“The growing phase is much friendlier than any alternatives, even organic cotton. Just to name a few benefits, bamboo uses almost no water to grow (unlike any cotton, which can use up to 29,000L to produce 1 kg), uses no pesticides/fertilizers to grow, takes 5 times the amount of greenhouse gases out and produces 35% more oxygen. Clearly beneficial for the environment. Chemicals are added to process the bamboo fibre and the chemical used in bamboo processing is sodium hydroxide which can be added to aid in the breakdown of the woody bamboo stems. When the stems are pulverised, another substance is added to the mixture which breaks the sodium hydroxide bonds and converts it to inert salt and water. The chemicals used are contained within the factory, reused and recycled in most reputable places, and the worst that can happen to works that are in direct proximity with the sodium hydroxide is their eyes may become irritated. Again, not ideal but not a reason to dismiss bamboo clothing, for alternatives that can’t provide the overall benefit gained from bamboo. No chemicals are found on the bamboo fibre at the end of processing particularly if it is certified by OEKO-TEX100. This means there are absolutely no residues of harmful chemicals.”(organicclothing.blogs.com)