By Samantha LePicier and Corinna Cincotta
Conventional cotton farming uses more dangerous, cancer-causing pesticides than any other crop; organic cotton farming is based on a respect for people, animals, and the environment.
Many people are turning to organic cotton when purchasing products for everyday use. From clothing and accessories; bedding, mattresses and towels; to diapers and personal care products, the popularity of organic cotton is growing.
According to the 2010 Global Market Report on Sustainable Textiles from 2009 to 2010, organic cotton retail sales increased from 4.3 billion to 5.16 billion, an increase of 20%. Choosing organic cotton is best for the earth, the earthΆs ecosystems, and best for our health.
These benefits can easily be seen through comparing organic versus conventional cotton throughout its life cycle, from sowing to harvesting, all the way through to a finished product.
Organic cotton farming is based on a respect for the environment and the people who inhabit the earth. Organic farmers use non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds.
To keep the soil healthy and keep pests away, farmers use crop rotation, cover cropping, trap cropping, and hand weeding. They rely upon a seasonal freeze to remove the cotton plant leaves, called defoliation, so that the cotton can be harvested with ease.
When finishing organic cotton fabric, plant based and non-toxic dyes and bleaching methods are used. For more detailed information on each of these processes, please read our blog post on the life cycle of conventional versus organic cotton [http://thenaturalsleepstore.com/blog/post/organic-cotton.html]
In comparison, conventional cotton farmers use genetically modified seeds that are treated with fungicides and pesticides to increase germination rate, herbicides to control weeds, pesticides to kill or deter pests, and fertilizer to provide “nutrition” to highly degraded soil. Additionally, instead of relying on a seasonal freeze to remove the cotton plant leaves, chemicals, called defoliants, are used to strip the leaves. Bleaches and toxic dyes are used to process and color the cotton.
American conventional cotton farmers use about 12 lbs. of synthetic chemicals per planted acre, and most of these chemicals are listed as Category I or II, which the EPA classifies as probable carcinogens. According to the Organic Trade Association, “Cotton is considered the worldΆs ΅dirtiestΆ crop due to its heavy use of insecticides, the most hazardous pesticide to human and animal health.
Cotton covers 2.5% of the worldΆs cultivated land yet uses 16% of the worldΆs insecticides, more than any other single major crop”. The pesticides used for cotton are frequently sprayed aerially, often leading to acute pesticide poisoning. One defoliant Tribufos, which is similar to Agent Orange, can have serious side effects of human health and wildlife. According to the World Health Organization there are millions of pesticide poisonings each year and thousands of unintentional deaths in developed and developing countries.
When soil becomes degraded, not only do fertilizers need to be added in order for plants to grow, but it becomes devoid of all organic matter or a complex ecosystem. The lack of organic matter makes it difficult for water to be absorbed into the soil. This means that these plots of land have extensive run off of soil and chemicals, which ends up in the rivers and fresh water sources. This leads to nitrogen contaminated lakes, rivers, and oceans which causes death of fish and other aquatic species. When drinking water becomes contaminated it can cause health complications in humans as severe as causing death in babies.
Why does this matter to you? Perhaps you donΆt live near a farming community, you will never be exposed to downwind crop spraying, and you donΆt live near a contaminated drinking source. Pesticides are scary for all of us because they can be stable in the environment, which means that they are not breaking down over time. They can be found in our water, our food, and our air, and as a result can be found in every human on the planet.
In a study [http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/ChemTresMain(screen).pdf] by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 1,342 people were tested for 23 different pesticides. A startling average of 13 pesticides were found in each person. Furthermore, at least 3 of the 23 pesticides in the study were found in 100% of the 1,342 people tested. This shows that the overall use of pesticides, not just direct exposure, can have long term and escalating problems within the food chain and environment.
Why isnΆt all cotton grown organically? The cheap and easy way to grow cotton is to use chemicals throughout the entire process. It is much harder and much more expensive to grow organic cotton. Due to the extra work and cost, organic cotton comes at a much higher premium than conventional cotton. When we choose to buy organic cotton, we are supporting organic farmers.
As the demand for organic cotton increases, more and more farmers will turn to organic methods, which will have a positive impact on our earth by saving ecosystems, soil fertility, and our health.
Corinna Cincotta is passionate about keeping toxic chemicals out of the home and environment. She founded The Natural Sleep Store in 2005 after pursuing ways to keep dangerous chemicals out of her house, especially the bedroom. The Natural Sleep Store offers organic mattresses and bedding that are chemical free and made from sustainable materials like organic cotton. Visit The Natural Sleep Store[http://thenaturalsleepstore.com] for more information about organic bedroom products.
Samantha LePicier has a background in Environmental Science and a passion for the great outdoors. Seeking an all natural and more active daily routine she moved to Denver, CO to achieve such a lifestyle. Samantha is now a team member at The Natural Sleep Store and enjoys helping other people make more sustainably responsible choices.
