Growing and harvesting one pound of cotton fibre to make a t-shirt impacts the earth’s air, water and soil, as well as the health of people living in cotton growing areas.

 

Why isn’t organic cotton grown everywhere? Put simply, because the cost is higher than consumers are willing to pay. Thankfully this is changing and organic practices are being embraced worldwide.

 

Today, conventional cotton crops occupy 3% of the world’s cultivated areas. Yet it consumes 25% of pesticides and 10% of insecticides produced in the world. One field of cotton can be treated up to 25 times before harvest. Organic cotton production does not simply mean replacing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic ones. Organic cultivation is based on a systemic approach that aims to establish a diverse and balanced farming ecosystem that ideally includes all types of crops and farm activities. Farms need to complete a two-year conversion period to change their production system from conventional to organic. An essential element of organic production is the careful selection of varieties adapted to local conditions in terms of climate, soil and robustness to pests and diseases. Soil fertility management and crop nutrition are based on crop diversification and organic inputs such as compost, mulch and manures. Pest management measures focus essentially on pest prevention and the stimulation of a balanced agro-ecosystem through crop rotation, mixed cultivation, trap crops, and the use of natural pesticides when pest infestation rises above the economic threshold.

 

cornflowerblue’s organic Cotton is certified by GOTS, see www.global-standard.org/com for more details. By using only certified organic cotton, you can be assured of the integrity of our product.

	Organic	Conventional
Seed Preparation	Natural, untreated GMO free seeds.	Typically treated with fungicides or insecticides. Possible GMOs.
Soil Preparation	Healthy soil through crop rotation. Retains moisture in soil from increased organic matter.	Synthetic fertilizers, loss of soil due to mono-crop culture, intensive irrigation.
Weed Control	Healthy soil creates natural balance. Beneficial insects and trap crops used.	Aerial spraying of insecticides and pesticides. Nine of the commonly used pesticides are known cancer-causing agents.
Harvesting	Natural defoliation from freezing temperatures or through use of water management.	Defoliation induced with toxic chemicals.
Production	Warp fibres stabilized using double-plying or nontoxic cornstarch.	Warp fibres stabilized using toxic waxes.
Whitening	Safe peroxide is used.	Chlorine bleaching creates toxic by-products, which are released into the environment.
Finishing	Soft scour in warm water with soda ash.	Hot water, synthetic surfactants, additional chemicals (sometimes formaldehyde).
Dyeing	Low impact fibre-reactive or natural dyes with low metal and sulfur content.	High temperature containing heavy metals and sulfur.
Printing	Low-impact, water-based inks or pigments with no heavy metals.	Pigments may be petroleum based and contain heavy metals. Run-off spills into waterways.
Fair Trade	Social standards in place to ensure a safe, healthy environment with living wages.	No social guidelines. Possible child or forced labour.
Price	Initial cost more expensive. Long term - priceless	Initially cheaper. Long-term - devastating

 

By buying organic cotton you are buying a healthy product, with clear standards and labels so you know where the product is from and how it was made. You are helping the environment and having a positive impact on producer livelihoods.

Source: Organic Cotton Organisation, Sustainable Cotton Organisation, Organic Cotton India, Harmong Arts & Fox-Rich Textiles.

 

To find out about the fiber footprint for organic v’s conventional cotton click here:
http://www.sustainablecotton.org/footprint_calculator/growers/
http://aboutorganiccotton.org/OCdiff.html