by Coral Rose
The FTC recently charged four textile companies with making false unsubstantiated “green” claims. According to the FTC these companies were deceptively labeling and advertising textile related items as made of ‘bamboo’ fiber, when they are made of rayon, and must legally be labeled "Rayon made from bamboo."
The question has again been raised......
"Can bamboo(technically "Rayon from bamboo") textiles be certified organic to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP)?"
The last time this question was posed a few years ago, I was informed that bamboo was considered a product of a forest and therefore could possibly be eligible for FSC Certification.
Given the existing controversy that is still running wild in the textile market, I decided to again reach out to the USDA NOP for clarification. I received the following response:
According to Joan Shaffer, Office of Public Affairs at the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) “Bamboo” as a raw material for textiles is available for Organic Certification according to the USDA NOP.
“The organic standards cover agricultural products from livestock and crop. Bamboo is a crop.” Please see the explanations for textiles in this (Labeling of Textiles Under National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations) fact sheet.”
“Below is an excerpt from the “Preamble” on “nonedible fibers products” in the organic standards.”
“(6) Nonedible Fibers Products in the NOP. Some commenters asked the NOP to clarify the certification status of fibers such as cotton and flax. The final rule allows for certification of organically produced fibers such as cotton and flax. However, the processing of these fibers is not covered by the final rule. Therefore, goods that utilize organic fibers in their manufacture may only be labeled as a "made with..." product; e.g., a cotton shirt labeled "made with organic cotton." USDA-AMS Office of Public Affairs
The proper labeling in accordance with the FTC would be:
“Rayon(or Viscose) made from organic bamboo”
*Note that it is the bamboo itself as the CROP (raw material) that is allowed to be certified as organic to the USDA NOP Standard, and that the processing of the fiber and or garment is NOT considered in the process of certification to the USDA NOP Standard.
While this may sound a bit absurd (and about as clean as coal) that rayon can indeed be considered an organic textile, it is the bamboo itself as the raw material that is being certified as organic.
***See August 1, 2009 Post below: Labeling of Textiles: National Organic Program (NOP)
First Clean Coal, Now Organic Bamboo? By Coral Rose
FTC Mulches False Bamboo Textile Claims By Coral Rose
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