By: Michelle Radcliff

With the holidays fast approaching, its time to start thinking about what gifts you want to buy this year for family and friends. If you know someone just starting out in a new home or apartment, this environmentally-friendly gift idea is both unique and affordable.

Whether you’re looking for a housewarming gift, wedding gift or Christmas gift, a bamboo bath towel set bamboo sheet sets makes a great gift. “Going green”, a term that is referred to for anyone wanting to become more environmentally responsible and aware, is a fast growing trend. More and more people are looking to buy products that have the least negative impact on the environment. The materials used to make a product and the methods used in manufacturing it are the determining factors of classifying something that is “green” or environmentally-friendly.

Bath towels, bamboo sheets, or any textiles that are made from bamboo fiber as opposed to cotton have several advantages. First, bamboo is a highly sustainable material. It is one of the fastest growing woody plants in the world; some species grow 3-4 feet per day! Cutting bamboo down actually promotes rapid regrowth. Bamboo comes in many different species that are very versatile, making it extremely adaptable to different growing environments. Bamboo uses high amounts of carbon dioxide, a common greenhouse gas and produces large amounts of oxygen. It is abundantly available in many rural communities that are economically challenged, making it a valuable resource to help improve the economies and preserve the cultures of these communities.

In addition to the environmental benefits of bamboo, it also has some natural health benefits as well. Bamboo produces a unique anti-bacteria and bacteriostasis bio agent called “bamboo kun”. This enables textiles made of bamboo to be naturally anti-bacterial and deodorizing. Bamboo requires less dye than cotton while producing more vivid colors. Another disadvantage of cotton is that it takes large amounts of pesticides to maintain and grow it. Bamboo yarn is softer than cotton, often compared to cashmere.

These are some of the great benefits of giving bamboo fiber bath towel sets as a unique, ecofriendly gift. They are also an affordable gift, you can find a set of three that includes a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth for under $40.00. Bamboo bath towel sets and bamboo sheets are great for people with allergies because they are naturally hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial. They’re a gift you can feel good about giving.