The Case for Choosing Organic Cotton
A good night’s sleep should not come at the expense of ruining someone else’s.
Sleep and let sleep, make the compassionate choice and switch to 100% organic cotton bedding. Read more below to find out about the benefits of organic cotton.
Cotton plays a huge part in our everyday lives and is still a popular choice for the fashion industry, despite other natural fabric alternatives such as bamboo and hemp coming into play.
But with rising concerns about how cotton is manufactured and the effect it is already having on our planet, it is now more important than ever to transition to organic cotton.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the global population is set to grow to 9.7 billion by 2050, and the resulting water scarcity will impact how we live, feed and clothe ourselves. Growing conventional cotton under irrigated conditions is simply unsustainable. So how can organic cotton help?
Major Cities Are Already Running Out of Water
Big cities like Cape Town, Rome and Chennai are already experiencing major water shortages. However, the severity of the situation is thrown sharply into focus when we consider research, which shows water shortages could cause conflict and war.
Traditional cotton farming is water-intensive, requiring on average 11 thousand litres of water to grow 1kg and accounts for almost 2% of the world’s water consumption. In India alone, the water required to grow conventional cotton would be enough to supply 85% of the country’s 1.24 billion people with 100 litres of water every day for a year.
Organic Cotton Helps Conserve Water.
Organic cotton requires 90% less irrigated water than the conventional type and is grown in healthy, rain-fed soils, so they can retain more water to cope with both floods and drought.
An annual saving of 54 billion litres of water would result if the cotton fibres used in bed linen production for the UK market were organic. This is enough to meet the domestic water consumption for a city the size of Glasgow for an entire year!
Conventional Cotton — Bad for the Environment, Bad for Cotton Workers.
Over 95% of cotton produced globally is genetically modified (GM). GM cotton is damaging to the environment and the physical health of farmers because of the excessive amounts of pesticides used for growing cotton. It is estimated that 77 million cotton workers suffer poisoning from pesticides every year, causing health problems such as infertility and birth defects.
Most cotton production occurs on small scale farms. Purchasing GM seeds, pesticides and synthetic fertilisers is expensive and cost-inefficient for farmers. So as well as health issues, farmers also often face debt problems due to the unsustainable interest rates on these purchases.
Yet, GM cotton has not performed well in India — the world’s largest producer of cotton. Crop failures often result in financial ruin. Unable to pay off their loans and debts, tragic cases of farmer suicides are common.
Untrained Use of Pesticides
Most cotton farmers are not trained in the handling of pesticides. They also don’t have the suitable kit to protect themselves from this toxic mix of chemicals, resulting in hospitalisation and/or fatalities.
Pesticides and synthetic fertilisers also pollute the wider ecosystem, rivers and waterways. This pollution makes the water unusable and poisonous — and dangerous for animals and human life.
The Benefits of Organic Cotton for Farmers
Growing organic cotton prohibits the use of synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Natural herbal pesticides are used instead, for example, neem, a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree.
Farmers also practise crop rotation to help tackle pests better. The soil quality is also healthier than ground where synthetic fertilisers are used. Healthier soils help tackle climate change and crop rotation enables farmers to become self-sufficient and enjoy a more secure income.
Enjoy a Healthier and Happier World — and a Better Night's Sleep
Our bed linen is made from Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified 100% organic cotton. For a product to be GOTS certified, it has to meet the highest environmental and social criteria. This includes every point along the supply chain — from the farm to the finished product.
Organic cotton farmers play a significant role in water conservation. They also help preserve biodiversity and the creation of a better ecosystem. At factory level, workers get paid a fair living wage, enabling them to live a dignified life. Child labour and the use of toxic dyes and chemicals in the production process is prohibited. Detailed records of water consumption and wastewater treatment are mandatory.
Learn more about the criteria required for a product to be labelled as 100% GOTS certified organic cotton.
By buying our range of bed products, you can rest assured that you’ve made a positive impact in creating a better, happier and healthier world.
Browse our bedding range today.