We all have products or clothing in our closet that are made of cotton. Nowadays, with sustainability in mind, a lot of focus is placed on organic or organic cotton. But what exactly is the difference between organic cotton and 'normal' cotton? Do you no longer see the forest for the trees? Below we explain the difference!
Cotton production
The cotton plant is the number 1 most used source for the production of textiles and half of all clothing is still made from it. So enormous amounts of cotton are needed in the world. Now you're probably thinking: isn't that super environmentally friendly, all those plants? Unfortunately that is not correct. To make cotton plants grow well, a lot of pesticides and fertilizers are needed. In fact, almost 20% of all chemical pesticides are used for this purpose!
In addition, a lot of water is needed for growth, which causes a lot of pollution in the soil.
Organic cotton
Because the production of 'normal' cotton is so damaging to the environment, an alternative, sustainable solution had to be found.
Organic cotton is produced in a different way, without chemical pesticides and the cotton is picked by hand.
It certainly sounds great that chemicals are no longer used, and it certainly is, but unfortunately this is not an attractive solution for farmers. Without chemicals, the growth of cotton plants is a lot slower. So less cotton can be produced in the same time.
In addition, the demand for organic cotton has increased enormously, causing major shortages. The price is therefore often higher than 'normal' cotton.
Certification
Companies that grow and produce cotton in a sustainable way can join parties such as the Better Cotton Initiative and can apply for quality marks such as OCS and GOTS. These quality marks indicate that the supply of organic cotton has been carefully controlled and tracked from source to the end product.
Organic cotton for the home
Organic cotton is not only better for the environment, it certainly has other benefits too! The structure is often softer, it absorbs moisture better and is often slightly more comfortable than 'normal' cotton.
In addition, the risk of eczema and allergies for babies and small children is a lot less with organic cotton. Their immune systems are not yet fully mature and can often tolerate sustainable cotton better.
We also love sustainable materials! Many of our products are made from organic cotton, such as our baby blankets , hydrophilic cloths and cuddly toys !