FAQs

 
  1. What is organic cotton?

Organic cotton is cotton that is produced, and certified, according to organic agricultural standards. Of most importance is the fact that organic practices prohibit the use of ‘agrichemicals’ (artificial pesticides and fertilizers) along with genetically modified (GM) seed. Instead, organic cotton is grown as part of a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and locally adapted inputs in place of chemical inputs which can have an adverse effect on the farmer and the environment. Organic cotton production combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

  1. Is organic cotton better for me?

There is no evidence of a health benefit in wearing/using textiles made with organic cotton. However, there are significant differences between organic and conventional cotton when it comes to how the cotton is grown (without toxic or persistent chemicals) – which impacts our land, water and the farmers who grow the cotton.

  1. How do I know if its organic?

Brands and retailers marketing products as organic should be willing and able to provide proof of any product claims. Standards, verified by an independent third-party, are often the best way to provide that proof. There are a number of standards to support a number of claims. The Organic Content Standard (OCS) can be used to support organic content claims, and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the most widely used standard to support comprehensive organic product claims from farm to finished garment.

  1. How does organic cotton help to save the environment?

Organic cotton is grown in a way that uses methods and materials that are environment-friendly. A big effort in the organic movement is to use growing systems that replenish and maintain soil fertility and build biologically diverse agriculture. Organic cotton uses far less water too. The main benefit of organic cotton is that the crops aren’t treated with pesticides, insecticides, and Genetically Modified Organisms. Organic cotton helps in the preservation of the environment.

  1. How much of the world’s cotton is organic cotton?

Based on data from the 2015/16 growing season, a total of 107,980 mt of organic cotton fiber was produced by 18 countries. This is compared to 21 million mt of “conventional” cotton – meaning that, at present, approximately 0.51% of global cotton production is organic.

  1. Are there other types of sustainable cotton besides organic?

There are a number of other cotton sustainability initiatives, each with a slightly different approach, geography and focus area. For example, Fairtrade prioritizes trade, organizational structures, and community development; Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) focuses on livelihood improvement in Africa; and the Better Cotton Initiative aims to make the mainstream better. A more detailed description of some of the other cotton sustainability initiatives can be found in the Textile Exchange’s annual Organic Cotton Market Report.

  1. How sustainable is organic cotton?

Cotton is relatively drought tolerant however it still requires a lot of water. Furthermore, cotton is highly vulnerable to pest attack in certain geographies and climates. In conventional systems, it is therefore treated with large quantities of chemical pesticides and irrigation water. A Life Cycle Assessment showed that by producing cotton organically, negative impacts on the environment are drastically reduced.

  1. How does organic cotton farming differ from conventional cotton?

In conventional cotton production, synthetic inputs (such as pesticides and fertilizers) are used to maximize yields and to manage pests, weeds, and disease. These inputs are prohibited in organic production and, instead, farmers use a variety of natural techniques. These most commonly include, but are by no means limited to; crop rotation, intercropping, minimum tillage, animal and green manures, composting, and biodynamic herbal or mineral powders.

  1. Where is organic cotton grown?

Figures for 2014/15 reveal that over 92.16% of global organic cotton production stems from just five countries. India is by far the largest producer, accounting for 66.90% of global production. China is the second largest global producer, accounting for 11.69% of production, followed by Turkey at 6.49%, Kyrgyzstan at 4.93% and the USA at 2.16%.

  1. What is the current trend in organic cotton market?

After seeing a 10 percent rise in production of organic cotton in 2013/14, 2014/15 saw a slight downturn of 3.8 percent. However, the production looks set to increase again in 2017/18 when a number of in-conversion programs in India reach certification. Demand for organic cotton is without doubt growing and more and more brands have made commitments to use 100 percent organic cotton. This growth in demand will create opportunities to improve organic cotton supply chains and incentivize farmers to increase production.

  1. Is organic cotton better for your skin?

Yes, organic cotton is definitely better than conventional cotton. Chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are being used very intensively during the cotton grow cycle, and some residue always stays in the fabric fibers which is not the case with organic cotton. So, yes, the products made from organic cotton are better for human skin.

  1. What are the organic cotton standards?

Independent inspection and certification legitimately back up organic claims. All farms and factories that undergo inspection and certification are independently checked against strict criteria meaning that shoppers can rest assured that products carrying the GOTS and/or Soil Association logos really are organic.

  1. Why does organic cotton cost more?
It’s not that organic cotton “costs more” it’s that conventional cotton “costs too little” because it does not cover all its true costs. Health and environmental costs are often externalized meaning neither the consumer nor the retailer ‘pays’ for them, the farmer and the environment does. When a fair price is paid, it makes a huge difference to producers and only a small difference to the consumer.

What is organic cotton?
Organic cotton is produced according to organic agricultural standards. The most important fact is that organic practices prohibit the use of ‘agrichemicals’ (artificial pesticides and fertilizers) and genetically modified (GM) seed. Organic cotton is produced in such a way that it sustains the health of ecosystems, soils, and people. This type of cotton relies on ecological processes, biodiversity, and locally adapted inputs in place of chemical inputs, which can harm both the farmer involved and our environment. The production of organic cotton involves tradition, innovation, and science. And all of this to benefit the environment and promote good quality of life.
Is organic cotton better for me?
No such concrete health benefits can be associated with wearing clothes crafted with organic cotton. However, there are significant dissimilarities between organic and conventional cotton when it comes to how the cotton is grown (without toxic or persistent chemicals). This definitely has a better impact on you in the long run.
How do I know if it’s Organic?
Brands and retailers who market organic cotton products should be willing to provide proof of any product claims. Standards, verified by an independent third-party, are often the best way to provide such evidence. Several standards can support your claim of organic cotton from farm to finished garments like Organic Content Standard (OCS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
How does organic cotton help save
Organic cotton is grown using techniques and materials that are environment-friendly. A significant effort in the organic movement is to use growing systems that replenish and maintain soil fertility, all the while promoting biologically diverse agriculture. Organic cotton uses far less water too. The primary benefit of organic cotton is that the seeds used are natural and not GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms). The crops aren’t treated with harmful insecticides and pesticides either.
How much of the world’s cotton is organic cotton?
In 2015-16, a total of 107,980 mt of organic cotton fiber was produced by 18 countries In 2015-16, 21 million mt of “conventional” cotton was produced
What are the other types of sustainable cotton?
There are several other sustainable cotton initiatives. Each of these has a different approach, geography, and focus area. Fairtrade prioritizes trade, organizational structures, and community development Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) focuses on livelihood improvement in Africa The Better Cotton Initiative aims to make the process of mainstream cotton better A more detailed description of some of the other cotton sustainability initiatives can be found in the Textile Exchange’s Annual Organic Cotton Market Report.
How sustainable is organic cotton?
Cotton is relatively drought-tolerant; however, it requires a lot of water. Furthermore, cotton is highly vulnerable to pest attack in specific geographies and climates. Under the conventional process, cotton is treated with large quantities of chemical pesticides and irrigation water. A Life Cycle Assessment showed that by producing cotton organically, negative impacts on the environment can be drastically reduced, including preserving soil nutrients, and saving water. Therefore, organic cotton is exceptionally sustainable compared to other types of fibers.
How does organic cotton farming differ from conventional cotton?
In conventional cotton production, synthetic inputs (such as pesticides and fertilizers) are used to maximize yields and manage pests, weeds, and diseases. The addition of these synthetic inputs are prohibited in organic production. Instead, farmers use a variety of natural techniques. These most commonly include, but are not limited to; crop rotation, intercropping, minimum tillage, animal and green manures, composting, and biodynamic herbal or mineral powders.
Where is organic cotton grown?
Studies conducted for the years 2014/15 revealed that over 92.16% of global organic cotton production could be credited to just five countries. India leads the global organic cotton production with 66.90%. China follows next with 11.69% annual cotton production. Turkey comes third with a cotton production of 6.49%. Kyrgyzstan has an annual cotton production of 4.93%, with 2.16% of global organic cotton coming from the USA.
What is the current trend in the organic cotton market?
After seeing a 10% rise in production of organic cotton in 2013/14, 2014/15 saw a slight downturn of 3.8 %. However, the production increased again in 2017/18 when a number of in-conversion programs in India reached certification. Demand for organic cotton is, without a doubt growing. More and more brands are making commitments to use 100% organic cotton. The growing demand is creating opportunities for improving organic cotton supply chains and further better incentives to the farmers.
Is organic cotton better for your skin?
Yes, organic cotton is definitely better for your skin compared to conventional cotton. The heavy use of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers when growing conventional cotton leaves residue behind. The waste stays in the fabric fibers, which can lead to skin irritation. However, no such chemicals are used when growing organic cotton. This instantly makes it better on your skin.
What are organic cotton standards?
Independent inspection and certification legitimately back up organic claims. All farms and factories that undergo inspection and certification are independently checked against strict criteria. Shoppers can rely on organic cotton products that carry the GOTS and/or Soil Association logos.
Why does organic cotton cost more?
This is a common misconception. It’s not that organic cotton “costs more,” it’s that conventional cotton “costs too little.” The latter does not cover all its actual costs. Health and environmental costs are often externalized. Neither the consumer nor the retailer ‘pays’ the true price. It is always the farmer and the environment that ends up paying.
What is the growing cycle for organic cotton?
The farmer prepares the land and sows the seeds. It takes almost 60-70 days for the seedlings to bloom into first flowers. The farmers dedicate a lot of time managing the soil to ensure that it is healthy. The flowers go from white, yellow, pink to dark red. The first cotton bolls appear 50-60 days after the flower. The farmer has to continuously manage soil, control the amount of water, remove weeds, and deal with pests. After the bolls appear, it takes almost 45 days for the ripening stage to begin. The last stage lasts for 15-20 days, and the color of the boll changes from green to brown. The entire growth cycle of organic cotton takes 5 to 6 months.