Bamboo Fiber: A New Choice of Eco-Friendly Functional Fiber

I. Bamboo Fiber: A Regenerated Fiber Derived from Bamboo

Bamboo Fiber is a new type of regenerated cellulose fiber developed by Hebei Jigao Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. It uses 2-3-year-old bamboo as raw material and obtained the patent for bamboo pulp in 2001. As the fifth major natural fiber, it retains the properties of bamboo and is spinnable, capable of being purely spun or blended with cotton, linen, etc. Its 40% crystallinity and porous cross-section lay the foundation for its functional performance.

II. Core Functional Selling Points

1. Natural Antibacterial Property: It contains "bamboo quinone" component, which reduces the survival rate of bacteria to less than 25% within 24 hours. Certified to remain effective even after 50 washes, it has long-lasting antibacterial performance.

2. Moisture Absorption and Breathability: Its moisture absorption speed is 3-5 times that of cotton, and its breathability is 3.5 times that of cotton, with a moisture regain rate of over 45%, earning it the title of "breathable fiber".

3. UV Resistance: The transmittance of UV rays in the 200-400nm band is less than 0.6%, 41.7 times that of cotton, making it suitable for outdoor use.

4. Easy Processing: It has good dyeability, and the fabric made from it has excellent drapability, soft handfeel, as well as wear resistance and is not easy to pill.

III. Environmental Protection and Sustainability

• Renewable Raw Material: Bamboo can be harvested in 2-3 years and regrows rapidly. It requires no fertilization, pesticide application during growth and does not occupy arable land.

• Low-Pollution Production: The patented process enables controllable energy consumption and pollutant emissions, with a carbon footprint of only 2.63kg CO₂-eq per kilogram, lower than the industry average.

• Whole-Cycle Friendly: It can decompose into carbon dioxide and water in the natural environment within 8-10 months, and produces no pollutants when incinerated, realizing a cycle of "taken from nature and returned to nature".

IV. Applications and Market Prospects

(I) Current Applications

Its core application lies in home textiles (towels, bed sheets, etc.), followed by functional clothing (underwear, outdoor clothing, etc.). The medical and health field (surgical gowns, masks, etc.) has great potential, and it also extends to differentiated varieties for health-care clothing and other uses.

(II) Market Forecast

In 2022, the top 10 export destinations for China's bamboo fiber and its products were Japan, the United States, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Thailand and Australia, accounting for 82.4% of the total export value. Among them, Asian countries/regions accounted for 48.7% of the total export value, and European countries/regions accounted for 28.5%. The United States and Japan are the main export countries for China's bamboo fiber products. In 2022, the export trade volume of China's bamboo products reached 2.748 billion US dollars, of which the United States accounted for 17.9% (492 million US dollars) of the total export value, and Japan accounted for 13.6% (374 million US dollars).

It is expected that the sales volume of bamboo fiber home clothing will increase by 25%, and the industry scale is expected to double in the next 5-10 years, with its application proportion in clothing, home textiles, medical and other fields further expanding.