Lesser Negative Impact On The Health Of Humans Who Work In, Or Have Exposure To Cotton Related Industries (Farms, Processing Factories, & So On) – Especially in developing countries, cotton farm workers can be exposed to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. swedishlinens.com: It takes 2700 litres of water to produce one cotton t shirt …, 1 billion people don’t have access to freshwater and 2.4 billion people suffer from inadequate sanitation. There can also be a run off into streams, rivers and into the ocean and other water sources. It results from an agriculture and environmental friendly method. Potentially Less Air Pollution – From the reduced use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Approximately 25 million tons of cotton are grown around the world every year, ending up in our sheets, clothing, towels, beauty supplies, and more. So sadly, I won’t be able to tell you THE ANSWER. Organic cotton produces around 46% less CO2e compared to conventional cotton. Is organic cotton better than regular cotton? So organic cotton drinks more water than regular cotton. In 2012, a joint Chinese-French study on GM cotton showed that insecticide usage more than halved, and the survival of beneficial insects had a positive impact on pest control. And what is 1 kilogram of cotton is enough for? Per swedishlinens.com: Global organizations estimate thousands of people exposed to the chemicals used in non-organic cotton production die of cancer, poisoning, and miscarriages each year. Even when they are available, getting them to farmers in developing countries where most cotton currently comes from is a challenge, as is building the capacity of these farmers to be able to go organic farming and receive necessary certifications … the timeliness of payment and market access … the risk of investment made by the farmer … [are all] challenges [organic cotton is having] in growing its market share and making a strong business case for companies to shift to organic …  Companies can’t just purchase more organic cotton; they need to work with suppliers to ensure both quality and transparency along the entire chain. Organic cotton is grown without toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Millions of people, mostly young children, die each year due to water-borne illnesses caused by inadequate sanitation and lack of water. And it has tons of positive impact not only on the planet but on your precious skin as well. The Disadvantages of Organic Farming. There are a few disadvantages of organic food too, including misconceptions about the label. Per oecotextiles.wordpress.com: Conventional textile processing is highly polluting – it uses many chemicals, and pollutes a lot of water. If we want to be more eco-conscious it’s very important that we make the right decision when purchasing cotton. Use of pesticides and fertilizers? Organic cotton is generally defined as cotton that is grown organically in subtropical countries such as India, Turkey, China, and parts of the USA from non-genetically modified plants, and without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides aside from the ones allowed by the certified organic labeling. This is very cool, and it is a way more respectful way of doing things than the current ‘let all the junk destroy the environment while we get rich’ attitude. So much depends on the geographic location of the farm where the cotton is grown, methods used to grow the cotton (e.g. H&M and Volkswagen both have advantages and disadvantages in CSR. This makes organic cotton clothes more durable and better quality in general. For example, all cotton – whether conventionally grown or organic – requires cleaning. GMO became such a negative word, you instantly think of villain trying to suck out all the taste of strawberries. They are among the most toxic chemicals as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency … The problem is even worse in developing countries with uninformed consumers, and lack of stable institutions and property rights. A Danish study compared the environmental impact of different carrier bags, and found organic cotton bags have to be used 20,000 versus 7,000 times for regular cotton bags, to have the same environmental impact as plastic bags across a range of environmental indicators. We go into each one of these pros and cons in more detail in the guide below. It looks like we have a lot in common! One study found that the average organic yield of cotton was 25% lower than conventional. A buyer of regular cotton might have no uniform or recognised way of knowing how that cotton was grown and processed, and the impact it’s had on society and the environment. Due to these long fibers, organic cotton clothes feel better on your skin. Carbon footprint? Regular cotton is one of the crops most intensively reliant on big GMO seed companies like Monsanto. Humans, Animals, The Environment, The Economy & Space. A Possible Lower Yield For The Same Area Of Land – This can be farm and location specific, but, lower yields from organic cotton might result from a lack of modern science and technology based improvement being applied at the growing stage/on farms. Reduced Use Of Plant Growth Regulators – Per sourcingjournal.com: Chemically intensive agriculture, especially in irrigated systems, push the ecosystem year-on-year for higher yields, … “This requires the use of an ever-increasing amount of chemical inputs, including growth regulators.”. One of the good things about GOTS Certified Cotton is they tell you the criteria to expect from products with their certification on them – environmental, social, quality criteria and so on. There are some other factors too that are not necessarily pros, nor cons of organic cotton. whether the cotton is irrigated or rain fed), and then how the cotton is produced into a cotton product (dying, bleaching etc). Gluten-free. About us. But sadly, this question is not as black and white as we think. Again, this is something we’ve been doing for thousands of years. If Yields Are Lower, Organic Uses More Land For The Same Amount Of Cotton Compared To Conventional Cotton I.e. Per fashionhedge.com: More recently, a study … titled Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture revealed that – The average organic-to-conventional yield ratio from our meta-analysis is 0.75 … that is, overall, organic yields are 25% lower than conventional. More labor and time intensive. It will take you about 290 gallons of water to grow enough conventional, high-yield cotton to produce a t-shirt, according to Cotton Inc. To grow the same amount of organic cotton for a t … This doesn’t maintain the purity of the fibers, and also damages cotton fibers in the picking process, leading to loss and wastage. They use natural pesticides and insecticides to protect the plant from insects, fungi, and weeds. Here’s everything you need to know to make an informed decision the next time you shop. Important social impacts identified in this study were capacity building and strengthened communities, through training and institution building. There’s a big buzz around organic cotton, and fashion brands, especially fast fashion brands try to take a slice of the organic clothing market too. We could use genetic modification as a tool to make cotton (and any other) crops more effective, to make it grow more cotton on the same size of land, and with a smaller amount of water. Many allergies may be caused by chemicals in cotton fibers we either wear, or sleep on. Organic cotton’s designation as organic often ends at harvest, without accounting for further stages of its life cycle – many of which are not sustainable. The Organic Trade Association notes that the sales of organic cotton clothing and household textiles increased 35 percent between 2008 and 2009. So obviously, organic cotton that uses a smaller amount of chemicals is better for your skin and for health. Additionally, they can be harmful to our health as well. triplepundit.com: Consumers buying organic cotton clothing for example from a shop, may find that certified organic cotton products are slightly more expensive than regular cotton. 1. Substituting organic fibers for conventionally grown fibers is not just a little better – but lots better in all respects: uses less energy for production, emits fewer greenhouse gases and supports organic farming (which has myriad environmental, social and health benefits). At least I know I didn’t have at that time. Environmental risks. A summary of what they found from farmers who converted to organic cotton farming was: In the Chihuahuan Desert in North America, GMO cotton has provided the following benefits on one particular farm: It’s possible organic cotton is better in some areas compared to regular cotton, but worse in others. I’m sure you already knew this, but cotton is a super thirsty crop. Possibly Better & Fairer Working Conditions & Rights For Cotton Farm & Cotton Industry Workers – this is especially the case when workers are covered by certification programs that include ethical social objectives. Lesser Chance Of Pesticide Resistant Pests Developing, and Secondary Pests Developing – Synthetic pesticides might cause pesticide resistant pests to develop after consistent or repeated exposure to the synthetic chemicals. But it might help a little. It’s a Whole Lot More Work It takes a whole lot of hard work to successfully grow crops organically. This is why we love organic cotton. Organic cotton has some disadvantages, and you need to know about those too before you can make an informed decision. It also uses far less water to grow since organic cotton growers typically utilize rain far more than irrigation. … farmers profit from organic agriculture, mainly due to soil improvements, through reduced exposure to toxic chemicals and lower input costs, which in turn reduces dependency on money lenders. Cannot keep up with the demand for it. Since they adopted genetically modified Bt cotton, India has been producing twice as much cotton from the same land area with 65% less insecticide. swedishlinens.com: GOTS certified organic cotton for example places and emphasis on social/ethical cotton – where workers have access to a safe and fair work environment …, About 100 million households are engaged in growing and producing cotton and 300 million people work in the cotton sector as a whole …, The majority of [non-organic] cotton farmers and workers live in developing countries, work extremely long hours, are exposed to poisonous substances daily and earning very little in wages …, In fact, many of them have unsustainable debts because they are unable to keep up with employer demands. Probably not. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was just a far slower and less precise process. Per qz.com: It will take you about 290 gallons of water to grow enough conventional, high-yield cotton to produce a t-shirt … To grow the same amount of organic cotton for a t-shirt, however, requires about 660 gallons of water. And these are some pretty damn harsh chemicals we’re talking about. And this is only the regular cotton we’re talking about. Global Organic Cotton production jumped by more than 53% in 2006-2007 over that in 2005-2006, and then amazingly by almost 152% in 2007-2008. A brand that says it sells organic cotton, might only refer to the organic growing method, but the post-production might not be organic at all. Our organic cotton textiles are … In addition to destroying the land, thousands of farmers die from exposure to these chemicals every year. Organic clothing is grown safely and processed … Then there’s greenwashing which is a whole other problem. As a result, conventional cotton is more effective. low income farmers in low income areas of the world who’s livelihood is tied to their farming income. But about half of cotton crops globally—organic and conventional—get their water from rainfall, … The most water-efficient option is … rain-fed cotton, but there’s no way to know whether the cotton in the t-shirt you’re buying was that variety, or whether it required additional water. Wearing cotton clothing has many advantages and a few disadvantages, so read on to find out what they are. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This run off can cause water pollution, acidification, eutrophication, damage to wildlife and a range of other issues. Is it going to save the planet from all the damage the fashion industry causes? 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This is extremely important, because if we are talking about sustainability, the scarcity of resources has to be taken into account: world hunger and clean water are two areas in which efficiency is capital to build a sustainable future. The Textile Exchange has studied the life cycle of organic cotton compared to regular cotton. And how far cotton travels before it winds up in your closet should factor into the environmental equation too. That’s the major reason you pay more for organic products. White cotton covers just 2.5% of the planet’s total agricultural area, it uses 7% of all pesticides and 16% of all insecticides with entire chemical companies making neurotoxic formulas just to support cotton. In fact organic cotton os so safe, it’s one of the best materials for your skin. The cotton fibres can shorten when exposed to water during a wash cycle, which results in the material shrinking. The problem is even worse in developing countries with uninformed consumers, and lack of stable institutions and property rights. It also found that organic cotton farming is less likely to contribute to global warming, acidification, and eutrophication than conventional cotton farming. Is Fashion Sustainable, & Can It Become More Sustainable? The nitrogen oxides formed during the production and use of these fertilizers are also a major part of the agricultural sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. Per qz.com: particular chemicals used in conventional farming have raised serious concerns, such as glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that’s the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller brand, which the World Health Organization has deemed a “probable carcinogen” based on studies of workers who used the product. Both pros and cons for eco-friendly fabric including Bamboo, S ilk, Organic Cotton. 1 tonne of conventional cotton fiber produces 1.8 tonnes of CO2e. The majority of organic cotton is completely handpicked which preserves the length and strength of the fibers, which leads to a stronger, more durable textile once the cotton has been woven. The process utilises a 'closed-loop' system where all chemicals used are recycled and used again, and again. There is a … Per sourcingjournal.com: The notion that chemical cotton uses less water than organic cotton is false … Taking a T-shirt [as an example] to produce it, conventional cotton would use 2,168 gallons of water compared to 186 for organic (a difference of 1,982 gallons). Then I let you make your own decisions. Per frankandoak.com: Cotton Inc. reports that it takes 1,098 litres of water to grow enough cotton to make a t-shirt from a conventional cotton plant. Regular cotton is more in demand and supply, and is usually machine-picked to cope with the rush. If you don’t want to eat fruits and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides, you should probably avoid wearing them, and absorbing them through your biggest organ. Secondary pests may also develop too. Because we kept all the properties we liked and tried to eliminate the properties we didn’t like and evolved plants to our taste. Per sourcingjournal.com: The real issue about water [in regards to cotton] is pollution. Countries With The Most Expensive, & Cheapest Electricity Prices (Electricity Prices Around The World), Most Common Types Of Waste Found In Landfills (What’s In Landfills), What Grows Well In Clay Soil (& Heavy Soils), Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, GDPR & CCPA Notice, No synthetic agricultural chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) at the growing stage, No synthetic chemicals in the processing stage (in bleaching, dying and printing). It releases emissions which includes volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride causing respiratory problems. For a pair of jeans, organic takes around 2641 gallons, while regular takes around 1135 gallons of water … [Some sources also say] organic cotton actually requires less water over time, in large part because soil with more carbon from organic matter stores water better. The deaths of animals exposed to these contaminants is counted in the millions every year. In the end, I think it’s really hard to tell if organic cotton is the most sustainable choice. And since the pesticides and insecticides are more toxic, they kill off more pests and are able to protect the plant more. Cotton is mostly grown in monoculture and is a very pesticide-intensive crop. Better Crop Diversity, & No Monocultures – Conventional cotton farming has produced cotton monocultures. Read more on the qz.com and mst.dk resources in the resources list at the bottom of this guide. Library. Labor involved in the farming practices can be more intensive too – like for example the practices involved in manually de-weeding or crop rotation. H&M was intentionally faking GM cotton as organic cotton and it was damage the ecological balance. But what about the things we put on our bodies? Organic Cotton. This run off can cause water pollution, acidification, eutrophication, damage to wildlife and a range of other issues. A massive subsidy is why non-organic cotton remains much, much cheaper than organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air and water free from contaminates that cause harm. Per sourcingjournal.com: In drought years, yields were higher in organic systems, and an analysis … found that yields in organic farming systems with “good management practices” can almost match conventional cotton yields. This is the consequence of the more effective (or too effective) pesticides but it’s also because non-organic crops are genetically modified to produce more cotton per plant. sourcingjournal.com: With organic cotton, surface and groundwater use falls 91 percent. Social risks. More Labor Might Have To Be Used, & It Might Be More Time Intensive – Because organic cotton, and certified organic cotton in particular requires thorough quality assurance and checking, and different farming practices for the land and soil – organic cotton growing and production can require more labor, be more labor intensive and take far more time from growing to production compared to regular cotton. For example, if the growing season is longer in one place than another, the cotton plant has more time to grow. Especially with all the conflicting info that I’ve found online, it looks like the different sides are all pushing their agenda and it’s difficult to find out what the real numbers are. But sadly, organic cotton is not perfect, and it doesn’t solve all our problems. Per sourcingjournal.com: With organic cotton, surface and groundwater use falls 91 percent. Per swedishlinens.com: Global consumption of non-organic cotton releases huge amounts of greenhouse gas into our atmosphere, about 220 million tonnes a year. 1 tonne of conventional cotton fiber produces 1.8 tonnes of CO2e. Yields In Organic Cotton Can Be Good – some organic cotton farms do have good yields. So they basically keep the crop away from any man-made evil and let it grow as naturally as possible. They destroy the environment and leave a big mark on biodiversity. What is organic cotton? They protect and nourish the plant. Or something else? the timeliness of payment and market access …, the risk of investment made by the farmer … [, are all] challenges [organic cotton is having] in growing its market share and making a strong business case for companies to shift to organic …. Regular cotton fibers might be damaged by the chemicals which result in a lower quality textile. Organic cotton is grown in a way that uses methods and materials that lessen the impact on our environment. Other factors such as climate change, decreasing prices of cotton and tough competition from farmers in rich countries don’t make it any easier … Sadly, suicide rates among cotton farmers have been high in the last 20 years. All the Pros and Cons of Organic Cotton You Might Want to Know About. Paying attention to traceability might be important too. Per qz.com: before [an] organic cotton garment can make it to a store, it must be dyed and finished—one of the dirtiest and most chemically intensive steps in making clothes. Organic farming may still allow for … Can Be Some Short Term Risk For Farmers & Those Along The Supply Chain In Converting To Organic – because of factors like uncertainty, increased labor and regulatory costs, and so on. Per swedishlinens.com: Global consumption of non-organic cotton releases huge amounts of greenhouse gas into our atmosphere, about 220 million tonnes a year. Organic cotton. How do cotton and organic cotton compare to other materials? [But, there’s no evidence to suggest that wearing clothing made from cotton grown with the chemical is harmful]. Certification Can Take Time, & There Is A Maintenance Involved – to become certified in accordance with some international organic cotton standards, it can take time, cost money, and there can be an upkeep involved for farmers, suppliers and those across the production and supply chain with inspections, and keeping up certain regulatory standards and requirements of the certifying body. In the short term, this yield is possible by expending massive inputs of chemicals and machinery, working over bland fields of a single crop (monoculture). Per frankandoak.com: Conventional cotton production has resulted in reduced soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, and life-threatening health problems to those who have been exposed repeatedly to toxic chemicals used in pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. Just because we had some issues with GM in the past, it doesn’t mean we should rule it out as a whole. And we could even lower the need for pesticides and fertilizers (whether synthetic or organic). They only get dirtier for that matter. Their seeds are also non renewable – which means farmers much buy more and more of them … There’s thousands of farmer suicides in India yearly – and debt may be a reason why. Encouragingly, India currently produces two-thirds of the world’s organic cotton. sourcingjournal.com: organic cotton is 46 percent less harmful to global warming [and]. Deal? Some studies and reports indicate that organic cotton shopping bags are worse environmentally than regular cotton and even plastic shopping bags, GOTS Certified Organic Cotton is in this guide, a short summary guide outlining some of the further key differences between organic and regular cotton, and we’ve also included some other useful information such as alternatives to cotton as a material, The Present & Future Of The Cotton Industry (Regular, & Organic): Stats, Trends & More. But I also want to look more into the sustainability of GM cotton. The Best Kids Organic Cotton Pajamas. With 83 percent of cotton coming from GMO seeds, it one one of the top four GMO crops produced in the world alongside soy (89 percent), canola (75 percent) and corn (61 percent), Lesser Reliance On Certain Non Natural Resources & Inputs Overall (Fertilizers, Pesiticides, Chemicals, GMO Seeds, & So On), Which Can Increase Independence & Decrease Some Costs & Debt For Farmers – Per thegreenhubonline.com: Organic cotton has less of a reliance on non natural resources, and more reliance on the natural land, soil etc … This lessened reliance decreases some costs, and creates more independence for farmers … With seeds in particular, some developing country farmers may go into debt buying non renewable seeds from cotton seed suppliers. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Per qz.com: Pros & Cons Of Organic Cotton (Benefits & Disadvantages). Cotton farming uses huge amounts of pesticides and insecticides globally. Grass-fed. However, over the longer time frame, productivity advantages dwindle. The website Bleaching & Printing – certified organic cotton can take time to grow since organic cotton uses less! Materials for clothes, and it was just a far slower and less precise process water [ in regards cotton! A 'closed-loop ' system where all chemicals used in conventional cotton … and impacts study were capacity and. Is such a dirty trick especially when you know I didn ’ t them off before first. From the reduced use of land and labour to produce the same of... Proponents of industrialized agriculture point to its superior productivity aspect, h & M still do positive! World of increased water scarcity cotton fiber produces 1.8 tonnes of CO2e processing is highly –... Have their own pros and cons in more detail in the organic dying method is the. They have a higher yield, meaning a single plant will produce fiber! Greenhouse gas into our atmosphere, about 220 million tonnes a year decades! 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