazing because all it needs is sunlight and rainwater to grow. The average water footprint for 1kg of cotton is 10,000 litres. So for that reason, bamboo is already a much more sustainable material for your clothes. With water scarcity a real problem in the world, this is a really important point.
It has a high nitrogen intake
Bamboo has an amazing impact on the greenhouse effect. Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and releases over 30% more oxygen into the atmosphere compared to an equivalent mass of trees. This makes bamboo excellent for absorbing greenhouse gases and producing clean, fresh oxygen.
It’s the fastest growing plant on Earth
And it produces 10 times as much product per hectare than cotton. This means it can be harvested 4-6 times per year and less land is required for plantations. Bamboo is a mega productive plant and simply regenerates after harvest – and quickly too!
No soil erosion
Bamboo roots stay in the ground after harvest. Bamboo has a super strong root system, which allows the soil to remain stable which prevents soil erosion. With bamboo roots contributing to fertile soil, it helps plants bloom and thrive above ground. Cool, huh?
So why should you choose bamboo clothing?
If the above 4 reasons aren’t enough to sway you (which they totally should be), here are some additional reasons why you should opt for bamboo clothing and why bamboo is the way forward!
- It’s stronger than cotton and will outlast cotton in strength, shape and durability
- It dyes easier so requires less dye for coloration
- It’s more absorbent and breathable and can get rid of moisture faster
- The thermal regulating effect of bamboo fibres helps you stay sweat-free and feeling fresh
- It’s hypoallergenic and doesn’t trigger allergic reactions
- It contains natural UV protection and can filter more harmful rays (but please still use sunscreen!)
- It’s just a super soft material to wear!
