Organic cotton. Organic cotton is a pure material. Why organic cotton

One of the most popular fibers for textile production is cotton. But not all types are the same. So, organic cotton is different from the usual way production, safe for environment. Things made from just such a material - organic cotton - are recommended for newborn children, they are so high quality and environmentally friendly. How is the production of conventional cotton harmful to nature, and how is organic fiber grown? The features of this fabric are described in detail below.

How is regular cotton produced?

In short, the peculiarity of organic cotton is that it is produced in absolutely no harm to the environment. Unlike organic cotton, conventional cotton is grown using a large number of insecticides and other chemicals. This plant is processed many times more than other agricultural crops. So, to grow the required volume of cotton fiber, the following treatments are required:

• pesticides - pest control products;
• insecticides - to kill insects;
• herbicides - weed control.

All these “cides” cause irreparable damage to nature: they pollute the soil, air and groundwater. 10% of all pesticides and 25% of insecticides used worldwide textile industry, falls on cotton plantations. Manufacturers are forcing the land to work for wear and tear. Over the past 80 years alone, cotton fiber has been produced 30 times more, while the total area under cultivation has not changed. About 55% of seeds are genetically modified and resistant to herbicides.

Pesticides are dangerous to humans. Fatal poisonings number in the thousands. Both animals and insects suffer from these substances. Mutations of some species are observed, and more aggressive chemical poison is required for adapted living organisms. In addition to “cides,” chemical fertilizers, dyes containing heavy metals, bleaches and other harmful substances are used in the production of cotton fabric.

Features of organic fiber

Cotton with mark organic grown on farm plantations located in ecologically clean regions. The total amount of eco-cotton is slightly less than 1% of total production, but its share is constantly increasing. To stimulate growth, only organic fertilizers are used - manure and compost. The seeds are strictly natural. To repel pests, only natural remedies are used: soap, garlic, pepper and other spices.

Crop rotation is observed when growing biocotton. If different crops grow on one piece of land, the soil regenerates naturally. In the production of conventional cotton, the same area is constantly used, which leads to humus depletion, i.e. fertile layer. The consequence is an increase in chemical fertilizers.

Another difference with organic cotton: it is harvested by hand. Cotton bolls ripen unevenly. A person determines which fibers can be collected and which need to be given a little more time. Manual assembly guarantees the purity of the fiber; it will not contain any admixture of leaves or other parts of the plant. In comparison, to harvest regular cotton fiber, chemicals are again used. They contribute to the falling of the boxes, which simplifies the collection procedure.

In the production of eco-cotton, chlorine-containing bleaches, aggressive dyes with sulfur and heavy metals are not used.

Advice
When purchasing an organic product, pay attention to its color. Clothing made from organic fibers retains their natural shade, of which there are only three: ivory, light green and light pink. Sometimes textiles are dyed, but only with natural dyes.

Properties, care

The first thing to note is that the material is hypoallergenic. That is why it is recommended for the youngest children and people with sensitive skin. The material has a porous structure that allows the skin to breathe. Other important characteristics eco-cotton:

• strength;
• sweat resistance;
• wear resistance;
• gentle and soft, pleasant to the body.

The clothing label must display a certificate issued by an independent commission. The main certification is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). marked “organic” is made from 95% organic cotton, marked “made with organic” indicates 70% biofiber content.

Caring for organic cotton is similar to caring for delicate wool items. The main disadvantage of organic matter is that it is not treated with chemicals for stability. Products are washed by hand or on a delicate cycle at a temperature of 30-40 degrees. Spin - at minimum speed. After the first wash, a product made from organic cotton shrinks by 5%, so items are sewn with a small margin. Always follow the instructions on the label, and then the product will last as long as possible.

By buying organic cotton, you take care not only of yourself, but also of the environment. Even if buying one item made from organic cotton will cost much more, you will not have to worry about your child’s health, and you will also support the growing industry of eco-products.

More and more parents around the world give their preference to organic products for babies - clothes, baby food, hygiene products and toys. And this is no wonder, because every parent wants the best for their baby. For the baby's delicate skin - only natural ingredients and ingredients, for health - organic products, for complete comfort and happiness - only natural and environmentally friendly toys and clothes.

The first fabric that comes into contact with the baby’s thin skin should be delicate, soft, comfortable, safe, free of chemicals, dyes and fragrances, and not lose its shape or stretch. Are you saying that this doesn't happen? Happens! This is organic cotton.

What kind of miracle cotton is this?

Organic cotton– cotton that is grown without the use of any chemicals (pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers), which means absolute safety. When growing and processing organic cotton, instead of mineral fertilizers organic materials are used, hand weeding is carried out to remove weeds, the soil is not treated with fertilizers and herbicides for at least three years, cotton in the fields is harvested by hand, and the production of threads, yarn, fabric, as well as dyeing and production of finished clothing is carried out in accordance with standards manufacturing organic products. In addition, in the production of Organic Cotton it is impossible to use genetically modified cotton seeds.

If you see an Organic Cotton quality certificate on a clothing label, this guarantees that the cotton yarn for the product in question was produced in accordance with high environmental and social standards at all stages of production, namely:

• No genetically modified seeds were used when growing organic cotton

• No chemical fertilizers were used when growing cotton

• Only safe substances (such as garlic, chili pepper and soap) were used to repel pests.

• ripe cotton was picked by hand

• No chlorine was used when bleaching the yarn

• when dyeing fabrics, dyes based on natural ingredients were used

• people who grow organic cotton work in excellent conditions, have decent wages and fixed working hours

Environmental damage from conventional cotton production

In the production of ordinary cotton it is used great amount various chemicals - pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, chemical dyes, bleaches and formaldehydes. It is absolutely certain that 16% more insecticides and pesticides are used to grow conventional cotton than to grow any other crop. Moreover, all these chemical substances are highly toxic. Judge for yourself: orthophosphates, trifluralin, toxaphene, methamidophos, endosulfan, etc.

Chemicals used in cotton processing pollute the air and surface waters.

In addition, some of the products from ordinary cotton processing end up in the so-called human “food chain”. For example, cottonseed oil is used for food production, and straw is often used for cattle feed. Thus, some of the chemical fertilizers will inevitably end up in food products and then in the human body.

And the residual chemicals that are inevitably present in linen made from regular cotton can at least cause skin irritation.

Fresh air and clean water are ours best friends…

…and also clean food and clothing. This is especially true for our children. After all, the health of the future of humanity directly depends on you and me, on the health of our children.

Newborn babies have such sensitive, thin and delicate skin that any chemicals and toxins easily penetrate through it. As parents, we must think now about what our baby wears from birth, what can affect his health, what he breathes and what he drinks. When you go to the store, be sure to read the labels on baby foods. We assure you, you will be very surprised!

Choosing organic products and natural fabrics is the best thing you can do today for the health of your future grandchildren.

Organic Cotton

The popularity of organic cotton products is gradually growing along with the growing popularity of a healthy lifestyle. And the “100% Organic Cotton” label can already be seen on products from many of the world’s leading brands: H&M, Zara, Walmart, C&A, Nike, Anvil, Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn, Greensource and Hess Natur…

According to the 2009 Organic Exchange Farm and Fiber Report, organic cotton production has increased 20% since 2007. Is it true, total production Organic cotton in the world is only 0.76%.

Today, organic cotton is grown in 22 countries around the world. The leaders in production (in descending order of rank) are: Turkey, Syria, Tanzania, China, the United States of America, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso.

Since at the moment a very small amount of organic cotton yarn is produced in the world, it is not difficult to guess that the production of things from it is much more expensive than from conventional cotton, and this, of course, is its undoubted disadvantage.

But by buying natural food and clothing, we take, albeit a small, but still a step, to preserve the environment and the health of our children and future generations.

Today, the first products made from organic cotton have begun to appear on the Ukrainian market. These are products from well-known global manufacturers of children's and adult underwear, toys, towels, bath products, bedding, bedspreads and rugs for the home, etc., for example, Ladybird, Naturapura, Kushies, Minimink, Teddykompaniet, Heimess, Eke Home, Pognae, Green Kids, Little Monkeys, Lodger and others. These are leaders in the organic industry with the highest reputation in the market thanks to highest quality goods.

Cotton is the most well-known and beloved plant-based textile fiber and covers about 40% of the world's demand for natural fibers. Approximately 20 million tons of cotton are harvested annually to meet the enormous demand on every continent.

Did you know that cotton is different from cotton? When our grandmothers and great-grandmothers advise us to dress our baby “exclusively in cotton diapers,” they, unfortunately, do not know how many chemicals are now “poured” into modern cotton at all stages of its production. Since the 60s and 70s, in pursuit of increasing productivity, everything more production began to use a huge amount of chemicals and genetically modified cotton. “Pure” cotton, which was grown by all previous generations, grown in a “natural” way, began to be produced again quite recently and is now called ORGANIC COTTON, to distinguish it from conventional cotton, and to reflect the way it is produced - WITHOUT CHEMICALS.

Let's find out more: what is the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton and how the choice between them can affect us personally?

A little history. The cotton bush belongs to the mallow family. Its large yellow inflorescences are similar to hibiscus flowers. Seed fibers are located in large capsules - boxes. Ripe capsules burst and release white seeds covered with filamentous hairs.

Cotton has been known in India and China for 5,000 years, and in Central America for approximately 8,000 years. In Peru, varieties of colored cotton were known in various natural tones. Now, in addition to the usual cream, only varieties with green and brown fiber color have been preserved. Cotton has been known in Europe since the Middle Ages. But until the 19th century it was not used as a textile fiber, because... clothing was made from linen, wool, hemp and calico. In England, cotton fabrics have been in use since the late 17th century. Raw materials were supplied from British colonies in the southern United States.

The entire process of processing raw cotton, from spinning, twisting and to the production of the fabric itself, was carried out exclusively by hand. At the end of the 18th century, new machines were invented that made it easier to process raw materials. With their help, fibers were separated from seeds, and also appeared spinning machines and power looms. The Industrial Revolution began, which unfortunately pushed thousands of already poverty-stricken workers into extreme poverty. In the 19th century, cotton became increasingly popular throughout the world.

But cotton was not left without competitors. Over the past 20-30 years, polyester and other chemical fibers have increasingly conquered the market and have already replaced cotton in second place.

And finally, a new concept has recently appeared on the market - “organic (bio-) cotton”, implying that this cotton differs from conventional cotton in its cultivation and production methods.

So we want to know is there a real difference between "cotton" and "organic (bio-)cotton".

Regular cotton: Machine harvesting, used today on large plantations, negatively affects the quality of raw materials. This method of harvesting uses chemical defoliants to force the cotton heads to fall from the branches, whether they are ripe or not. Those. the harvester removes all the seeds. In addition, particles of leaves and bolls get into the raw material. Cotton and its seeds are poisonous. In this way, the plant is naturally protected from pests. However, cotton is often attacked by various pests. Damage to crops can reach 35%. This forces producers to use an increasing number of insecticides, which in turn leads to greater pest resistance and an increase in the affected area. Cultivation as a monoculture, without annual plant replacement, contributes to an increase in the number of pests and the affected area. Crop rotation naturally helps control pests and reduce losses.

In addition, regular cotton consumes a huge amount of water. According to WWF, the production of one kilogram of cotton requires from 7,000 to 29,000 liters of water! For example, intensive exploitation of land for growing cotton was main reason disappearance of the Aral Sea.

Organic cotton: Traditional methods are used in its cultivation. Those. Cotton is harvested manually in order to select only fully ripened seeds. After harvesting, the fibers are separated from the seeds and processed separately, which ultimately leads to an improvement in the quality of the cotton fabric. Since organic cotton is the work of small farms and rural households, its cultivation also uses traditional, ancient methods of watering and irrigation (for example, the drip method) using much less water than modern methods cotton production. Water is supplied directly to the plant root, which reduces water loss due to evaporation.

Regular cotton: Cotton today is the most important textile fiber of plant origin. About 200 million people in 70 countries around the world are engaged in its cultivation and processing. So cotton is one of them the most important factors economy as a whole. However, cotton cultivation in industrial scale It also has shadow sides. Current methods are harmful to people, animals and plants - both during the growing process and through textiles made from cotton. The only alternative is to cultivate this crop in accordance with environmental safety standards and “ Fair Trade».

While the total area of ​​agricultural land remained at 1930 levels, returns from this land increased 30 times. To increase productivity and control pests, not only fertilizers, but also insecticides are used large quantities. Approximately 10% of all pesticides used worldwide are applied to cotton crops. Some of these toxic substances were used during the Vietnam War. Due to widespread irrigation, these substances enter groundwater and pose a risk of contamination to local drinking water supplies and soils, and ultimately into the global ocean.

Organic cotton: In the production of organic cotton, not chemical synthesis products are used, but natural pest control agents, such as pheromone traps, various plants, etc. Weeds are removed manually. To enrich the soil, exclusively natural organic fertilizers are used (from useful plants, from cow urine, from pheromones), as well as methods of alternating planting.

Regular cotton: Growing cotton as a monoculture over large areas leads to a reduction in the planting of other plants. Its cultivation for several years in the same areas causes an increase in the number of pests and pesticides used. Generally, agricultural workers are not protected from the harmful effects of chemicals. The consequence of such handling of pesticides is illness, sometimes with death. Estimated World Organization Every year, about 3 million people worldwide fall victim to the use of pesticides, 20,000 of them die.

Organic cotton: Using natural insect control, organic Agriculture prevents and reverses these horrific negative consequences. Manipulations with organic cotton are completely safe for both cotton pickers and cotton processing workers, as well as for residents of the surrounding area.

Regular cotton: Industrial extensive method Cotton growing is causing more and more problems. The use of fertilizers, insecticides and defoliants leads to environmental and social disaster. The day is not far when the areas currently occupied by cotton will not be able to produce significant harvests. Growing other crops on them is incredibly difficult difficult task, because soils are damaged at the microbiological level. The consequence may be the emptying of currently cultivated areas, their transformation into steppe zones, which means for the population to languish in poverty and hunger. In addition, traces of the chemicals used are found in textiles. Approximately 10% of them remain in the tissue and can lead to skin diseases and allergic reactions.

Organic cotton: Numerous small and large organic cotton projects prove that it is possible to do things differently. Their prerequisite is a change of priorities: they become not profit, but people and the environment. Constant and consistent adherence to certain rules during cultivation and methods that meet Fair Trade standards are no less important components of success. Growing cotton together with a certain amount of crops, such as groundnuts, allows you to saturate the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients. Modern, efficient irrigation, in which moisture does not evaporate but penetrates into the soil, guarantees the maintenance of groundwater levels. Naturally, there can be no talk of cultivating genetically modified plants. Organic fertilizers improve soil quality, and crop rotation prevents the uncontrolled proliferation of pests. The use of defoliants is prohibited; the harvest is harvested only by hand, which has a positive effect on the quality of cotton. Organic cultivation entails a decrease in the amount of raw materials harvested, but the cotton becomes of higher quality. That is why buyers of such raw materials pay about a 20% premium to organic cotton producers, which complies with Fair Trade rules. Such a bonus compensates farmers for losses from a reduced harvest and allows them to continue growing high-quality cotton, covering their high labor costs.

To summarize, the production of conventional cotton is an extremely harmful production that harms the health of people throughout our planet and the ecological situation on it.

Organic cotton is an attempt to somehow reduce this negative impact, restore our eco-system so that our children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.

And finally, directly regarding organic cotton clothing: thanks to better quality raw materials and the absence of pesticides, heavy metals and chlorine, organic cotton is softer than usual, it “breathes” better and does not cause allergic reactions.

When it comes to natural fabrics, cotton is the first one that comes to mind. Cotton fields cover 2.5% of all cultivated land in the world. However, in terms of pesticide use, the cotton business accounts for 25% of the market, making cotton one of the most toxic crops in the world. Despite the rise in demand for organic food, cotton has a long way to go to replicate that success.

Cotton made me pay attention, firstly, because in the H&M store I came across the Organic line, secondly, on the waiters at Daily Bread, I'm organic T-shirts, and thirdly, most importantly, my colleagues at Soap were looking for organic summer bags for our kits. They found them, but... only in England: it was cheaper there even with delivery. I decided to look into the issue and it turned out that there was very little information, just like stores with organic products.

The salesperson at H&M didn’t explain to me what organic means on a T-shirt, but the wonderful waitress at Khleb smiled: “that’s how they dressed us.” It seems that a boom will soon begin, I thought, and, having seen an article in the American Forbes about the largest organic cotton business in the USA, I decided to translate it.

I invite you to discover the world of organic fabrics with me and hope that soon more of them will appear in Russia.

The Coyuchi bed linen company in question was founded in 1991. Over the 25 years of its existence, the company has become the largest buyer of organic cotton in the United States. How these half a century passed in the world of organic cotton told CEO Koichi Elena Mokus.

Organic cotton is grown taking into account the preservation of soil fertility, careful use of water, minimizing CO2 emissions, without the use of pesticides and, of course, no GMO seeds. When growing traditional cotton, pesticides that are dangerous to human health are used, such as Aldicarb, Parathion, Methamidopho.

No one claims that these chemicals are lethal, but still cotton, and especially bedding, comes into contact with human skin. Therefore, at a minimum, when buying something made from regular cotton, wash it before you start wearing or laying it on.

As in the organic market, consumers placed the same demands on organic cotton as they did on conventional products. For example, they wanted white products, but organic cotton only produced a creamy color (organic cotton cannot be bleached with bleach like conventional cotton can be bleached). Another challenge was to make a fire-resistant mattress pad.

They are usually impregnated with a special agent that prevents combustion. As you understand, this product is not suitable for organics. (Here I was just thinking about what my mattress cover was soaked in and how it affected my health). Organic products had to be brought to perfection under the supervision of the Organic Standard for Textiles ( Global Organic Textile Standard).

The organic standard for cotton came into being in 2006, and the company implemented it. (you can view other eco-labels for textiles).

The company's suppliers, as in the food market, were small or medium-sized family cotton farms. In order not to disappear individually with small volumes, organic producers unite in associations. It is easier to promote the idea of ​​preserving nature in the production of goods when this mission lies in a recognizable label.

In Russia, organic cotton is not produced, so any organic cotton we have is most often from Turkey. By the way, H&M notes on its website that it is one of the world's largest companies purchasing organic cotton. Now 29% of the brand's products are made from organic cotton. It also says here that products labeled organic have GOTS certificates, which was described above, or Ecocert.

Please note that the left icon indicates that this product contains only 5% organic material, which is mixed with other ingredients. It is not very clear why such marking was introduced. Reminds me of a certificate for participation, like in children's competitions.

The right icon indicates that 95% of the raw materials used to produce these fabrics were organic. Agree, after all, 95% organics is already more like a consumer request.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Caring about nature, people began to grow organic cotton - what is it? These are fibers made without the use of chemicals. They are grown using technologies that do not harm nature and humans. There are very few organic cotton fields, but their number is increasing rapidly.

eco cotton

How does eco cotton differ from simple cotton in terms of growing method:

• No chemical fertilizers are used during cultivation. There is strict control on the fields with certain criteria. The number of such biological farms is only 0.1% of the total volume of cotton fields. To get rid of pests, use natural aromatic products: a composition of soap, chili and garlic. Ecologically clean areas are suitable for planting seeds.
• Crop rotation is observed - several types of plants are grown on one piece of land. This contributes to the natural renewal of the soil. Natural fertilizers are used - manure, compost. This helps maintain the quality of the soil and saturates the plant with all nutrients. The fibers do not accumulate pesticides, insecticides, heavy and harmful metals.

• Weeds are pulled and the soil is loosened by hand. It is also collected by human efforts. This way you can track the ripened boxes, leaving the rest to ripen. This cotton is cleaner, there are no pieces of leaves in it.
• Genetically modified seeds are not used. Solar panels and water-saving irrigation methods are used.

Only compliance with all these conditions makes it possible to indicate organic cotton on the tag. If any part of the process has been violated, the tag will say fair trade. It confirms the partial quality of the material.

Description and properties

Biocotton, what is it - extra costs or benefits for humans and nature? Organic cotton is suitable for people with delicate skin, allergies and children. Regular cotton sometimes causes allergic reactions. When processing organic fiber fabrics, hazardous dyes and harmful chlorine-based bleaches are not used.

Natural dyes are used to dye fabrics. They are painted only in light colors. Patterns and designs are printed on the outside. Clothes for newborns are not dyed; their natural color is green or brown. This cotton also comes in light pink or ivory.

The fabric is stronger than regular cotton. It will last longer and retain its original appearance. It can withstand up to 100 washes without changes and only after that it begins to deteriorate. Regular cotton loses its structure after just 5 washes. Air permeability is 10% better. The material is softer and more delicate, more pleasant to the body.

Externally, bio cotton does not differ from ordinary cotton. The product must have a certificate confirming its environmental friendliness.

Organic cotton is mainly produced in Turkey, India and China. There are fields in South America (Paraguay and Peru). West Africa (Senegal and Mali) also supplies some of the material. There are farms in Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand.

What is sewn from organic cotton?

It is used for a variety of clothing for small children:

• rompers, vests, diapers;
• T-shirts, dresses, pants, shirts;
• underwear – panties, T-shirts.

Adult clothing:

People are thinking more about the environment and their own health. When buying things, questions about the quality and production of fabric are increasingly being asked. And manufacturers have to take appropriate measures.

Organic textile care

Organic cotton clothing is machine washable only if stated on the label. It indicates the water temperature, hand or machine wash, whether it can be ironed, how to dry and store. They care for it in much the same way as for woolen products:

Regenerated cotton yarn is made from recycled materials. Cotton products are shredded and the fibers are combined with polyester without combing. The standard ratio is 70% cotton and 30% polyester.

Regenerated cotton is used to make the following products:

• yarn and knitted items;
• household and home textiles – mops, ropes, carpets, blankets, curtains;
• gloves, socks, denim.

By adding polyester, the yarn becomes stronger and more elastic.

Organic cotton is a completely safe product for humans and the environment. By buying items made from eco-cotton for yourself and your children, a person contributes to the conservation of nature and preserves the health of his loved ones.

home » How to earn » Organic cotton. Organic cotton is a pure material. Why organic cotton