What�s Out There: Bamboozled

There is a new wunderkind strutting the eco-block, writes Craig Jacobs

We�ve all become more eco-aware, thanks to the growing evidence that our planet is troubled by our sins � no wonder green is the new black, as much as �eco-chic� has become a cool catchphrase.

Mind you, it�s not that easy � or cheap � to instantly morph into a posy-sniffer...Enter bamboo, the new �it� environment-friendly material.

Not only is this woody perennial one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, it doesn�t need fertilisers or insecticides (unlike cotton, which uses about a kilo of the stuff for its production cycle).

 As an air-filter, bamboo is even more potent than the purifying properties offered by trees: it generates 35 percent more oxygen and absorbs more CO2. And, according to Linda Lundstrom, bamboo proponent and Canadian fashion icon, this evergreen miracle-plant sports other benefits: �Bamboo fabrics stay two degrees cooler than other fabrics, wick moisture away from the skin, are super-soft, breathable and offer protection against UV rays.�