Filofibra : bamboo fiber

Filofibra x 天竹纤维

Since 1967, Filofibra is a family business in the trade of raw materials for the textile industry. Passion and the pursuit of product quality are values passed down from father to son; values that have enabled the company to build its reputation based on reliability and fairness.

They discovered bamboo fibre and worked with the Chinese group Jilin Chemical Fiber for almost 20 years, in full cooperation to maintain a relationship of trust and loyalty.

Filofibra是一家在1967年成立，从事纺织业原材料贸易的家族企业。专注的激情和对产品质量的追求是父子传承的价值观，这些价值观使公司在可靠和公平的基础上建立了自己的声誉。

他们与生产天竹纤维的中国吉林化纤集团合作了近20年，保持信任和忠诚的关系。副总经理Massimiliano Danisi，商务总监Marco Severin分享对天竹纤维的看法。

We met with

Massimiliano Danisi, Vice General Manager,

Marco Severin, Commercial Director

to better understand the bamboo fiber.

You have been working with bamboo fibre for 20 years, could you tell us about this adventure?

We have a long-standing relationship with the Jilin Chemical Fiber Group. The cooperation started in 2003. Hebei Jigao Chemical Fiber CO.; LTD produces bamboo raw materials and fibres. They produce viscose rayon yarn from three different raw materials: wood pulp, cotton liners (RCS 100%), bamboo (FSC 100%).

What is special about bamboo fibre ?

People have been drawn to understand what differentiates bamboo viscose rayon from other man-made fibres. It has all the properties of bamboo:

– High Biodegradable

– Naturally anti-bacterial

– Anti-allergic

– Anti UV

– Fast growing (2/3 years maximum)

– Unique viscose with 100% FSC.

– The forest is located in China, as well as the factories that produce the fibres and yarns.

– Softness of the fabrics

– Easy to mix with other fibres

Could you explain how this bamboo fibre is made? is it true that it is polluting?

The production of viscose rayon yarn from bamboo uses the same chemical process as that used by all viscose producers: CS2, H2SO4. Their chemicals are processed according to the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) standard.

However, as with all production, not only in textiles, as soon as you produce something, you pollute. Even with natural fibres like cotton, you pollute by using pesticides to help the growth and it consumes a lot of water.

Is there any misinformation about bamboo fibre?

Regarding this last aspect, there is some false information about the consumption of a lot of water to grow bamboo.

Bamboo used by Jilin Chemical Fiber Group comes from spontaneous forests and not from cultivation, so there is no forced irrigation like for cotton.

What are the advantages of bamboo fibre over cotton, linen and other materials?

Every different fibre production has its advantages and disadvantages. In this case of man-made fibres like viscose (annual production of about 7 million tonnes), the impact is not as aggressive as for other fibres like synthetic polyester (annual production of about 72 million tonnes) and even cotton (annual production of about 25 million tonnes).

You can avoid the impact on forests by using alternative materials like bamboo. But we need to explain to all consumers as well as to some NGOs who confuse greenwashing for commercial purposes with true sustainability.