Why Bamboo Sheets and Towels?

Why Bamboo?

Bamboo feels like silken cashmere next to the skin and will wick moisture at twice the rate of conventional cotton.

Although bamboo has long been known in Asia for its many unique applications, the idea of using bamboo to spin yarns is a much more recent technology. Interest in bamboo has steadily grown as more and more information becomes available concerning its inherent characteristics. Bamboo grows extremely rapidly and can be harvested every two to three years with little or no environmental impact making it a remarkable, sustainable resource when compared to a tree forest that takes over 60 years to recover from deforestation. Bamboo is also inherently anti-microbial, so it is seldom infected by pathogens or eaten by pests. There is no need to use chemicals or pesticides to grow bamboo. Recent testing has proved that there is little or no growth in bacteria when it is brought into contact with bamboo for a period of 24 hours. It is noteworthy that for centuries, food in Japan was wrapped in bamboo leaves to keep it from spoiling. In addition, bamboo’s molecular configuration gives it the ability to absorb and release moisture very rapidly.

The bamboo is grown on plantations and logged by hand. It is then finely shredded and bamboo cellulose is extracted. Impurities are then removed leaving only the finest quality fibers which are pulped into a cardboard-like sheet. The pulp is dissolved into viscose before being made into a spun or filament fiber.

When this much care has been taken to create a fiber that is truly natural, organic and sustainable, the manufacturing process must also be environmentally responsible. The Jonano™ line is produced in Asia in accordance with ISO 1400 environmental standards. It is made from organically grown bamboo and harvested close to vertically integrated manufacturers to curb transportation costs between fabrication facilities.

Within the objectives of establishing a third-party certification system covering fair and safe working conditions as well as clean manufacturing from fiber to finished good, Jonäno manufacturers have has earned the right of being certified by ISO 9000: 1400 Environmental Management. The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (cause adverse changes to air, water, or land), comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and continually improve on the above.

ISO 14000 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management in that both pertain to the process (the comprehensive outcome of how a product is produced) rather than to the product itself. As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organizations rather than being awarded by ISO directly. The ISO 19011 audit standard applies when auditing for both 9000 and 14000 compliance at once.
The scope of the Environmental Management was established in accordance with environmental laws and regulations, some of the managing principles can be found listed below:

• Minimization of wastes at source
• Reuse or treat with an appropriate method all possible wastes
• Reduce the use of natural resources to minimum levels by effective use of energy and raw materials
• Comply with occupational health and safety requirements
• Using latest environmentally friendly technologies in facilities
• Generating employee awareness and responsibility

It is absolutely essential that the chemicals used in the production of textiles must not have any negative effects on human health and the environment. For this reason, authorized laboratories and professional certification groups test our textile products; physical and chemical analyses are used to verify that textile products are safe to be used for the consumer and the environment. Our manufacturing systems have been certified that they have met the ÖKO-TEK STANDARD 100. This certificate is renewed every year. For detailed information, please visit www.oeko-tex.com and www.testex.com.