When it comes to buying high quality bed sheets, our options have expanded far beyond cotton. While cotton is still indisputably the king of textile, its carbon footprint has led to many searching for alternatives. Despite the wide range of options, there are two up and coming materials that are here to challenge its position in the bedding world - TENCEL™ and bamboo.

Bed sheets come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and of course, materials, which could potentially make shopping for bedsheets online a daunting task. As TENCEL™ and Bamboo are both considered eco-friendly in the eyes of the masses, it is understandably difficult to differentiate their benefits and downsides. 

Shopping for bed sheets online should not be as complicated as it seems, and we are here to aid you in your decision - TENCEL™ or Bamboo, which is better suited for you. From their similarities to differences, we cover it all in our article. Continue reading to find out more.

TENCEL™ and Bamboo are both made from fast-growing plants that do not require any toxic pesticides to grow. Beloved for their hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking properties, it may be difficult to choose between the two. However, no need to lose sleep over this, we will be breaking down their differences for you to make a well-informed decision when it comes time for you to purchase your ideal sheets.

We will mainly focus on the comparison between TENCEL™ Lyocell and Bamboo Rayon (the most common Bamboo fabric).

Produced by Austrian textile company Lenzing AG, TENCEL™ is the brand name for semi-synthetic fibers such as modal and lyocell, two fabrics commonly used in bedding and clothing. 

Lenzing’s core market is wood-based cellulose fibers. They manufacture viscose, modal and lyocell which are derived from sustainable wood and pulp, coming from certified and controlled sources. To produce this material, wood pulps are dissolved in a solvent and extruded through small holes to make fibers. The resulting fibers are then treated and spun into yarn.

From self-sufficient biorefineries and closed-loop production to being actively involved in the protection of endangered and primeval forests, it is clear that TENCEL™ fabrics are not only ethically produced but also eco-friendly all at the same time.

As noted earlier, TENCEL™ is Lenzing’s flagship brand for textiles using a variety of fibers that range from viscose to lyocell. While originating from all-natural, renewable and biodegradable sources, it may be difficult to tell the various fibers apart. 

Some fabrics may contain a blend of TENCEL™ fibers with other fibers such as cotton or bamboo, to create fabrics such as bamboo lyocell. For a product to carry the TENCEL™ trademark and Lenzing TENCEL™ certification, it only has to contain 30% of the Lenzing fibers - hence it is important to check if the product you’re purchasing is pure, or simply a blend!

Blends are usually done to improve the feel, performance or durability of the fabric. However blends of TENCEL™ fibers typically do not retain the best of either material, hence it is always better to go pure.

As Lenzing embarked on a journey to discover an alternative, eco-friendly production process in the 90s, they started making great strides in the field of Lyocell technology. And in 1997, the first full-scale Lyocell production plant went into operation at Heiligenkreuz, Burgenland (Austria). Following this, Lenzing also managed to acquire the TENCEL™ trademark in 2004, and the rest is history.

So what makes TENCEL™ Lyocell stand out from generic Lyocell? Generic Lyocell is often made from wood pulp and birch trees whereas TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres are mainly made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus wood that is harvested from natural forests and sustainably managed tree farms.

TENCEL™ Lyocell is also extremely versatile. From bedding and home products, to apparels and intimates, TENCEL™ Lyocell makes great fabric for all. While it might be pricier than the average fabric, we believe that its benefits outweigh the cons and that purchasing TENCEL™ Lyocell-made products is a worthwhile investment.

Our Ultimate Guide to TENCEL™ fibers explores TENCEL™ and what it is all about in greater depths.

Thanks to the natural structure of the lyocell fibre, TENCEL™ is most well known for how it feels - exceptionally silky and smooth on the skin. Long fibres are also used when weaving the sheets resulting in a smoother surface that is not only comfortable but beneficial to those with sensitive or easily-irritated skin. TENCEL™ is also strong and durable which makes it easy to maintain.

TENCEL™ lyocell stands out as an extremely breathable and absorbent fabric. It’s ideal for warm sleepers as lyocell fabric can wick excess moisture away quickly, keeping the body cool during sleep in a wide variety of climates. 

If you are someone who is prone to sweating in your sleep and struggles to find sheets to keep you cool throughout the night, then TENCEL™ sheets may be the thing for you. In fact, this ‘cooling feeling’ increases with increasing air humidity - perfect for Singapore’s weather conditions! This temperature regulating textile will keep you cool and dry in bed, allowing you to achieve a good night’s sleep anywhere, at any time. 

Perfect moisture management also reduces bacteria proliferation without the need for any chemical additives. As a naturally derived fibre, TENCEL™ lyocell is also hypoallergenic and biodegradable, making it perfect for people with sensitive skin or skin disorders, such as eczema or psoriasis. 

An additional favourite feature of TENCEL™ lyocell is that it is less prone to wrinkling and less vulnerable to fading with regular washing. It is also less likely to shrink and not prone to becoming thin overtime. 

As TENCEL™ lyocell is a strong fibre with a higher dry and wet tensile strength (compared to silk and modal), it is capable of keeping 85% of its dry tenacity under wet conditions, allowing the fibres to retain their shape. This makes Lyocell sheets quick to dry and fairly easy to iron and care for. 

Production of TENCEL™ fibers is undeniably more environmentally friendly than other fibers as it involves a closed-loop process that recycles more than 99% of the solvent used in manufacturing. It also uses less water and energy than conventional cotton production.

Apart from minimal waste and better water conservation, TENCEL™ itself supports verified climate protection projects, specifically in communities impacted by the textile industry. These projects aim to help ill-prepared communities become more climate-resilient and introduce them to new sources of renewable energy. For example, improved cookstoves in Bangladesh, solar water heating in India and Kamphaeng Saen landfill gas to energy in Thailand. 

This gives consumers who are all for sustainability a peace of mind knowing that they are supporting a brand that cares deeply about Mother Earth.

While the global Lyocell fabric market is estimated to reach 745.9 Kilo Tonnes (KT) by 2027 from 415.6 KT in 2018, it is still a small percentage of the global fabric market. With growing demands and high manufacturing costs, the price of TENCEL™ Lyocell remains slightly higher than other alternative fabrics such as cotton and polyester.

However, we are optimistic that this con can be improved over time as seen by the opening of a new Lyocell fiber production plant by Lenzing A.G. in Prachinburi (Thailand) to strengthen its production capability. The plant will have a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes and will be operational by the end of 2021. 

Bamboo has traditionally been used to signify luck and prosperity, especially in Asian households. However, the Bamboo we will be touching on today is its fabric. As the textile industry moves towards being environmentally sustainable, plant based fibers such as Bamboo entered the spotlight as a replacement to conventional fabric.

Bamboo, like eucalyptus, grows in abundance. Moreover, being a self-regenerating and fast-growing plant, it is easy to assume that its fabric would be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Which it is when compared to cotton cultivation, which requires a substantial amount of water and pesticides. However, does it really live up to the hype?

There are two types of production for bamboo fabric - mechanical and chemical. Mechanical manufacturing involved bamboo plants being crushed manually into mush and further broken down using natural enzymes. The fibres are then combed out and spun. Bamboo fabrics made mechanically are also known as Bamboo Linen. 

On the other hand, chemical processing of bamboo fabric is the more popular process out of the two. It involved the use of harsh chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide instead of using natural enzymes as it quickens the production process. Though it is more time efficient, the harsh and toxic chemicals leave a negative impact on the environment. Bamboo produced through this process is sometimes called Bamboo Rayon.

With more and more Bamboo sheets being labelled as ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’, it can be overwhelming to know what to look out for when buying them for the first time. Read on to learn more about the different types of bamboo fabrics, with varying processes involved in production.

If you were searching for Bamboo Rayon on Google, chances are that “Bamboo Viscose” popped up in your searches. This is because Rayon and Viscose are seen as synonymous and used interchangeably in the market. However, there is a slight difference between the two, mainly in the manufacturing process.

This history of Rayon dates back to the late 1800s when scientists were looking into creating a silk alternative. Rayon is a fabric that is made from raw materials like bamboo or wood cellulose, whereas Viscose is derived from wood cellulose and plant fibres, which are made into a viscous liquid then undergo a series of chemical processes. The organic viscose liquid is what makes both rayon fibers and cellophane, thus Viscose fibres are deemed a type of Rayon.

Now that you have a better understanding of the differences between Rayon and Viscose, we can dive deeper into the benefits and drawbacks of Bamboo Rayon.

Comparable in touch to silk or cashmere, Rayon from Bamboo bed sheets can feel luxurious. This is thanks to their longer fibers which wick moisture away from the body, reducing the feeling of being sweaty and clammy under them. They can also last a long time when cared for properly and dry quickly, making them ideal for those in smaller apartments without a dryer.

Some health-related benefits of Bamboo sheets are that they are naturally antifungal and antibacterial. When compared to traditional cotton, they are also much less susceptible to mold, mildew and odor. Making them great alternatives for those who have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies.

In terms of aesthetics, Bamboo rayon bed sheets can be more prone to wrinkling due to their softness and suppleness. However, it is important to note that it all comes down to the frequency of use and how it is being cared for. With proper care, these wrinkling tendencies may be limited. 

As mentioned earlier, Bamboo fabrics in theory make good alternatives for others who may not be as environmentally friendly. However, with chemical intensive production, the eco-friendliness of Bamboo plants may not make much of a difference in the end. While Bamboo Lyocell might a worthy substitute, it is harder to find.

The main comparison between TENCEL™ sheets vs Bamboo is the solvent used in the dissolution process of turning wood into pulp. The solvent used for the chemical production of Bamboo fabric is Sodium Hydroxide (NaH), which is corrosive and potentially harmful to the surrounding environment of the production factory. Whereas, TENCEL™ uses N-methyl Morpholine N-oxide (NMMO), a comparatively friendlier solvent for the environment.

Moreover, with the lack of standardization between all Bamboo manufacturing, unlike Lenzing TENCEL™, it makes it difficult for consumers to judge which are truly environmentally friendly. One way to avoid falling for ‘greenwashing’ is to look out for certifications such as Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). 

However, it is important to note that not all Bamboo fabrics are made equal and there are brands who produce them in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Thus, always remember to look out for certifications and trusted suppliers!

All in all, TENCEL™ Lyocell and Bamboo fibres overlap in multiple ways - from their soft feel and silky drape to hypoallergenic properties, they are both worthy opponents in the fabric industry.

Each Weavve Lyocell bedding starts with the best Lyocell fibers (100% Lenzing TENCEL™) that are spun into the finest 80s yarn count threads. These fine single ply threads are then woven into 400 thread count fabric, giving you stronger, smoother and lighter sheets. 

Discover our TENCEL™ fibre bed sheet sets and separates that will elevate your sleeping experience with it’s cool and silky feel. However, if you prefer a buttery soft and crisp alternative, we also have a range of Cotton bedsheets that will immerse you into a hotel-like experience right at home. 

Weavve’s Mattress Protector’s outer fabric is made from 100% Lenzing TENCEL™, making it ideal for sensitive skin. TENCEL™ Lyocell’s highly breathable and moisture-wicking properties also gives users ultimate comfort. Additionally, it has a waterproof layer coated with a breathable, hypoallergenic membrane layer that blocks out dust mites and allergens from penetrating the mattress. 

Discover Weavve’s Lyocell Duvet, made from 100% Lenzing TENCEL™ inner filling and outer fabric (yes, pure 100%!), making it possibly the first full TENCEL™ Lyocell duvet / duvet insert in Singapore.

Whether you want a cooling blanket for hot summer nights or be kept warm on rainy days, this duvet will meet them all. Available for pre-orders now!

Here at Weavve, we pride ourselves on being committed to responsible sourcing, production, sale and use of our products. We take great effort in ensuring that our decisions account for all the people who help build our products, the environment and our consumers. From certified Standard 100 by Oeko Tex® sheets to SEDEX certified factories, Weavve make sures that everyone is cared for at every step of the way.

Buying a sheet should be easy and delightful. Here at Weavve, we are fully committed to making exceptional products and our 100 day free return policy* makes it easy for you to take the leap of faith, especially for first time users. Learn more about our 100 Day Free Trial.