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It really bothers me when people try and pass off bamboo-based fabrics as being natural. It's called rayon and it's about as synthetic as you can possibly get.

It really bothers me when people try and pass off bamboo-based fabrics as being natural. It's called rayon and it's about as synthetic as you can possibly get. For those who are interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon

kwhitefoot 5y ago
There is also an article specifically on bamboo textiles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_textile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_textile
jameshart 5y ago
Sure, but ‘synthetic’ is a weird word. At root it just means ‘made via synthesis’. Rayon is not made by synthesizing cellulose, though - it is made by extracting natural cellulose. You could say the fibers are synthesized - but cotton needs to go through a spinning process too. Where do you draw the line between ‘synthesis’ and ‘manufacturing’? Sure, for rayon the cellulose extraction process is chemical, unlike the physical process used to get cellulose fibers out of cotton, but the raw material is still natural, plant grown cellulose. There are plenty of things that are made by taking natural ingredients, shoving them in a vat of toxic chemicals to transform them, then taking them out to use, which are generally still considered ‘natural’ products: leather, bleached flour, pressure treated wood, dyed cotton…
- NortySpock 5y ago
  > Where do you draw the line between ‘synthesis’ and ‘manufacturing’? I assume the layperson will respond: "Synthesis uses chemicals, and manufacturing doesn't!" (visualizing a bandsaw or a punch-press machine) Of course manufacturing uses plenty of chemicals, but we don't always think about that when visualizing mechanical assembly processes.
- _jal 5y ago
  > Sure, but ‘synthetic’ is a weird word. Every word is weird if you think about it too long. At least in the US, this is pretty simple, even if it offends the sensibilities of category pedants. "Natural" fibers are cotton, wool, linen, etc. Processing is fine, so long as it isn't "too processed". It is "Synthetic" if it ends in '-on', or feels like plastic or rubber.
  - jameshart 5y ago
    Right. But thinking of Rayon and viscose as ‘synthetic’ means people assume it is not biodegradable, which isn’t the case. It’s about as biodegradable as cotton, or cardboard. In fact cardboard and paper are good analogs - I think people are comfortable thinking of them as ‘processed’ natural products, but not ‘synthetic’. There is value in getting people to think of rayon as more like that than true synthetics like nylon and polyester, which create non biodegradable micro plastic pollutants.
- dd36 5y ago
  Pressure treated wood is highly toxic...
  - jameshart 5y ago
    Yes, it’s a construction material. I wouldn’t recommend eating it. Same advice goes for reinforced concrete slabs and steel girders.
    - JAlexoid 5y ago
      I would advise not eating any kind of concrete.
      - Ancapistani 5y ago
        Oh, I don’t know. I had a concrete from Freddy’s a couple of weeks ago, and it was quite good. Peanut butter cups and bananas I believe. :)
    - dd36 5y ago
      It’s treated with a copper sort of poison usually. We handled it without gloves once after it had gotten wet and all got really sick.
  - quesera 5y ago
    There are several different kinds of pressure-treated wood. The old bad stuff is CCA, which uses arsenic. It's been restricted (in the US) for about two decades, though still available for some applications. Home Depot does not carry it. The newer stuff is ACQ (several types) which are Al and Cu-based. Not considered toxic by the EPA, however some people (including myself) are still not comfortable using it for, e.g. garden beds. Sawdust of all woods is considered an irritant, toxic, and a possible carcinogen. Work outside, and/or use good dust collection. Always wear a dust mask.

kwhitefoot 5y ago

There is also an article specifically on bamboo textiles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_textile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_textile

jameshart 5y ago

Sure, but ‘synthetic’ is a weird word. At root it just means ‘made via synthesis’. Rayon is not made by synthesizing cellulose, though - it is made by extracting natural cellulose. You could say the fibers are synthesized - but cotton needs to go through a spinning process too. Where do you draw the line between ‘synthesis’ and ‘manufacturing’? Sure, for rayon the cellulose extraction process is chemical, unlike the physical process used to get cellulose fibers out of cotton, but the raw material is still natural, plant grown cellulose. There are plenty of things that are made by taking natural ingredients, shoving them in a vat of toxic chemicals to transform them, then taking them out to use, which are generally still considered ‘natural’ products: leather, bleached flour, pressure treated wood, dyed cotton…

NortySpock 5y ago
> Where do you draw the line between ‘synthesis’ and ‘manufacturing’? I assume the layperson will respond: "Synthesis uses chemicals, and manufacturing doesn't!" (visualizing a bandsaw or a punch-press machine) Of course manufacturing uses plenty of chemicals, but we don't always think about that when visualizing mechanical assembly processes.
_jal 5y ago
> Sure, but ‘synthetic’ is a weird word. Every word is weird if you think about it too long. At least in the US, this is pretty simple, even if it offends the sensibilities of category pedants. "Natural" fibers are cotton, wool, linen, etc. Processing is fine, so long as it isn't "too processed". It is "Synthetic" if it ends in '-on', or feels like plastic or rubber.
- jameshart 5y ago
  Right. But thinking of Rayon and viscose as ‘synthetic’ means people assume it is not biodegradable, which isn’t the case. It’s about as biodegradable as cotton, or cardboard. In fact cardboard and paper are good analogs - I think people are comfortable thinking of them as ‘processed’ natural products, but not ‘synthetic’. There is value in getting people to think of rayon as more like that than true synthetics like nylon and polyester, which create non biodegradable micro plastic pollutants.
dd36 5y ago
Pressure treated wood is highly toxic...
- jameshart 5y ago
  Yes, it’s a construction material. I wouldn’t recommend eating it. Same advice goes for reinforced concrete slabs and steel girders.
  - JAlexoid 5y ago
    I would advise not eating any kind of concrete.
    - Ancapistani 5y ago
      Oh, I don’t know. I had a concrete from Freddy’s a couple of weeks ago, and it was quite good. Peanut butter cups and bananas I believe. :)
  - dd36 5y ago
    It’s treated with a copper sort of poison usually. We handled it without gloves once after it had gotten wet and all got really sick.
- quesera 5y ago
  There are several different kinds of pressure-treated wood. The old bad stuff is CCA, which uses arsenic. It's been restricted (in the US) for about two decades, though still available for some applications. Home Depot does not carry it. The newer stuff is ACQ (several types) which are Al and Cu-based. Not considered toxic by the EPA, however some people (including myself) are still not comfortable using it for, e.g. garden beds. Sawdust of all woods is considered an irritant, toxic, and a possible carcinogen. Work outside, and/or use good dust collection. Always wear a dust mask.