WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged four apparel makers for deceptively labeling and advertising items as made of bamboo fiber, when they are made of rayon. The FTC further claims the bamboo fabric is not antimicrobial, made in an environmentally friendly manner or is biodegradable.
Three of the companies, Jonäno, Mad Mod, and Pure Bamboo, have settled the FTC’s complaints, agreeing to stop making the false claims and to abide by the Commission’s Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (Textile Act) and rules. Litigation continues against The M Group, also known as Bamboosa, and its principals.
“With the tremendous expansion of green claims in today’s marketplace, it is particularly important for the FTC to address deceptive environmental claims, so that consumers can trust that the products they buy have the environmentally friendly attributes they want,” said David Vladeck, FTC’s director of consumer protection. “When companies sell products woven from man-made fibers, such as rayon, it is important that they accurately label and advertise those products¾both with respect to the fibers they use and to the qualities those fibers possess.”
According to the Commission’s complaints, the companies falsely claim that their rayon clothing and other textile products are 100 percent bamboo fiber. They market them under such names as ecoKashmere, Pure Bamboo, Bamboo Comfort, and BambooBaby. Rayon is a man-made fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with a harsh chemical that releases hazardous air pollutants. Any plant or tree could be used as the cellulose source¾including bamboo¾but the fiber that is created is rayon.
The FTC has a new publication designed to help businesses selling clothing and textile products that are labeled as bamboo to market their products in ways that are truthful, non-deceptive, and in compliance with the law. “Avoid Bamboo-zling Your Customers,” can be found on the Commission’s Web site at ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt172.shtm (click on link), and provides useful information on how to correctly label and advertise textiles that are rayon made from bamboo.
—Matt Wiebe
