Frequently Asked Questions
Are chemicals and pesticides used to grow bamboo?
Bamboo grows without the need for pesticides as it is naturally resistant to insects and pests. It also doesn’t need fertilisers as it grows most happily in degraded land. The raw bamboo fibre used in our products is Ecocert Organic Farming Certified. For nearly three decades, Ecocert's expertise in the certification of sustainable products, systems and services has been one of the most reliable and rigorous on the market. The Ecocert brand is the benchmark for organic and ecological labelling, with a high guarantee of traceability.
What are the skin and hair benefits of bamboo?
Bamboo is antibacterial, containing a natural antimicrobial agent that protects your skin against harmful substances, including odour-causing bacteria. This helps your body stay dry, comfortable and fresh. Bamboo kun is what protects the bamboo plant from insects, harmful bacteria and microbes.
Bamboo material is very soft, comparable to 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton. The fibres are soft, rounded and anti-static which means they do not catch on your skin and irritate, it also reduces hair frizz and breakage. Instead of piling and fraying like most other fibres, bamboo fabric fabric actually gets softer wash after wash! Bamboo sheets have an anti-aging effect and can reduce premature wrinkles as the smooth fabric prevents friction between your skin and your sheets, they reducing the risk of sleep wrinkles.
What does bamboo fabric feel like?
We use a sateen weave that has a real feel of 1000+ thread count Egyptian cotton. The exceptional smoothness is comparable to silk, but without the very shiny finish. Bamboo fabric also don't bobble or pill like many others do.
How sustainable is bamboo?
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world and the most resource efficient plant on earth. Our moso bamboo is sourced from FSC-certified sustainable forests in China, organically grown, without the need for pesticides or toxic chemicals.
Bamboo also has relatively low water needs, especially compared to cotton and most other crops. It does extremely well in impoverished soils and its roots help retain water in a watershed area due to their tight hold on the soil.
The entire plant is never harvested and regrowth occurs naturally and rapidly, very much like cutting grass in a garden which will grow back within a very short timespan. As a natural cellulose fibre it is also biodegradable in soil and the decomposition process doesn’t cause any pollution to the environment.
The bamboo is processed, turned into pulp, spun into fibres and made into fabric, where it is then made into our products at our partner factory in China. Bamboo is such a highly sustainable crop, that the process far outweighs the impact of importing it.
How does bamboo bedding compare to cotton bedding?
Bamboo is 40% more absorbent than cotton, naturally wicking moisture away from the skin much faster, keeping it dry, comfortable and less irritated. It can also reduce the humidity in your bed by an incredible 50%. Natural antimicrobial, bamboo kun also helps reduce bacteria keeping bamboo bedding smelling and feeling fresher for longer than cotton. Bamboo's silk-like feel and softness helps to reduce skin irritation, making it perfect for those with dry or sensitive skin. It has a real feel of 1000+ thread count Egyptian cotton, but without the price tag!
Environmentally it also wins, bamboo is a self sufficient crop that survives on rainwater alone, requiring a third less water than cotton. It thrives in degraded soil that is unsuitable for most other crops, including cotton. It requires little space due to its height, one acre of bamboo will yield 10 times more than one acre of cotton. Whereas cotton needs harvesting and re-planting each year, bamboo can grow up to a metre a day and be harvestable within 3-4 years. Then growing back to be harvested again. Bamboo grows without the need for pesticides as it is naturally resistant to insects and pests. Cotton can be grown organically, however it may experience more crop wastage due to its natural predators.
How does bamboo bedding compare to silk bedding?
Bamboo has the same great skin and hair benefits of silk, but is the cruelty-free and sustainable version. Approximately 6,600 silkworms are killed to make just 1 kilogram of silk (Peta), read more about silk manufacture and bamboo's cruelty-free and vegan credentials here.
How is bamboo made into fabric?
We use an environmentally friendly, non toxic chemical process to convert bamboo to fibre. Our bamboo products are certified to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100. This is labeled as: “Confidence in Textiles. Tested for Harmful Substances according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100.” The list of criteria contains over 100 test parameters for harmful substances to assure that the textiles are not harmful to health.
Does using bamboo deprive pandas of their food source?!
This is a question we occasionally get asked at events, and the answer is definitely not! Pandas consume a mostly vegetarian diet and a giant panda can eat between 13–42 kgs of bamboo per day. They consume a handful of types of bamboo such as the arrow bamboo and black bamboo. Arrow bamboo is a staple food source for pandas and is abundantly available throughout remote mountainous regions of China. The supply of this type of bamboo is higher than consumption. The moso bamboo that we use is specifically used in the textile industry for the production of fabric. It grows up to 5 metres in height so is too tall for the pandas to feed on.
Is bamboo difficult to care for?
No, it is very simple, bamboo fabric is a durable and hardwearing fabric when cared for correctly. Bamboo bedding items are machine washable at 30°C, it doesn't need higher as it is naturally antibacterial. It can be tumble dried on a cool setting or line dried. If you choose to iron, use a dry iron. For hair scrunchies and sleep masks, hand wash and line dry for best results.
For my detailed information look at our care instructions page:
Care Instructions in full.
Is delivery free?
We offer free delivery on orders of £25+ (Includes UK (NI), Channel Island and Isle of Man only) in 2-5 working days. Smaller parcels are sent via Royal Mail and for larger orders please expect a notification from our courier. These couriers have a text messaging service so please add a mobile number to your account to receive updates about your parcel. Please also be advised that during UK Bank Holidays and busy periods such as Christmas, it may take slightly longer to receive your parcel. We will always do our best to dispatch as quickly as possible, but will inform you about any unexpected delay.
Can I return an item?
We have put a lot of love into our products and hope you are 100% satisfied with your purchase. However, on rare occasion that you are not you have the right to cancel the contract for the purchase of any item within 14 working days of delivery. We also offer a 30-day money back guarantee with all of our products. Please email hello@allaboutsleep.co.uk and we will send you the return details. Customers are responsible for shipping costs when returning their item and refunds are for the product only, not including any extra shipping cost.
Do you deliver internationally?
Currently we only ship within the UK.
How are the products packaged and shipped?
Our bamboo products are enclosed in their own reusable organic bamboo self bag with rope and card tags.
We carefully wrap our products in 100% recycled and acid free tissue paper and our stickers are made from recycled paper. Both are also recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
How do I become a stockist?
We love to share our products with likeminded brands who represent our company ethics. To find out more and to apply to stock All About Sleep's Organic Bamboo products please email us at hello@allaboutsleep.co.uk Tell us about your business - where you are based, how long you have been going, whether you sell online, offline or both and what other products and brands you currently stock. We currently find our products retail well in hotels, spas, gifting websites, home and beauty shops, but are open to discovering new places!
How can I contact All About Sleep?
Email: hello@allaboutsleep.co.uk
Call: 07709 454707