Tree Huggin Tuesday: Organic Cotton

A lot of people understand the importance of eating organic food. Obviously, we need to be aware of what we are putting into our bodies and into the bodies of our children, but why worry about buying organic cotton for our clothing, toys, and household items?

Growth of conventional cotton, as it is currently grown, is making a serious environmental impact. Globally, conventional cotton uses 25% of all insecticides, and 10% of all pesticides although cotton is only grown on 2% of the world's agricultural land. It is now estimated that less than 10% of these chemicals are accomplishing their tasks, the rest is absorbed into the plant, air, soil, water, and eventually into our bodies.Research shows that 1/3 of a pound of chemicals are used in the production of one cotton t-shirt. Multiply the number of cotton t-shirts in your home by that 1/3 of a pound and you can see what a huge amount of chemicals are released into the environment.

The good news is that the production of organic cotton in America is increasing. In 1990, there were about 900 acres of organic cotton grown in the U.S. Today that figure has grown to nearly 10,000 acres. Thanks to a serious commitment by growers, manufacturers and retailers, chemical-free clothing, bedding, toys, and other products are now readily available to the honest consumer who would rather not contribute to more toxins on the farm, in their home, and on their bodies.

By making the switch to organic cotton, you’re helping to support sustainable farming practices, and family farms who have been growing cotton without harmful chemicals for years. These farmers produce high quality cotton that is equal to or superior than conventionally grown cotton. The natural farming process supports biodiversity and healthy ecosystems because it often uses fewer natural resources. The elimination of these nasty chemicals, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves our water resources. Growing organic cotton can actually replenish and improve soil fertility, improving land quality and our planet in general.

If you care about what you put in your body, perhaps it is time to consider what you put on your body and how it affects the environment. All of our purchasing decisions have an impact on the environment but there are many eco-friendly options to lessen your families environmental impact. There are also many other options beyond organic cotton such as bamboo, hemp, and repurposed cotton.
~Andy

Tree Huggin Tuesday: Organic Cotton