Bamboo and Lazy Panda

Pandas love bamboo, and so do we. We might be called Lazy Panda but this brand is anything but lazy when it comes to working hard to please you, our customers and to do our bit to protect the environment.

At Lazy Panda we strive to be as eco-friendly as we can be, and that goes beyond using sustainable bamboo to produce our range of soft, stylish and comfortable socks, underwear and lounge clothing. As far as possible, all the packaging we use for our products is recyclable and plastic free.

We continually seek out fresh ways to reduce environmental impact in whatever ways we can, minimising waste and recycling materials wherever we’re able and whenever we have the opportunity.

Bamboo and you

Fabric made from bamboo (usually as viscose) is great for the skin. It’s exceptionally soft, silky and gentle, with soft, long rounded-end staples (the microscopic fibres bamboo is comprised of) that are completely non-irritating, so absolutely anyone can wear it comfortably, without fear of allergic reactions.

Studies show that bamboo fibres have natural antibacterial resistance (which is why it can grow without needing any added, toxic or damaging chemicals), and it’s all thanks to a substance called ‘bamboo kun’, an antimicrobial inside the fibres that prevents bacteria and microbes growing on bamboo products.

Added to this is bamboo fabric’s exceptional moisture handling. Bamboo absorbs up to 30% MORE moisture than cotton and wicks it quickly to keep you and it dry and healthy. No moisture = no moist environment for bacteria to develop on your skin or the fabric, which also means no nasty odours.

And, if that’s not enough, bamboo fabric has the ability to thermoregulate — adjust its fibres to suit the temperature. Bamboo absorbs heat when the ambient temperature inside and outside the fabric is higher than its own (like in hot sun, or when you’re very active), keeping skin cool. When the ambient temperature is lower (in colder weather) the fabric releases its own built-up heat to slow down heat loss. All this science-y stuff means that when you wear bamboo fabric, despite its fine, smooth and light feel, you stay at a more comfortable temperature more of the time!

Bamboo and the environment

As kind as bamboo is to your skin, it’s even kinder to the planet. Bamboo grows fast and is naturally renewable, more like a grass than a tree. It requires very little to cultivate it, particularly when compared to other textile-producing crops like cotton. It doesn’t need much space and is very water-efficient. Growing it absorbs five times more CO2 and produces 35% more oxygen than hardwood trees or cotton plants, and thanks to the afore-mentioned bamboo ‘kun’, a natural anti-microbial found in bamboo’s fibres, is antibacterial and needs no additional pesticides to stay healthy. Bamboo leaves its roots behind for new growth when it’s harvested, leaving soil undisturbed and keeping carbon where it belongs — underground. Bamboo doesn’t need to be constantly replanted after every harvest either.