The Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to 78 retail companies nationwide warning them that they may be breaking the law by selling clothing and other textile products that are labeled and advertised as "bamboo" but are actually made of manufactured rayon fiber. The FTC sued several companies in 2009 for allegedly committing similar violations but believes that many others are unaware of and not complying with the rules.

Rayon is a manmade fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree, including bamboo, could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon. The FTC states that if a product is made of a manufactured fiber for which bamboo was the plant source, and is not made directly of bamboo fiber itself, the product should be labeled and advertised using the proper generic name for the fiber, such as "rayon" or "rayon made from bamboo."

The FTC has also warned companies against making other deceptive claims on textile and apparel products made from bamboo, including that the products retain the bamboo plant's antimicrobial properties, are made using environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and are biodegradable. The FTC can seek civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation against any company that receives information concerning the improper use of a fiber name but fails to correct its advertising and labeling.

Given the FTC's scrutiny and the substantial penalties that can accompany violations, companies selling textile products should review their labeling and advertising for those products and remove or correct any misleading bamboo references.

For more information on this issue, please contact:

Beth C. Ring

New York, New York  Tel: (212) 883-1300; Fax: (212) 883-0068; Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OR

Jo Bronson Harris

Miami, Florida  Tel: (305) 267-9200; Fax: (305) 267-5155; Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it