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Organic Cotton Clothing?
Yes, organic cotton tee shirts, organic polos and organic cotton clothing in many styles are gradually gaining popularity. However, many people who may know or have heard all about the organic food still do not know much about the organic cotton clothing or other products made from organic cotton. Much like naturally grown organic vegetables and fruits, organic cotton is naturally harvested without using chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides. Next, organically grown cotton is processed into fiber, yarn and textile fabric without use of bleaches or any harmful chemicals and prepared for clothing & other accessories in its truly natural form. Popularity of organically grown cotton is picking up slowly as more and more consumers and farmers are gaining awareness about the harmful affects of conventionally grown cotton. Environmentalists, scientists and many non public and private agencies are also educating consumers about the harmful practices of harvesting and producing conventional cotton textiles and its adverse affects to the environment and people alike. Textile scientists believe that it takes nearly 1/3 of a pound of chemicals ( fertilizers, herbicides & pesticides) to produce enough cotton to manufacture one cotton tee shirt. Many people choose to buy a conventional cotton t-shirt because it is few dollars cheaper than the organic cotton t-shirt. However, while an organic cotton t-shirt may cost few bucks more, it is naturally soft, pure and chemical free when compared to a (conventional) non organic cotton t-shirt or regular cotton polo shirt. Now take into account millions of cotton tee shirts used in the USA annually and you can easily figure out how many thousands of tons of chemicals are annually released into the soil just to make ordinary t-shirts. Organic cotton harvest has lower yield because it does not use yield enhancing fertilizers and pesticides and therefore, per ton cost is higher for organic cotton and as a result organic cotton t-shirts are slightly higher in price. But looking at the benefits, these few bucks make huge difference in keeping the soil and planet earth clean and chemical free. Organic cotton T-shirts, organic cotton polos and all other organic cotton clothing are therefore good for people and good for the planet. Today USA and Turkey are the largest producers of organic cotton while more farmers from Asian and African countries are joining the steadily growing ranks. Except for USA most of these countries are also promoting hemp harvesting to produce hemp products like hemp clothing, hemp paper and hemp ropes and hemp cloth for many different uses. Contrary to popular belief the conventionally grown cotton is not really the pure & natural fabric that people have come to depend upon in many facets of their daily lives. Perhaps more than any other agricultural product, cotton is the number one misunderstood common harvest all over the world. Ironically, significant amounts of money have been spent in promoting cotton as the wonderful, natural product that we all should support & prefer over synthetic fabrics. In the past hundred years or so, large numbers of products produced with 100% cotton have been consumed at record levels under the pretext that cotton is the choicest natural fabric as compared to synthetic fabrics. This really is far from truth for a number of reasons.
The fact is that next to coffee, cotton is the second largest agricultural product in the world that uses the highest amount of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Here in the United States, cotton is the second largest crop, next to corn. The USA grows approximately 14 million acres of cotton, accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s supply. The tremendous expansion of cotton output hasn’t come without a proportionate increase in ecological damage to the planet earth. Fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on millions of acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2003, ranking cotton third behind corn and soybeans in total amount of pesticides sprayed. (USDA).
Each year, nearly $2.6 billion worth of pesticides are applied to cotton fields worldwide, with approximately 35% of the total ending up on USA fields. In 2000, farmers in the main USA cotton growing states used over 75 million pounds of pesticides. A global survey of groundwater pollution shows that a toxic brew of pesticides, nitrogen fertilizers, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals is fouling groundwater everywhere. "Groundwater contamination is an irreversible act that will deprive future generations of one of life’s basic resources," according to Payal Sampat in a Worldwatch paper. Groundwater contamination is already widespread, from high levels of pesticides in wells in California’s San Joaquin Valley to excessive nitrates in groundwater in four northern Chinese provinces.
These figures are generally over looked due to the misconception that cotton is not a food, so people are relatively unconcerned by this massive chemical use. The fact is that cotton is an important food product. In the USA alone, nearly 7 million pounds of cotton seed a year is used for cattle feed, both meat and dairy, as well as for other usage. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s agricultural land is seriously degraded, undermining both present and future production capacity, according to scientists at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Land degradation can have significant on- and off-site effects on income and environmental quality, and can take a number of forms, including soil nutrient depletion, agrochemical pollution, and soil erosion. At Ecofabrik Organic Clothing, we are trying to make a small difference by reducing the offerings in conventional cotton garments and instead promoting bamboo clothing, hemp clothing and organic cotton products. These fabrics are excellent choices for green living and a sustainable future.
There is much evidence that organic cotton can help counteract such detrimental effects just like other natural fibers originating from Hemp, Bamboo and Jute. Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the planet earth by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply, and that are associated with health consequences, from asthma to skin allergies, diaper rash and garment rash among adults & elderly. Because organic agriculture respects the balance of microorganisms in the soil, organic producers use composted manure and other natural materials, as well as crop rotation, to help improve soil fertility, rather than synthetic fertilizers that can result in an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorous in the ground. There have been documented cases of skin allergies, diaper rash and other such irritations caused by conventionally grown cotton garments. New borns and infants are especially more prone to such problems due to their sensitive skins. On the other hand, organic farming helps prevent topsoil erosion, improves soil fertility, protects groundwater, conserves energy and provides truly natural & chemical free fabric for garments like hemp clothing, bamboo clothing and products made of bamboo fabric. Because organic agriculture doesn't use toxic and persistent pesticides, choosing organic products is an easy way to help protect people and the planet.
We could go on quoting from more resources and help you learn about the difference between organically grown cotton and conventionally grown cotton, but there is a wealth of information available online that you can look through and find out the facts about cotton for yourself. We believe you can now make an informed decision about the benefits of Organic Cotton Clothing. Thank you for reading this far and hopefully you can join us in making the difference by purchasing 100% organic cotton clothing , bamboo clothing or hemp clothing for your comfort, life style and a sustainable future of the planet earth.
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