{"id":600,"date":"2017-05-19T03:23:42","date_gmt":"2017-05-19T03:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/?p=600"},"modified":"2017-05-19T06:36:18","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T06:36:18","slug":"the-difference-between-tencel-and-bamboo-viscose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/the-difference-between-tencel-and-bamboo-viscose.html","title":{"rendered":"The difference between TENCEL\u00ae and bamboo viscose"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/div>\n
\n

Bamboo (bamboo from viscose)<\/em> and eucalyptus (or TENCEL\u00ae)<\/em> are two similar textile fibers<\/em><\/strong> in the way they are grown and processed. At Spring Hometextile<\/a>, we work with textiles that are made with both materials. Both are sustainably grown trees\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>without insecticides and pesticides (Unlike non-organic cotton which uses 25% of world\u2019s pesticide<\/em><\/strong>) that grow with little water in\u00a0lands that are not suitable for agriculture. The resulting fabrics have similar properties in terms of softness, durability and quality. However, there are three significant differences<\/strong><\/em> from the similar, but distinct, process used to transform the wood into a textile fiber.<\/p>\n

\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 The supply\u00a0chain<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/h2>\n

Before understanding these differences,\u00a0it is important to understand the entire chain of supply<\/em><\/strong> that transforms the bamboo or eucalyptus tree into fiber and ultimately clothing. To simplify everything, we have separated this chain in 6 steps<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Agriculture<\/li>\n
  2. *Dissolution<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. *Extrusion<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Spinning<\/li>\n
  5. Knitting<\/li>\n
  6. Garment making<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    *Dissolution<\/em>\u00a0: action that transforms the wood into wood pulp. This action requires a solvent.
    \n*Extrusion<\/em> : action that transforms wood pulp into fiber.     Wikipedia definition.<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    \"Illustration<\/p>\n

    Illustration of the various stages of transformation in the lyocell process used to make the TENCEL\u00ae fiber.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    *Lyocell process<\/em> : also called\u00a0\u201d\u00a0TENCEL\u00ae<\/a> production process \u201c,\u00a0is the name of the<\/em> transformation process<\/em><\/strong> which changes wood into textile fiber.
    \n*TENCEL\u00ae<\/em> :\u00a0name of the fiber<\/em><\/strong> developed by     Lenzing<\/a> whose raw material comes from eucalyptus and is processed according to the lyocell process. Trademark.<\/p>\n

    \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 Viscose from\u00a0bamboo<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/h2>\n

    For the bamboo we used at Respecterre, here is more info on the whole supply chain.\u00a0From the harvest of the plant<\/em><\/strong> ? to ?the clothing you wear<\/em><\/strong> :<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Agriculture<\/em> <\/strong>: in certified organic sustainable plantations in China. Sustainable bamboo harvesting does not affect wildlife.<\/li>\n
    2. Dissolution<\/em><\/strong> : in China, by a company called TENBRO\u00ae<\/a>. Requires a solvent called * Sodium hydroxide<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    3. Extrusion<\/em><\/strong> : in\u00a0China, by\u00a0TENBRO\u00ae<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    4. Spinning<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0: in\u00a0China, by\u00a0TENBRO\u00ae<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    5. Knotting<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0: in\u00a0Montreal.<\/li>\n
    6. Garment making<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0: Fabric cutting and garment making in our shop in Ham-Nord, Quebec, Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      *Sodium\u00a0Hydroxide<\/i>\u00a0:\u00a0solvent classified as corrosive (according to the EU classification<\/a>) used in the viscose process.Wikipedia definition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 TENCEL\u00ae from eucalyptus\u00a0\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/h2>\n

      For the eucalyptus\u00a0we used at Respecterre, here is more info on the whole supply chain.\u00a0From the harvest of the plant<\/em><\/strong> ? to ? the clothing you wear<\/em><\/strong> :<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Agriculture :<\/em><\/strong> in certified FSC and PEFC<\/a> sustainable plantations in South Africa. Sustainable eucalyptus\u00a0harvesting does not affect wildlife.<\/li>\n
      2. Dissolution<\/em><\/strong> : in Austria, by a company named *Lenzing<\/a>. Requires\u00a0a solvent called\u00a0*NMMO<\/a><\/em>. Done according to the\u00a0Closed-loop process<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n
      3. Extrusion<\/em><\/strong> : in Austria, by *Lenzing<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0Selon le. Done according to the\u00a0*Closed-loop process<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n
      4. Spinning<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0: in Austria, by *Lenzing<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>\n
      5. Knitting<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0: in\u00a0Montreal.<\/li>\n
      6. Garment making\u00a0: Fabric cutting and garment making in our shop in Ham-Nord, Quebec, Canada.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        *NMMO<\/em> : NMMO \u2013 N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide is an aqueous, non-toxic, biodegradable, organic solvent<\/em><\/strong>. Wikipedia definition.<\/a>
        \n*Lenzing<\/em> : With more than 75 years of experience in the production of high-quality, #man-made cellulose fibers, the Lenzing Group is the only company worldwide combining the manufacturing of all three generations of man-made cellulose fibers on an large industrial scale under one roof \u2013 from the classic viscose fibers to modal and lyocell (TENCEL\u00ae) fibers. \u00a0        http:\/\/www.lenzing.com\/en\/home.html<\/a>
        \n*        Closed-loop process<\/a><\/em>\u00a0:\u00a0Transformation process which recovers and\u00a0reuses 99% of NMMO and water. Learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n

        \n

        \"Illustration<\/p>\n

        Illustration of the closed-loop process which recovers water and NMMO solvent used up to 99%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 3 Differences \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/h1>\n

         <\/p>\n

        1. The\u00a0solvent<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

        Sodium\u00a0Hydroxide (Solvent used for Bamboo)<\/h3>\n

        As we learned above, sodium hydroxide<\/em><\/strong> is the solvent<\/strong><\/em> used for the transformation of the bamboo fibe<\/em><\/strong>r. As you can see onthis web page<\/a>, this solvent is classified as corrosive<\/em><\/strong> according to EU\u00a0classification system<\/a>. Although no residue of this product remains in the fiber after the procedure, it remains weird\u00a0qualify this as an ecological process. It certainly is not as harmful as the\u00a025% of the world\u2019s pesticides are dumped directly into the environment to grow conventional cotton<\/em><\/strong>, but it\u2019s still something to not be thrilled about. Admittedly, sodium hydroxide is also used extensively (according to the free encyclopedia Wikipedia) in the paper industry<\/strong><\/em>, in soap and detergent industry, for water treatment and many others. Sodium hydroxide is not a toxic product<\/em><\/strong> that remains in the fiber and hurts our health or well-being of our environment, when treated responsibly. It is a product of our traditional industry. Yes, we need to aim to replace it, but can also be used without damage to our environment.<\/p>\n

        NMMO (Solvent used for\u00a0Eucalyptus)<\/h3>\n

        N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide or\u00a0NMMO<\/em><\/strong> (because nobody is able to say \u201cN-methylmorpholine N-oxide\u201d without reading syllable like a child learning to read)\u00a0is a solvent<\/em><\/strong> used for the transformation of the eucalyptus fiber<\/em><\/strong>. This product is non-toxic and biodegradable<\/em><\/strong> in addition to being an organic compound<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(which has not been obtained by a chemical union). This means that if it is dumped nature by accident, it won\u2019t (most likely) damage\u00a0the environment. It is, by far, a better choice than sodium hydroxide<\/em><\/strong> to proceed with the dissolution of wood into a textile fiber. You can read more on this website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        2.\u00a0Recovered water<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

        Viscose process (bamboo)<\/h3>\n

        The viscose process<\/em><\/strong> is the name of the method used for transformation of the bamboo fiber<\/em><\/strong>. Hence the name \u201cViscose from Bamboo\u201d. This process includes the dissolution and extrusion. To dissolve the wood, it is necessary to use water and solvent. As we know, water is a very\u00a0valuable resource in this world. But unlike the lyocell process, we do not really know how water is used in the viscose process. Perhaps responsibly, maybe not. We do not have any guarantee or certification for this.<\/p>\n

        Lyocell process (eucalyptus)<\/h3>\n

        Lyocell\u00a0process\u00a0used for transformation of eucalyptus fiber was designed according to the \u201cClosed loop\u201d process<\/em><\/strong> which guarantees that 99% of the water and solvent<\/em><\/strong> used are recovered and reused again. This results in a better water management and aims to preserve this natural resource we all need to live.<\/p>\n

        3.\u00a0The 27% of organic cotton needed the blend with bamboo<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

        67% Viscose from\u00a0Bambou, 27% Org. Coton (Bamboo)<\/h3>\n

        In order to have a final fabric that is more interesting to work and wear as clothing, bamboo yarn and is often mixed with a little over a quarter of organic cotton<\/em><\/strong>. This practice gives the opportunity to have a fabric which doen\u2019t shrinks or expands after washing<\/em><\/strong>. Having to always have to add an organic cotton blend with bamboo makes this fiber dependent of another industry. And despite our best efforts to avoid it, we are sometimes forced to buy a fabric whose yarn\u00a0was made with 27% cotton that is not organic. The remaining 6% are for the spandex. A compromise that makes it durable and comfortable clothing.<\/p>\n

        92% TENCEL\u00ae\u00a0(Eucalyptus)<\/h3>\n

        Unlike the bamboo viscose fiber, the\u00a0TENCEL\u00ae fiber<\/em><\/strong> (made with eucalyptus) does not need to be mixed with organic cotton<\/em><\/strong>. It is therefore, a more independant fiber. The remaining 8% are for the spandex. A compromise that makes it durable and comfortable clothing.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 What to choose?<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/h2>\n

        Bamboo and eucalyptus both grow sustainably and responsibly. They are both mainly knitted (in the case of Respecterre) in east China and assembled in our factory in Anhui. The differences between these two fibers is in the solvent<\/em><\/strong> necessary for processing the\u00a0wood into fiber\u00a0as well as the water required for that process<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and the 27% organic cotton necessary<\/em><\/strong> to blend with the bamboo yarn\u00a0so that the fabric does not\u00a0shrink in the washing process. Prioritizing eucalyptus (TENCEL\u00ae) compared to bamboo (viscose from bamboo) becomes a choice that leads to more a responsible consumption. Bamboo is not inherently evil. Its\u00a0solvent is used in several other industries and the bamboo does grow organically. But\u00a0in a world where we must always strive for better ways of doing things, to avoid corrosive products and water waste, TENCEL\u00ae is a better choice. To learn more about TENCEL\u00ae you can explore Lenzing\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>. It\u2019s worth it to spend a few minutes.<\/p>\n

        To see products made with TENCEL\u00ae, you will find details\u00a0below:<\/p>\n

        Tencel Mattress Protector<\/a><\/p>\n

        Tencel Surround Pillow<\/a><\/p>\n

        Tencel Duvet<\/a><\/p>\n

        Basically, the bamboo viscose is not bad, but the TENCEL\u00ae is a better choice !<\/p>\n

        ————————————————————————————————————<\/p>\n

        To find out more product reviews from manufacturer point of view, please visit our offical blog: www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/<\/a>\u00a0or Spring Hometextile video channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        If you are a importor or whole seller, please contact to get a quick feedback\u00a0at: springhome@springtextile.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Bamboo (bamboo from viscose) and eucalyptus (or TENCEL\u00ae) are two similar textile fibers in the way they are grown and processed. At Spring Hometextile, we work with textiles that are made with both materials. Both are sustainably grown trees\u00a0without insecticides … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[88,84,90,91,89],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=600"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":602,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions\/602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springtextile.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}