Bamboo is a grass native to China; and yes, pandas eat them. Bamboo cloth is made from the fibres present in the sticks. It's incredibly soft – perhaps the softest bamboo baby diaper cloth available – and can absorb about three times its own weight.
It is slightly more expensive than other fabrics. It is usually mixed with other fibres such as cotton to make it more durable. Bamboo shoots grow up to 3 meters a day and because it is a grass it continues to grow after being cut making it a very hardy plant.
Jute is another popular fabric. It is made from the cannabis plant, but a different type than the one used medicinally. Hemp is durable, flexible, absorbent and can grow in any climate. It has natural antibacterial properties, making it a good choice for babies with diaper rash. Hemp is used to making rope, paper, cloth, plastic, plywood, and many other things. For diapers, this is a good fabric at an average price if you want something absorbent but also affordable.
Cotton is everywhere. It is durable, widely used and inexpensive. However, it requires a lot of water to grow and for this reason, many environmentally conscious parents use it sparingly. It is not as absorbent as hemp or bamboo but is often used in combination with the two.
Wool is slightly different from other fabrics. Wool is most often seen as a cover for diapers. Wool is not only absorbent but also water-resistant. Many parents think that bamboo and wool cover diapers are the best night diaper combination. Wool helps absorb more moisture while keeping clothes and sheets dry.