Supporting a Healthy Planet with Organic Cotton

When you say "organic" to someone, the natural response is for them to think about food. Most conversations and discussions on organic are about fruits and vegetables, but the scope of organic products does not stop there. You can also purchase organic clothes. “Why should I buy organic cotton?” you ask. “I don’t eat my clothes!” Good point... but the answer is more serious than most people think.

Eating organic food makes common sense, of course – if we don’t want to be around toxic chemicals, we certainly don’t want them in and on our food. (See more about what it means to “eat organic” in this month’s feature article) Even though we don’t eat our clothing and linens, we can understand the importance of organic cotton products when we learn a little bit about what goes into the production of conventionally grown cotton.

Textile labels often describe “100-percent pure cotton” content, leading buyers to believe they are purchasing a natural, chemical-free product. In reality, there is not much that is “pure” about conventional cotton. It is grown with mega-doses of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and defoliants that contaminate the soil, make their way into ground water, and drift airborne into residential areas. They create health hazards for farmers, workers, communities, and wildlife. They kill the beneficial insects and microbes that promote soil health.

Did you know:

  • 25 percent of all the insecticide used for crops worldwide is applied to cotton.
  • 8.5 million tons of pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops annually in the United States.
  • Cotton is grown on only 1 percent of U.S. agricultural land, yet it accounts for 10% of all agricultural chemicals used annually.
  • 1/3 pound of chemical pesticide and fertilizer is required to produce one pound of conventional cotton.

In contrast, organic cotton is grown with sustainable, time-proven methods that include the use of organic fertilizers, cover crops, crop rotation, ecological pest management and beneficial insects. These methods foster soil fertility and ecosystem diversity rather than dependence on the chemical industry.

Organically grown cotton products are becoming more available as public awareness and interest increases. Leading names in the clothing industry are including organic cotton in their lines, and as demand and production rise, the costs go down. Everyone wins when more acres go into organic production.

What you can do:

Consider the toxic toll of conventional cotton, and help support the long-term health of the planet and its inhabitants by choosing organic whenever possible. You don’t need to eat your clothing to make a positive impact.