Why Bamboo Is One of the Most Sustainable and Useful Plants on Earth

At 1WorldPrint we print and embroider sustainable clothing for brands, charities, schools, bands and businesses across the UK. We are an official Stanley/Stella dealer, we print the Earth Positive organic range, we offer bamboo t-shirt printing on the Earth Positive BAM01 and BAM02, and we brand a wide range of bamboo and recycled merchandise. Every order gets a dedicated Account Manager who replies within 15 minutes and a free visual proof.

In this guide

• What Is Bamboo?
• Is Bamboo Sustainable? Why the Plant Is So Green
• How Bamboo Becomes Fabric
• Bamboo vs Organic Cotton vs Recycled Fabrics
• Bamboo T-Shirt Printing
• Earth Positive: Organic Cotton Made With Renewable Energy
• Stanley/Stella: Organic Clothing From an Official Dealer
• Which Sustainable Fabric Should You Choose?
• Bamboo Promotional Merchandise
• Printing Sustainable Clothing
• Making Honest Sustainability Claims
• Bamboo and Sustainable Clothing FAQs

What Is Bamboo?

Short answer: bamboo is not a tree but a giant grass, with more than 1,400 species, and some of them are the fastest growing plants on earth.

Bamboo belongs to the grass family. It grows in tropical forests, mountains and temperate regions, and some species can grow up to 91cm in a single day. New shoots reach their full height within a few months, and the woody canes are ready to harvest within about three to seven years, compared with decades for most hardwood trees.

Bamboo spreads through underground roots called rhizomes, which keep sending up new shoots. When a cane is cut, the plant carries on growing from the same roots, so a bamboo forest can be harvested again and again without replanting.

Is Bamboo Sustainable? Why the Plant Is So Green

• It renews itself quickly. Fast growth and regrowth from the roots make bamboo one of the most renewable raw materials there is.
• It needs very little help. Bamboo usually grows well with little irrigation, fertiliser or pesticide.
• It protects the soil. Dense root systems hold soil together, which helps prevent erosion on slopes and riverbanks.
• It stores carbon. Like all plants, bamboo takes in carbon dioxide as it grows, and its fast growth means it builds up plant material quickly.
• It is incredibly versatile. Bamboo is used for building, furniture, kitchenware, packaging, paper, textiles and promotional products.

As a plant, bamboo is deserving of its reputation. The bigger question for brands is what happens to it on the way from the forest to the finished product.

How Bamboo Becomes Fabric

Short answer: most bamboo fabric is bamboo viscose, made by dissolving bamboo pulp with chemicals, so it is not as green as the plant it comes from.

Bamboo canes are hard and woody, so they cannot be spun into yarn the way cotton can. To make the soft fabric used in bamboo t-shirts and socks, the bamboo is broken down into pulp, dissolved with chemicals and spun into a new fibre. That fibre is viscose, also called rayon, made from bamboo.

Type of bamboo fabric	How it is made	What to know
Bamboo viscose	Bamboo pulp dissolved with chemicals and spun into fibre	The most common type. Soft, smooth and breathable, but the process uses chemicals and energy
Bamboo lyocell	Pulp dissolved in a solvent that is recovered and reused	A cleaner process than standard viscose, but less widely available
Mechanically processed bamboo	Fibres crushed and combed out without chemicals	The greenest option, but rare, rougher and expensive

This matters because labelling rules are strict. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has recently fined companies for naming viscose products simply "bamboo", because the fibre is viscose made from bamboo. If you sell or give away bamboo clothing, it is important to describe it accurately, for example "70% viscose from bamboo, 30% organic cotton".

None of this means bamboo clothing is a bad choice. Bamboo viscose is beautifully soft, drapes well and feels cool on the skin, and blending it with organic cotton from an ethical, audited brand gives you a garment you can feel good about. It simply means the strongest sustainability claims for clothing usually come from certified organic cotton.

Bamboo vs Organic Cotton vs Recycled Fabrics

Fabric	Feel	Sustainability	Best for
Bamboo viscose blends	Very soft, smooth and drapey	Fast renewing plant, chemical processing	Premium soft tees, wellness brands and retail
GOTS organic cotton	Soft, natural and breathable	Certified from farm to garment, no synthetic pesticides	Most branded clothing, merch and uniforms
Recycled cotton and polyester	Varies by blend	Uses waste materials, often GRS certified	Durable kit, budgets and circular ranges
TENCEL Modal blends	Silky and smooth	Made from wood pulp in a more efficient process	Premium fashion pieces

For the majority of branded clothing we recommend certified organic cotton. It takes screen printing, direct to garment printing and embroidery beautifully, and the certification backs up what you are saying about your merchandise. Bamboo blends make sense when the feel of the garment is the main selling point.

Get a sustainable clothing quoteor call 0208 064 1315

Bamboo T-Shirt Printing

When a client is looking for a bamboo t-shirt, we always recommend the Earth Positive bamboo range, which blends bamboo viscose with organic cotton and is made by one of the most sustainable clothing brands available.

Style	Fabric	Sizes	How we decorate it
BAM01 Bamboo Jersey T-Shirt	180gsm, 70% viscose from bamboo, 30% organic cotton	S to 2XL, men's classic fit	Screen printing, DTF and embroidery
BAM02 Bamboo Women's Jersey T-Shirt	70% viscose from bamboo, 30% organic cotton	Women's fit	Screen printing, DTF and embroidery

Because the blend is mostly viscose, screen printing and DTF transfers usually give the best results on bamboo t-shirts, and embroidery works well for a small chest logo, depending on the weight of the t-shirt, as the garment must be heavy enough to take embroidery. Your Account Manager will be able to recommend the right method for your design.

Earth Positive: Organic Cotton Made With Renewable Energy

Short answer: Earth Positive's organic garments are 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, produced in factories powered by renewable energy, with a carbon footprint Earth Positive puts at around 90% lower than standard cotton.

• Certified organic. Earth Positive's organic range is 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers.
• Renewable energy. The garments are made in factories powered by renewable energy.
• Lower carbon. Earth Positive says this cuts the carbon footprint by around 90% compared with standard cotton production.
• Ethical production. Production is audited each and every year against the Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices.

Earth Positive style	What it is	Popular for
EP01 Jersey T-Shirt	155g, 100% GOTS organic cotton, unisex XS to 5XL	Band merch, charities, events and clothing brands
EP301 Pullover Hoodie	300g brushed organic cotton, zero polyester	Merch drops, teams and leavers
EP302 Sweatshirt	300g brushed organic cotton, 30 colourways	Staff wear and brand collections
EP70 Shopper Tote Bag	120g organic cotton, 38cm x 42cm	Events, shops and giveaways

Our guide to Earth Positive organic t-shirt printing covers every style in detail, and the EP301 also features in our list of the best hoodies for printing and embroidery.

Stanley/Stella: Organic Clothing From an Official Dealer

Short answer: Stanley/Stella makes premium clothing from GOTS organic and GRS recycled cotton, and 1WorldPrint are proud to be an official Stanley/Stella dealer.

• Organic and recycled fibres. Stanley/Stella works with GOTS certified organic cotton and GRS certified recycled fibres.
• Safe and vegan. The range is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and is PETA-Approved Vegan.
• Fair Wear. Stanley/Stella has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation since 2012.
• A huge range. T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, jackets, bags and accessories in a wide choice of colours and fits.

The STTU169 Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 has become one of the most popular organic t-shirts we print, and new styles arrive every season. See our guides to Stanley/Stella printing and embroidery and the Stanley/Stella Autumn Winter 2026 range.

Which Sustainable Fabric Should You Choose?

Your goal	Our recommendation
Sustainability claims you can prove	GOTS organic cotton from Earth Positive or Stanley/Stella
The lowest carbon footprint	Earth Positive, made with renewable energy
The widest choice of styles and colours	Stanley/Stella, from an official dealer
The softest possible feel	Earth Positive BAM01 or BAM02 bamboo blend
A tighter budget	Recycled blends, or our guide to which t-shirt is best for printing
Merchandise rather than clothing	Bamboo, recycled and reusable products from our eco range

Bamboo Promotional Merchandise

Short answer: bamboo is at its best in merchandise, where it is used in its natural form for pens, power banks, keyrings, notebook covers and bottle lids.

In promotional products, bamboo is usually used as solid material rather than turned into fibre, so you get its natural look and renewable credentials without the chemical processing that fabric requires. A laser engraved or printed logo on bamboo looks both premium and natural.

• Bamboo pens. See our branded pens.
• Bamboo power banks. See our branded power banks.
• Bamboo notebooks. See our branded notepads.
• Bottles with bamboo lids. See our branded water bottles.
• Bamboo keyrings and gifts. Combine them in our corporate gift boxes.
• Organic cotton tote bags. See our custom bags and how printed tote bags help your business.

Our eco friendly merchandise page brings the whole range together, and our guide to sustainable promotional merchandise explains how to build a greener merch range.

Printing Sustainable Clothing

Method	Best for	Minimum order
Screen printing	Bold designs and larger runs, with water based and discharge inks available	20 units
Direct to garment	Full colour designs on organic cotton	8 units
Direct to film	Full colour designs on bamboo and mixed blends	8 units
Embroidery	Premium logos on hoodies, sweatshirts and polos	8 units

Water based inks soak into the fabric, leaving you with a soft, breathable print, and discharge inks remove the garment dye rather than sitting on top, which suits organic cotton beautifully. Our custom t-shirt printing, custom hoodies and custom sweatshirts pages show more of the range, and our guide to band merch explains why so many artists choose organic tees.

Making Honest Sustainability Claims

Sustainable merchandise only helps your brand if what you say about it is true. The Competition and Markets Authority's Green Claims Code sets out how UK businesses should describe environmental benefits, and since 6 April 2025 the CMA can fine businesses up to 10% of their global turnover for misleading consumers, including with misleading green claims.

• Be specific. Say "100% GOTS certified organic cotton" rather than "eco friendly".
• Describe bamboo fabric accurately. Use "viscose from bamboo" rather than simply "bamboo".
• Use the certifications. GOTS, GRS, OEKO-TEX and Fair Wear give you claims that are independently checked.
• Do not overstate. Avoid words like "carbon neutral" or "zero impact" unless you can prove them.

Charities and schools are often asked about sustainability by their supporters, and our charity printing and education pages show how we help them choose responsibly.

How to Order Sustainable Clothing and Merch

Four steps from first enquiry to delivered order, with one point of contact the whole way through.

Bamboo and Sustainable Clothing FAQs

Is bamboo clothing sustainable?

The bamboo plant is known to be one of the most renewable crops on earth, but most bamboo clothing is bamboo viscose, which is made using chemicals. However, it can still be a good choice for its softness, especially when it is blended with organic cotton and made by an ethical brand, but certified organic cotton is usually the stronger sustainability story for branded clothing.

What is bamboo viscose?

Bamboo viscose is a fabric made by dissolving bamboo pulp with chemicals and spinning it into a soft, smooth fibre. It should be labelled as viscose or rayon made from bamboo, rather than simply as bamboo.

Is bamboo better than organic cotton?

Bamboo grows faster and needs fewer inputs as a plant, but bamboo fabric is usually chemically processed. GOTS certified organic cotton is checked from the farm to the finished garment, so it is the better choice when you want sustainability claims you can back up, while bamboo blends win on softness and feel.

Do you print bamboo t-shirts?

Yes. We print and supply the Earth Positive BAM01 Bamboo Jersey T-Shirt and the BAM02 women's version, both 70% bamboo viscose and 30% organic cotton, by screen printing, DTF and embroidery.

Is Stanley/Stella clothing sustainable?

Stanley/Stella works with GOTS certified organic cotton and GRS certified recycled fibres, holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and PETA-Approved Vegan certification, and has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation since 2012.

Is Earth Positive clothing sustainable?

Earth Positive's organic garments are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton in factories powered by renewable energy, and Earth Positive says this cuts the carbon footprint by around 90% compared with standard cotton. Production is audited against the Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices.

Are you an official Stanley/Stella dealer?

Yes. 1WorldPrint is an official Stanley/Stella dealer, and we supply, print and embroider the entire Stanley/Stella range.

What bamboo merchandise do you offer?

Bamboo pens, bamboo power banks, bamboo and metal keyrings, notebooks with bamboo covers and water bottles with bamboo lids, all branded with your logo. See our eco friendly merchandise page for the full range.

What is the minimum order for sustainable clothing?

Screen printing starts at 20 units per design, and DTG, DTF and embroidery start at 8 units. Most eco friendly merchandise starts from 25 units.

How long does a sustainable clothing order take?

Our standard turnaround for printed and embroidered clothing is six to seven business days from artwork approval, and you get a free visual proof within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed.

Can our business pay on account?

Yes. Schools, charities and businesses can apply through our client registration page for a credit account on 30 or 60 day terms.

Final Thoughts

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable and useful plants on earth, and it makes amazing merchandise. For clothing, the full story matters: bamboo viscose blends are wonderfully soft, while GOTS certified organic cotton from Earth Positive and Stanley/Stella gives you the strongest, most provable sustainability credentials. Choose the right material for each product, describe it honestly, and your merchandise will back up your brand's values.

Tell us what you are looking for and we will recommend the right sustainable garments and send a free visual proof. Email hello@1worldprint.co.uk, call us on 0208 064 1315 or request a quote, and see what our customers say on Trustpilot.