About Organics

Advantages of Organic Cotton

Conventional cotton farming has been labeled one of agriculture's most environmentally destructive activities, but fortunately, positive alternatives for cotton apparel have emerged, and with it, a growing market for organically grown cotton.

What is Organic Cotton?

Organic farming incorporates biologically based rather than chemically dependent growing systems to raise cotton crops in several important areas:

Soil - Massive amounts of chemicals are used in the growing and processing of cotton. Chemical fertilizers can have a number of harmful effects on the environment, including the contamination of ground and surface water, beneficial insects, and surrounding plant and wildlife. Organic cotton farming utilizes natural compost, frequent crop rotations, and cover crop strategies in place of synthetic fertilizers. In order to achieve organic certification, cotton fields must be free of synthetically derived chemicals for three years.

Pesticides - Even when used according to directions, pesticides can be extremely harmful to people, wildlife and the environment. According to one recent pesticide study in California, cotton ranked third among California crops for total number of worker illnesses caused by pesticides. In addition, fish, livestock, birds, beneficial insects and soil microorganisms can all be negatively impacted by pesticides. In organic cotton farming, farmers cultivate a diversity of natural enemies that prey on insect pests, and introduce them to the fields at well-timed intervals. Weeds are controlled by hand labor or flame devices rather than herbicide applications.

Harvest - In most areas, cotton plants must be killed before harvesting. Organic cotton practices use certified materials and lack of water rather than chemical applications to achieve this ready-for-picking state. Though some organic farming operations use machines for harvesting, many rely on the hand picked method, ensuring a higher quality of cotton and also a higher standard of living for developing countries that produce cotton.