Bamboo vs. Silk: Which is More Sustainable in 2020

Sustainability has been quite a buzzword for the past couple years, but we see it as more than that. It helps us make decisions about our products, and guides us in the directions for which materials and packaging to work with. So when it comes to the debate between two soft, smooth, luxurious feeling fabrics, we sometimes hear...bamboo vs. silk: which is more sustainable? In 2020, we know many people are taking this into account in their shopping practices, so we’ve put together this helpful guide. 

Let’s start with...

Silk

Benefits of Silk Fabric:

Benefits of silk include ultra-smoothness, luxurious texture and moisture wicking ability. Many people also use silk bedding to benefit their hair because it keeps the cuticle smooth and causes less friction related damage. This is also used to benefit skin by creating fewer wrinkles due to the smooth texture.

Is Silk Sustainable?

But from a sustainability standpoint, silk can be manufactured sustainably. When special, certified practices are used, safe dyes and chemicals become part of the process. However, silk is made using animal byproduct from the silkworm, and these silkworms are killed during the process. This is less sustainable and not vegan. 

Next up in the bamboo vs. silk fabric debate...

Bamboo

Benefits of Bamboo Fabric:

Bamboo fabric has many of the same benefits as silk, particularly the smoothness. With bamboo bedding, there is the added benefit of the luxurious texture. By nature, it is also cooling, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic which makes bamboo bed sheets or a bamboo duvet cover the perfect option if you have allergies or run hot at night. 

Is Bamboo Sustainable?

It is, however, much more sustainable than silk. Bamboo is a self regenerating plant. That means it does not contribute to deforestation, and because it’s a plant product, makes it completely vegan. Our bamboo bedding is also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning that no harsh chemicals or dyes are used in the production process (no pesticides are needed at all).

Learn more about the benefits of bamboo as a material in our deep dive, which can be found here. 

So, when it comes to the debate of bamboo vs. silk, there is a clear winner, particularly for those who are vegan. Both materials have a beautiful feel and are high quality fabrics, but bamboo is naturally healthier and more sustainable.