Although many of us are conscious of what we put into our bodies, most of us are not as careful with what we put on them- especially when it comes clothing. Seems silly when the thing that touches our bodies all day every day, that we spend a fortune on, can be so harmful in every stage of production. Cotton is integrated into every part of our lives. We sleep on it, wear it, clean with it and rarely think about where, or how, it's made. Although it only takes up 3% of the world's farmland, cotton crops use over 25% of the world's insecticides: more then any other crop per unit! Take the cotton in your t-shirt for example, most of us are unaware that 1/3 of a pound of pesticides were used to create it. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 47% of these insecticides are considered "possible", "likely", "probable" or "known" human carcinogens.
But never fear, there are alternatives! Organic cotton is quickly becoming a well known option. Certified organic cotton farmers must adhere to strict guidelines. It's a process that takes years, since one of the main requirements states that pesticides must be discontinued for at least three years. All fertilizers must be natural and hormone free. In general, the method of growth must promote sustainability, which means composting and crop rotations to encourage biodiversity. By cotton farmers abstaining from pesticides, the birds and bees are happy and so are the humans that harvest it. Yes, it may be more expensive- but in the long run it's well worth it. And the more people who choose organic, the more crops grow it and the cheaper it gets! Certified organic cotton is a softer, thicker material with a longer lifespan that doesn't cause skin irritation, and won't harm farmers or the land on which it's grown. What more do you need to know?
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