Organic Cotton: everything you need to know about sustainable and ethical organic cotton production
The Daily Fit goes in depth about the process and benefits of organic cotton
Fast fashion is so 2020. The days of buying clothes made from cheap, toxic textiles and materials are of the past. As consumers, our duty is to ensure that environmental corners are not cut and that transparency, accountability, and responsibility are at the forefront of production and consumption. Of course, this can all seem a little overwhelming, but it is completely possible and fairly easy to start shopping brands that are dedicated to sustainable and ethical production methods. This is where organic cotton comes into play.
Organic cotton essentially swamps out the toxic pesticides and artificial practices used in conventional cotton farming for environmentally conscious processes and production methods that benefit the environment.
The World Economic Forum reports that “it takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt,” demonstrating how the fashion industry uses vast quantities of water as a result of conventional cotton farming. Additionally, cotton is responsible for a portion of the industry’s carbon emissions. However, producing alternative materials such as polyester, “releases two to three times more carbon emissions than cotton.” This highlights the fact that most of the fibers used to produce massive amounts of clothing are just as polluting and toxic as conventional cotton.
Fashion United states that “one of the most common arguments as to why organic cotton is better for the environment than conventional cotton is linked to the use of chemical pesticides and insecticides.” Aside from being a highly water intensive fiber, conventional cotton uses more than 10% of the world’s insecticides and over 5% of pesticides. Therefore, organic cotton could drastically reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint and promote safer working conditions throughout the textile production process.
However, The Guardian points out recent findings in where studies suggest “that organic cotton can’t keep up with the demand” due to its lengthy process that cannot produce as much material as conventional cotton. Yet, Textile Exchange’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Organic Cotton reported that organic cotton farming is “significantly more environmentally friendly,” allowing for the industry to work towards a more sustainable and ethical future.
Shop thousands of items made from 100% organic cotton on ShopYourFit and discover new brands that are committed to ethical production methods.
Read more articles like this at The Daily Fit.
