Orgánic cotton
Organic cotton is cotton that is produced and certified according to organic agricultural standards. This fabric has the same quality as conventional cotton, but without negatively impacting nature. In addition, a chemical-free agricultural land remains fertile for much longer, so producers benefit as well.
Organic farming avoids using chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified seeds for cultivation, substituting artificial fertilizers for natural practices, such as animal fertilizers, among others.
The use and retention of water is managed in a more efficient way thanks to the increase in organic matter in the soil and the use of water from rain is used. This reduces water consumption by up to 90% compared to conventional cotton cultivation.
The harvest of organic cotton is manual, since when doing it with a machine the plantation is sprayed with products to speed up its harvest.
Another curious fact is the use of insects for pest control.
These are the main international certifications:
Global Organic Textile Standard
GOTS is a certification that covers the processing, manufacturing, labeling, trade and distribution of textile products made from at least 70% organic natural fibres. It also ensures that safe and hygienic working conditions, non-discrimination in the workplace and fair wages are respected.
Organic Content Standard
The OCS is a certificate that verifies the amount of organic cotton in the final product and only takes into account the fibre content. There are two levels in OCS certification: OCS 100 is only awarded to products that contain 95-100% organic fibres. The OCS mix certification is used for products that are a mix of organic material with conventional materials.
Better Cotton Initiative
It is a standard that promotes a set of criteria and principles to produce and grow cotton in a more sustainable way on a social, environmental and economic level. BCI has a system to track products bearing its stamp from farm to factory.
In short, buying clothes that contain any of these certificates benefit the environment and cotton producers.
In case you need any other excuse, although cotton itself is hypoallergenic, in the case of being organic it is even more so as it does not contain any chemical traces in its fibres and this also results in a softer touch and a greater comfort for your skin.
