What Are the Benefits of Organic Cotton?
Learn about the benefits of organic cotton and why it’s a great material for bedding.
If you’ve ever shopped around for high-quality cotton bedding, you have probably come across the ‘organic’ label. But what exactly is organic cotton? What makes it more beneficial than conventional cotton?
What is organic cotton?
Organic cotton is cotton fabric produced under globally recognised organic standards that govern cotton production, from soil management and raising crops, right through to product packaging.
Usually, the organic label indicates that the cotton fabric was produced without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or genetically modified crops.
Organic certifications can also indicate farming practices that benefit the ecosystems where cotton is grown.
Organic cotton products are also usually tested for harsh chemicals, including toxic or environmentally harmful colourants, and chemical treatments like polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
In general, organic cotton products are:
- Made without genetically modified cotton fibres
- Made without toxic pesticides/herbicides, or fertilisers
- Made with GOTS-approved additives or treatments
- Better for soil health
- Safer for ecosystems
- Safer for biodiversity
- Better for people, from farmers to end-users
- The more environmentally-conscious choice
How is organic cotton different from conventional cotton?
Organic cotton and conventional cotton have some important differences, mostly related to how the fabrics are produced and processed. Here’s a closer look at the differences between organic and conventional (or non-organic) cotton.
Organic vs conventional cotton farming
At a glance, organic cotton farming tends to be gentler on the environment than conventional cotton farming.
Organic cotton farming generally uses less water, promotes soil regeneration, and causes less runoff pollution than conventional cotton farming.
Unlike organic cotton, conventional cotton farming routinely uses chemical fertilisers, soil additives and pesticides that can cause significant harm to soil ecosystems and waterways.
Organic vs conventional fabric production
Organic cotton is made into fabric without harsh additives, dyes or chemical treatments used in the process.
On the other hand, conventional cotton fabric production often involves the use of caustic chemicals to bleach, clean and colour raw materials to make textiles and finished products. This use of chemicals can expose textile workers to a range of harmful substances during production.
Non-organic cotton products can also carry residual chemicals, even after packaging, that can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. By foregoing the use of chemicals in production, organic cotton bed sheets are a better option for sensitive skin.
How to tell if cotton bedding is organic
You might be wondering how you can tell if a product claiming it’s made from organic cotton is really organic.
The most reliable way to determine whether something is made from organic cotton is through globally recognised organic cotton certification labels like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OEKO-TEX
These labels indicate that the cotton supply chains contributing to a product have been certified according to international standards for organic production.
Organic cotton certification and testing (GOTS and OEKO-TEX)
Organic certification organisations like GOTS and OEKO-TEX require textile producers and manufacturers to follow a rigorous set of standards to gain organic certification.
This includes foregoing a range of synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and chemical treatments, from growing cotton to making textiles.
GOTS also partners with organisations around the world to conduct regular audits of cotton supply chains and ensure compliance with the organisation’s globally recognised standards.
Similarly, OEKO-TEX conducts laboratory testing of the cotton supply chain from crops and raw materials to finished products. This ensures that organic products are made without genetically modified crops and are free from chemicals that can harm people and the environment.
Sustainability impacts of organic cotton
Sustainability is one of the biggest benefits of organic cotton and represents the cornerstone of organic standards like GOTS and OEKO-TEX.
Both of these certifications consider environmental sustainability through organic farming practices and community sustainability through fair and safe textile manufacturing.
Sustainable cotton farming
GOTS-certified organic cotton farming engages in a range of sustainable practices that make it better for the environment than its conventional counterparts.
GOTS certification ensures that organic cotton farmers:
- Manage soil ecosystems responsibly for long-term soil health
- Manage wastewater to prevent pollution
- Avoid synthetic fertilisers, which damage ecosystems
- Avoid persistent or toxic pesticides
- Avoid genetically modified crops, which often rely on pesticides and can damage biodiversity
Sustainable communities
Organic cotton farming also has a range of positive impacts on communities. By preserving soil health, organic cotton reduces farming communities’ reliance on expensive soil additives and fertilisers.
Organic cotton farming is also gentler on the environments surrounding cotton farms, reducing ecosystem pressures on the waterways and landscapes that sustain communities.
Organic standards like GOTS and OEKO-TEX also help communities by reducing textile workers’ exposure to harmful chemical additives used in conventional cotton products.
These organic standards also require labour rights and worker health standards to be met for products to be labelled as organic. These standards help protect individual well-being and sustain communities working in the cotton supply chain.
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