Organic Cotton VS Non-Organic Cotton

Organic vs. Conventional (Non Organic) Cotton

What is the difference between Organic and Non-Organic cotton?
The difference between organic and non-organic grown cotton is mainly in the farming methods used. Below comparison chart shows us the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton farming form seed preparation to harvesting Part. SEED PREPARATION Conventional Typically treats seeds with with Organic fungicides or insecticides Uses untreated seeds Uses GMO seeds for approximately Never uses GMO (genetically 70% of US grown cotton modified organism) seeds SOIL WATER Conventional Apply synthetic fertilizers Requires Organic intensive Builds strong soil through crop rotation irrigation Retains water efficiently WEED CONTROL Conventional Applies highly toxic herbicides Organic to kill weeds Physical removal instead of chemical methods PEST CONTROL Conventional Uses highly toxic pesticides Uses Insecticides Organic accounting Uses beneficial insects, biological and cultural for approximatel practices to control pests y 25% of world Maintains a balance between pests and their natural consumption predators through healthy soil HARVESTING Conventional Defoliates with Organic toxic chemicals Relies mostly on the seasonal freeze for defoliation

Shocking Facts about Conventional (Non Organic) Cotton

Worldwide, conventional cotton farming

Uses 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers (formaldehyde, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, parabens, chemical dyes etc) per year Uses 25% of the worlds insecticides Uses only about 3% of the farmland but consumes approximately 25 percent of thechemical pesticides and fertilizers (84 million pounds of chemical pesticides per year) No pesticides, hazardous chemicals (believed to cause up to a million cases of poisoning a year and 20,000 deaths) No formaldehyde (used as a finish): According to a National Cancer Institute (NCI)study, there is a link between formaldehyde exposure and cancer of the nasopharynx (the uppermost part of the throat) No nickel which can cause skin rashes.

Organic cotton saves lives

USDA Organic Standards

Four principal labels for cotton fiber products are: 1. 100% Organic Cotton. This must contain 100% organically produced cotton. 2. Organic Cotton. This must contain 95% organically produced cotton. 3. Made With Organic Cotton. This must contain at least 70% organically produced cotton. 4. Made With __% Organic Cotton. This must contain the percentage of cotton advertised.

Global Organic Standards

International Working Groups Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard is composed of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Soil Association (UK), International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) (Germany), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association. Companies, manufacturers, and producers wishing to be licensed must comply with all compulsory criteria for their products to be labelled Global Organic Textile Standard. Organic Exchange, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton (www.organicexchange.com). Organic Exchange has developed two standards: OE 100 and OE Blended Standards. Companies wishing their products certified to these standards, should contact one of the Organic Exchange licensed certifiers.