How does bamboo improve the quality of tissue and hygiene products?
Updated: Oct 30, 2023
Bamboos are a versatile material with many uses. The same goes for the pulp produced when bamboo fibres are processed. Bamboo pulp can be used to make a variety of products, from paper towels to clothing, that can be created more sustainably than their traditional counterparts. More specifically, bamboo pulp can be used to make tissue and hygiene products. Pulp from bamboo is becoming a more popular material for creating sustainable products that are both durable and eco-friendly. Read on as bamboo bioproducts explores how the addition of bamboo pulp can improve traditional tissue and hygiene products whilst fulfilling a consumer-driven demand for sustainable environmentally friendly products.
Related Article: Can Bamboo Be Used for Tissue and Hygiene Products?
Why Can Bamboos Improve Traditional Tissue & Hygiene Products?
Bamboo pulp offers a number of green benefits as compared to traditional materials such as wood pulp, eucalyptus or cotton due to the structure of bamboo fibres:
More sustainable due to its fast-growing life cycle. Bamboo matures in 3 years whereas hard and softwood trees (used for paper-based products) can take anywhere from 20-40 years to mature before harvest. The extremes of growing time range from 7 years for tropical hardwoods (eucalyptus in a tropical environment, for example) to 90+ years for softwoods in cool temperate regions (pines in northern nordic countries, for example). Bamboo still easily beats the fastest commercially grown hardwoods (eucalyptus) and completely surpasses any of the softwoods.
Softer and stronger because of its fibre morphology. Bamboo has unique fibres that create a softer feel without sacrificing tensile strength.
Products made with bamboo pulp are more absorbent than traditional materials. A cross-section of bamboo fibres shows that the fibres have micro-gaps and holes that allow these plants to absorb moisture ~2x faster than cotton.
Both antibacterial and antifungal in nature. Bamboo plants can thrive naturally without the use of pesticides as they are seldom eaten by pests or infected by pathogens. This means it can be grown without many of the chemicals needed for other plants used for paper-based products, making it a more eco-friendly option.
Bamboos, when farmed sustainably, can provide stable income and opportunities by supporting economic development. As such, bamboo cultivation and processing supports a circular economy. Bamboos offer solutions for economic expansion as it grows naturally in tropical environments where many developing communities intersect.
These qualities make it an ideal material for use in high-quality tissue and hygiene products that are both durable and comfortable to use. With its strength and durability, bamboo pulp can improve the performance of existing products while having the potential to reduce environmental impact.
How Bamboo Pulp Can Improve Tissue and Hygiene Products
Tissue and hygiene products made with bamboo pulp offer a range of benefits that are not always available with traditional materials. So, how does the addition of bamboo pulp into traditional tissue and hygiene products actually change the user experience?
Absorbency. Since bamboos absorb more moisture at a faster rate than most other fibres currently on the market, it is a preferred material for protection against leaks. This feature is especially valuable for hygiene products that require durability and moisture absorption over time. Bamboo fibre is both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, meaning that it is alternately attracted to and not attracted to water. The addition of bamboo pulp to tissue and hygiene products makes them stronger, more absorbent, and softer than ever before.
Softness. Bamboo pulp is softer than other materials, making tissue and hygiene products more comfortable to use. It is actually the only non-wood fibre that can provide softness and strength at the levels it does. Bamboo in tissue products makes the difference between irritated and happy skin.
Antibacterial. Bamboos are naturally antibacterial and safe for use on sensitive skin.
When it comes to tissue and hygiene products, the most important qualities used to rate product performance are softness, absorbency, and strength. Products made with bamboo exceed expectations in each of these categories, all while remaining an affordable, green alternative to eucalyptus or wood-based fibres.
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