Organic Cotton: Why It Matters

What is organic cotton?

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic cotton producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic cotton production. (OTA)

Why should I choose organic cotton products?

Organic cotton is better for the environment:

• Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.). (Allan Woodburn)
• It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt. (Sustainable Cotton Project)
• In 1995, pesticide-contaminated runoff from cotton fields in Alabama killed 240,000 fish. (Organic Consumers Assoc)
• It is estimated that pesticides unintentionally kill 67 million birds each year. (Organic consumers Assoc)

Organic cotton is better for your health:

• The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA)
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 20,000 deaths occur in developing countries each year from pesticide poisoning, many of these are attributed to cotton production.
• Once cotton has been harvested it needs to go through a series of processes including washing, bleaching, dyeing and printing to turn it into a T-shirt, towel or duvet cover. At least 8,000 chemicals are used in these processes - many of which are classified by the WHO as 'moderately hazardous' to 'acutely hazardous'. (Soil Association)

Where can I go for more information about organic cotton and organic products?

Here are a few helpful links:

The O'Mama Report: an online resource for women about organics.
http://www.theorganicreport.com

About Organic Cotton:
http://www.aboutorganiccotton.org

The Soil Association:
http://www.soilassociation.org