Have you ever wondered if Bamboo products are safe to use in your bathroom, eat with or brush your teeth with? Spoiler alert, Yes the majority are.
Organic Bamboo and 100% Bamboo products are completely safe as Bamboo doesn't require any pesticides or nasty chemicals during growth. During the manufacturing process is where issues may occur as care-free manufacturers may add extra chemicals or substances to speed up processes or make them more durable, such as Melanine.
Melamine is an organic-based, nitrogen-rich compound used to manufacture cooking utensils, plates, plastic products, and more. Melamine resin is durable, fire and heat resistant and virtually unbreakable, making melamine products more desirable than other plastic housewares. Some melamine is left over after manufacturing and can leak into the foods or drinks that come into contact with it, for this reason, some can deem it as unsafe to use Melamine-manufacturered products. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have deemed Melamine manufactured-dishes as safe for use.
To be on the safe side, keep a look out for "melanine free" or 100% organic Bamboo products. Products that use Melanine in their manufacturing process, can also not be recycled or composted. For more information on Melanine and its use with Bamboo, please read this article by The Netherlands Nutrition Center.
Bamboo itself has its own anti-bactieral and anti-fungus features which make it safe for your household. Bamboo kun is found in bamboo fibre and is an antimicrobial bio-agent which gives bamboo its natural antibacterial properties. This prevents bacteria and microbes growing on bamboo products making it the perfect plant for naturally hygienic products such as bamboo straws and cutlery, keeping them sterile and fresh.
Bamboo kun is also an antifungal agent, which keeps fungi away, but also works to make bamboo naturally odour resistant. These three properties - antibacterial, antifungal and odour-resistance - are preserved in the bamboo fabric that we use when it undergoes mechanical processing. This type of bamboo fabric is resistant to the bacterial and fungal growth and the different odours that can get into clothing and remain there. Even after bamboo fabric has been washed many times over, it does not lose its qualities and remains to have this unique ability to repel these harmful and unpleasant infestations. Not even the most superior cotton material, the only comparable fabric to bamboo, has these special protective properties.
Plus, when the bamboo is coupled with food-approved oil or sealant on top, it can stay strong and safe for a lifetime. Please read our article on our favourite varnishes and oils for Bamboo here.