Ceyteks : bamboo fiber in Turkey

Textile is a very important for Turkey, a country with a total population of 80 million people. Turkey is the sixth largest exporter in the world, and it is the second largest supplier of textiles to the European Union. Italy, Germany, Spain and America are also the main textile exporting countries.

Turkish textile represents an important gateway, its logistics is easy for Europe, especially because of its geographical location. The company Ceyteks has been working with bamboo fiber for ten years . Ceyda Öçalan, director of Ceyteks explains us the evolution of the bamboo fiber in Turkey.

Interview with

Ceyda Öçalan

Director of Ceyteks

Could You Present Your Company?

Ceyteks was founded in 1995. It was the agent of major Italian yarn manufacturers in Turkey, specializing in the sale of acetate, nylon 66 and viscose filaments. Since 2010, thanks to the Swiss company Filofibra, we started working with JILIN CHEMICAL FIBER GROUP.

How did you integrate fibre into production in turkey?

As a fibre, bamboo has a very important place in the sector, especially in home textiles. Bamboo is cool, spacious and comfortable to use, with its antibacterial properties and its function of lowering the body temperature by 2-3 degrees.

It is a miraculous plant that has a price advantage in its ability to grow in 3-4 years, including reducing carbon dioxide to oxygen production, as well as protecting the world and green nature from carbon emissions.

When used as a filament, it is dyed at a lower temperature with fewer dyes. Its chemical-free production results in many savings in terms of textile waste reduction and energy savings. With its silky look and feel, our customers use nature-friendly bamboo yarn, in the production of clothing fabrics, shirts , pyjamas and more.

What is bamboo fibre used for?

Bamboo has long been hailed as an environmental friendly alternative to the use of slow-growing trees for textiles, furniture and other household items. It grows extremely fast, which means that it can be harvested and replenished in a short period of time. It can also be grown on land that is not suitable for other crops.

Many clothing brands that claim to be ‘eco-friendly’ use bamboo viscose in their clothing and underwear.

Often the case is that when it comes to sustainability, the ecological credentials of bamboo are unclear. When harvested from well-managed sources, bamboo can be a good alternative to other raw materials for viscose. But it is not acceptable when natural forests are being cleared to make way for bamboo plantations which is leading to deforestation. Bamboo is also processed in the same way as other wood fibres to make viscose, so the same pollution and health problems can occur.

In short, whether bamboo viscose is an environmentally friendly alternative to other viscose fabrics, it will depend on where it comes from and how it is made. Canopy recommends that bamboo be FSC certified, not harvested from old growth or endangered forests, not grown where it will displace food crops or put unreasonable pressure on regional water supplies. It should be processed in closed-loop facilities to reduce waste and pollution.

One should always check these kinds of details with bamboo clothing brands before making a decision on whether to buy a pair of leggings or a bamboo t-shirt. If these brands are truly eco-friendly, it means they have paid attention to where the raw bamboo comes from. Turkish producers appreciate this fibre.

What do you think about the use of bamboo fibre in future fashion?

TANBOOCEL bamboo fiber will be the next generation for textiles. Its yarn will be sustainable, it will protect forests, water and air. Textiles will become more breathable!