Bamboo has enjoyed a long run as the golden child of “eco-friendly” textiles. Marketed as soft, breathable, antibacterial and planet-positive, it’s become a staple in everything from basics to baby clothes. Still, the sustainability story isn’t as clean as the labels suggest. In fact, in most cases, you’re not buying bamboo at all; you’re buying bamboo viscose, and that’s where the myth begins to unravel.

At face value, bamboo sounds idyllic. It’s a rapidly renewable plant that requires little irrigation, grows without pesticides, and regenerates itself after harvesting. As a plant, it ticks nearly every box. But once it enters the textile industry, the picture changes sharply. Turning bamboo into the soft fabric you see on hangers involves an intensive chemical process that strips the fibre of almost everything that makes it “green” in the first place.

To transform stiff bamboo stalks into something wearable, manufacturers typically use the viscose (or rayon) process — a system reliant on harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. These substances dissolve the bamboo into a pulp before reconstituting it into a filament that can be spun into yarn. Not only is this process energy-heavy, but it can also lead to chemical pollution when factories do not follow strict waste-management protocols (and many do not). Carbon disulfide, in particular, has been linked to toxic exposure in workers and surrounding communities.

The result? What’s marketed as a “natural fibre” is, in reality, a chemically processed semi-synthetic. The environmental impact varies enormously from factory to factory — meaning “bamboo” is often a sustainability gamble, not a guarantee.

Cotton, by comparison, is more honest. While no fibre is perfect, cotton remains one of the most studied, regulated and transparently audited natural fibres in the world. Programmes such as BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) and OEKO-TEX certification (of which we are extremely proud to bear the tag of) ensure reduced pesticide use, responsible water management, and safer working conditions — frameworks that bamboo viscose production largely lacks. Cotton can also be mechanically processed with minimal chemical intervention, recycled more easily, and biodegrades more reliably than chemically altered viscose fibres.

There is also a durability question that bamboo rarely wins. Bamboo viscose is prone to pilling, stretching and weakening over time, which shortens its lifespan and contributes to waste — a hidden sustainability cost rarely mentioned on the swing tag. High-quality cotton, however, softens with each wash, holds its shape, and can last years longer if properly cared for. Longevity is one of the most overlooked pillars of sustainability, and here cotton remains the clear front-runner.

The final myth worth debunking is bamboo’s claim to being “antibacterial.” The plant itself contains natural antibacterial compounds, but these properties are almost entirely destroyed during the viscose process. In other words: the bamboo fabric in your wardrobe is no more antibacterial than any other fibre.

Bamboo as a crop is wonderful. Bamboo as a textile, in its current dominant form, is not. Sustainability is never just about the raw plant — it’s about the processes, chemicals, labour practices, and lifecycle of the final product. And when the full picture is taken into account, responsibly produced cotton consistently comes out ahead.

That’s why, at Breeth, we’re committed to premium cotton — fibres that are OEKO-TEX certified, responsibly sourced, gentle on the skin, durable through years of wear, and processed without toxic shortcuts. Sustainability is a standard. To us, a material should feel good, look good, and behave responsibly — from seed to seam. Cotton does exactly that.