Bamboo-zled: FTC Catches 78 Clothing Retailers Selling Rayon As Bamboo
posted by: Beth Buczynski 215 days ago
Eco-fashion is the clothing industry's way of acknowledging the benefits of environmentally safe, chemical-free manufacturing and cultivation, and materials like organic cotton, hemp, and bambnoo have been introduced into the mainstream quickly by retailers that want a piece of the green action.
However, in their haste to capitalize on the recent interest in environmentally-friendly clothing, some retailers have been taking advantage of the public's lack of knowledge about this industry.
Seventy-eight nationally known companies, including Wal-mart, Target, Amazon.com, The Gap, and Zappos.com, received Federal Trade Commission letters warning that they may be breaking the law by selling clothing and other textile products that are labeled and advertised as "bamboo," but actually are made of manufactured rayon fiber, according to a recent press release.
"We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers," said David C. Vladeck, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process."
The press release goes on to explain the process for manufacturing rayon, which is considered to be a man-made fiber even though it is created with plant based fibers. Cellulose found in plants and trees is processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon and should not be considered environmentally-friendly.
A complete list of the companies sent warning letters can be found on the FTC’s web site.
This announcement comes on the heels of four FTC enforcement actions brought against companies selling rayon products that were misleadingly labeled and advertised as "bamboo fiber," "ecoKashmere," "Pure Bamboo," "Bamboo Comfort," and "BambooBaby."
The FTC has published an alert entitled "Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?" that provides useful information for consumers shopping for bamboo-based fabrics.
Take action by signing these related petitions:
End H&M's practice of throwing away clothes!
Say No To Fur
Ask Walmart to Green Clothing Care Labels
However, in their haste to capitalize on the recent interest in environmentally-friendly clothing, some retailers have been taking advantage of the public's lack of knowledge about this industry.
Seventy-eight nationally known companies, including Wal-mart, Target, Amazon.com, The Gap, and Zappos.com, received Federal Trade Commission letters warning that they may be breaking the law by selling clothing and other textile products that are labeled and advertised as "bamboo," but actually are made of manufactured rayon fiber, according to a recent press release.
"We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers," said David C. Vladeck, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process."
The press release goes on to explain the process for manufacturing rayon, which is considered to be a man-made fiber even though it is created with plant based fibers. Cellulose found in plants and trees is processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon and should not be considered environmentally-friendly.
A complete list of the companies sent warning letters can be found on the FTC’s web site.
This announcement comes on the heels of four FTC enforcement actions brought against companies selling rayon products that were misleadingly labeled and advertised as "bamboo fiber," "ecoKashmere," "Pure Bamboo," "Bamboo Comfort," and "BambooBaby."
The FTC has published an alert entitled "Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?" that provides useful information for consumers shopping for bamboo-based fabrics.
Take action by signing these related petitions:
End H&M's practice of throwing away clothes!
Say No To Fur
Ask Walmart to Green Clothing Care Labels
Read more: shopping, bamboo, clothing, ecofashion, environment & wildlife
comments
All textile products are made of 100% organic chemicals, pesticides are not safe, no fragrances. Chemicals have always made fiber nneded.
Eco friendly clothing
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why is this inappropriate?
Genuine likely to be misleading in so far as it goes. Every retailer is to trick people how do we spend our money. They should be called more often in the claims of their products.
Thanks
Eco friendly clothing
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thank you
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a list of store that have the product and the number of other safe,green ways they help would be great
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I'm all for natural fabrics, but I also wonder why consumers don't hear about bamboo sustainability. Pandas eat bamboo, & I would not start to support products that may threaten their food source or environment. Labeling their clothing fiber, content & baby is not lying about the content. Pure, Authentic would probably be more deceptive as far as that goes. All retailers deceive people, that's how they get us to spend our money. They should be called out more often on their product claims. Especially since Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Neiman Marcus, etc, have the same suppliers. Ya, we knew that.
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Yeah...rayon, polyester, all those fake fabrics make me sweat, even in cold weather. Skin can't breathe!
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What I would like to see is a list of retailers that offer genuine bamboo fiber. Anyone know where to find that?
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Loretta L. - I concur. Hemp is a tremendously useful plant, producing fibres for a diverse range of areas; a very versatile natural plant fibre. It can also be made into rope and string (e.g., very strong parcel string) as well as very strong, durable envelopes and ditto wrapping paper - also sacking!
Rayon . . . hmmm . . . not sure about the desirability of this kind of fabric, as it doesn't allow the body to "breathe" through it.
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interesting article, didn`t know how rayon was made.thankyou
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oh boy...
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