The cotton industry is massive: around 250 million people work in this sector worldwide. According to the WWF , around 50% of all textiles are made of cotton. The environmental impact of the entire textile industry is particularly high – it accounts for around 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions (more than all air traffic and shipping combined).
We're increasingly aware that flying on vacation isn't sustainable. However, choosing the right clothing could be much more important—and this includes buying organic cotton, at least as a basic standard.
Organic is organic - but not enough
Much like food, there is also an organic label for textile fibers, which is defined by EU guidelines. Organic farming pursues highly sustainable goals that prevent the exploitation of humans, nature, and animals.
However, it's important to be aware that controlled organic cotton cultivation only regulates the cultivation of cotton (and only marginally considers fair trade and good working conditions), not the entire production of the clothing itself. This area is taken into account by other certificates and seals (such as the GOTS seal). That's why we deliberately opted for GOTS certification , as a holistic approach and a comprehensive assessment of the entire process are very important to us.
What is organic cotton?
Cotton is grown all over the world, but most of it is in developing countries where people are exploited under inhumane working conditions and for starvation wages in conventional cotton production. Added to this is the increased use of chemicals and genetically modified plants to increase yield and efficiency.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is particularly characterized by these criteria:
- No genetically modified plants
- The use of chemical-synthetic pesticides and easily soluble mineral fertilizers is prohibited.
- Fertilization with manure and compost.
- Other crops must also be grown in the fields on a rotating basis. This is called crop rotation.
- Harvest by hand.
- No chemical defoliants to facilitate harvesting.
What distinguishes it from GOTS-certified cotton?
Not all organic products are created equal. Especially when we take a closer look at cotton production, we quickly realize that not only the product itself matters, but also its origin and the production process. In addition to the cultivation and production of organic cotton, an organic certificate from the Global Organic Textile Standard ( GOTS ) guarantees that the entire supply and production chain is sustainable and fair . This makes it our seal of choice. "Organic" is therefore just the beginning and by no means the only criterion.
How do I recognize organic cotton?
Organic cotton can be identified by a corresponding seal. To obtain this certification, the guidelines of organic farming must be adhered to. Only then can the products be called "organic," "ecological," or "certified organic." To ensure that producers actually adhere to these guidelines, they are inspected at least once a year. In small-scale farming communities, farmers also monitor each other, as they naturally have a strong interest in maintaining high quality.
We have also explained some important labels in more detail in our blog post on sustainable clothing .
