Fabric
Bamboo Viscose
Bamboo pulp from China and Assam
Impact score
50/ 100
Moderate
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint2,400 L / kg
Carbon footprint5.5 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy74 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingNo shedding
BiodegradableYes
Durability3 years typical wear
Recyclability35 / 100
Data confidence
mediumMedium confidence — published ranges vary by region and process
Sources: Canopy Hot Button 2023 · Higg MSI 2023
Figures are cradle-to-gate averages per kilogram of fibre or fabric, not measurements of your specific garment. A typical adult shirt weighs roughly 0.2 kg.
Qualitative ratings
Water useModerate
Carbon footprintModerate
Chemical loadHigh
DurabilityModerate
RecyclabilityPoor once blended
What is it
Bamboo dissolved in chemicals and extruded as a regenerated cellulose fibre.
Why it matters
Bamboo grows fast, but the viscose process it goes through is chemically harsh, so "bamboo" is not automatically green.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Treat it as viscose, not as bamboo; look for closed-loop lyocell versions instead.