Organic cotton is grown on certified land that is free of toxic substances and all types of pesticides and insecticides.
Organic farming is based on crop rotation instead of using artificial fertilisers.
It also takes special care of the workers who carry out these crops, ensuring decent working conditions.
Conventional cotton cultivation, as opposed to organic, uses about 25% of the insecticides manufactured in the world and more than 10% of the pesticides.
These products not only combat cotton pests and upset the balance of nature in the soil, but also decimate beneficial insect populations and cause great harm to people who come into contact with them.
Soil is a living ecosystem full of diverse organisms that work in balance and cooperatively to allow normal crop growth.
This is not a dead entity to which toxic petroleum-derived chemicals should be added in order to maximise the production of commodoties, the destructive power of these techniques must be thought through and the negative consequences left for future generations must be takeninto account.
The Dyeing Problem
Conventional cotton is bleached before being dyed. Chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, dioxin and formaldehyde among many other harmful compounds are used. Also, heavy metals such as chromium, copper and zinc are used in the dyeing of common cotton and nickel is used in the manufacture of its fasteners, all of which are highly polluting and proven to be harmful to people's skin.
Excessive use of pesticides has a significant impact, both as producers on the environment, but also on those who wear non-organic cotton clothing or shoes.
Chemicals commonly used in conventional cotton are implicated in groundwater contamination. They also have a direct impact on the health of producers and very often an adverse effect on skin contact for those who manufacture or use garments and products.
conventional COTTON GENERATES POVERTY.
In Vidarbha, also known as the "Cotton Belt " of India, 4,000,000 hectares have undergone the transition to genetically modified (GM) cotton crops.
The price of cotton seed went from Rs. 7/kg to Rs. 1,700/kg after GMO Bt cotton was introduced. GMO cotton is also vulnerable to pests, and as a result the use of pesticides, which carries an additional cost, has increased by 13 times during the same period.
Farmers have been trapped in a vicious cycle of debt due to their increasing dependence on monocultures and the loss of crop biodiversity, the increasing dependence on non-renewable seeds and the monopolies that service them, the chemical materials needed to support GMO cotton, and the resulting decline in soil fertility.
THE BENEFITS OF ORGANIC COTTON.
Every time we use organic cotton products, we reduce the possibility of allergic reactions, our skin breathes better, feels better and we contribute to the care of our ecosystem.
The use of organic cotton clothing for babies is highly recommended, as their delicate skin requires special care and extra softness of the fabrics that have direct contact with their skin, especially in those who have eczema and one of its most common forms: atopic dermatitis.
100% organic cotton is much softer than regular cotton, it allows the skin to breathe and breathe better. Plus, it feels good to know that by using organic cotton products you are contributing to the care of people and the Planet.
Organic cotton uses only natural products, bringing benefits to producers, the environment and the consumer:
- The benefits for farmers: it is non-toxic, thus preserving the health of farmers harmed by inhalation and contact with chemicals commonly used in conventional agriculture.
- Benefits for the environment: the absence of pesticides and the use of non-genetically modified (non-GM) cotton allows for greater respect for natural resources and the ecosystem.
- Consumer benefit: the use of organic cotton avoids allergies related to the improper use of chemical products. The absence of toxic residues makes it softer and more beneficial to the skin.
