Summary:
The go-to material of organic cotton for many sustainable brands often suffers from the ill repute that it is as detrimental to the planet as its conventional counterpart. Is it so? Let’s find out from the article today.
Organic cotton is a go-to material for many leading market players today. From H&M, Aldi Group, Nike, Stanley & Stella to Tchibo, the demand originates from various business magnates. While it’s easy to believe this fact with your eyes closed, the gullible side of you may prompt you to question the fact. Is organic cotton clothing truly better for the planet and its people?
The article chooses to answer this one. However, it commences with a peek into the dark side of cotton.
Did You Know Conventional Cotton Has a Dark Side?
It’s the most common material that fabricates the bed we sleep on, the towel we wipe ourselves with and the outfits we love to wear. Despite its versatility, it is often despised for its nasty truths. You already know a few if you have read through our articles before, but let us recapitulate:
Cotton, ‘the thirsty crop’, takes in 2,700 litres of water to produce a cotton t-shirt.
It requires large volumes of insecticides and pesticides during growth, thereby infecting local waterways.
It contaminates food and water supplies through pesticide poisoning, causing congenital disabilities and diseases in the local communities.
It involved children in LMIC countries, who all had to participate in the backbreaking job of handpicking cotton, thereby discouraging them from pursuing education.
It’s evident from the enclosed facts that conventional cotton is detrimental to the planet and its people.
Organic Cotton, Fabricating Natural Clothing, Proves to Be a Sustainable Solution
Unlike traditional cotton, neither does its organic counterpart grow without requiring pesticides nor does it grow from genetically modified seeds. Only organic farming practices nurture the plants. With no poisonous chemicals in use, it certainly aims for environmental sustainability. Even the land where it is harvested stays fertile for a longer span.
Benefits? In a land where organic cotton is harvested, the health of workers improves. There is access to clean drinking water and food supplies. The natural clothing options thus available, are safe for the skin. Unlike conventional cotton, there are no traces of chemicals in them.
The social situation has also altered with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and other organisations working to improve people’s lives through organic textiles. People may question how. Well, GOTS ensures social and environmental standards are maintained during the processing, fabricating, packaging, labelling and trading of textiles. From keeping a tab on hygienic working conditions, fair pay rates and workplace equity to looking out for Fair Trade certification, the organisation does everything in its capacity to treat workers well all along the supply chain.
Wait, Is There More to the Organic Cotton Scene, Prompting Reconsideration?
While organic cotton clothing encourages one to act ethically and sustainably, there is something that you must know. Did you know that the hunt for organic products actually started with food? It eventually trickled down to the fashion industry, with more and more clothing brands offering organic choices.
What appears ‘perfect’ from the outset suffers from a few disadvantages. An organic cotton plant generates fewer fibres. Hence, manufacturing this material takes more land and cultivation. Also, a lot of dyes are employed during the T-shirt manufacturing process. Too much of processing further complicates the matter. Given how chemically intensive it is, one has to look for GOTS certification. Otherwise, it’s hard to figure out whether low-impact and safe colourants are involved.
Fashion brands often use the terms ‘organic’ and ‘sustainable’ to sound persuasive. However, it can only be greenwashing, whereby they claim to act in favour of the planet and its people but overlook the vital issues. Does this imply organic cotton is as detrimental to Earth as its conventional counterpart? Not exactly. As long as it’s ethically and sustainably produced, it’s a fantastic alternative.
Where to Shop Natural Clothing in Ireland?
Reunion is a wonderful outlet where you can shop hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts, pants and other accessories without feeling guilty of harming the planet with your thoughtless purchases. It’s an independent organic cotton clothing brand that already understands the dark side of conventional cotton and has, therefore, switched to ethically sourced materials to tailor its collection. You can never be wrong when shopping from here.
Author Bio:
The author is an eco-conscious person and a talented writer. Her personality is often reflected in her articles, the topics of which mostly revolve around natural clothing, organic cotton, ethical practices, Fair Trade, green packaging and so forth. If you enjoy similar write-ups, read them to find inspiration and change your lifestyle in favour of Earth and its inhabitants.
Comments