When we get dressed in the morning, there is a 75% probability that at least one of the clothes we wear contains some type of cotton. This material, with its often dark history, has become an integral part of modern life. However, many of us know very little about the origin of the material; how it is grown, who grows it, and what impact it has on surrounding communities. Knowing the difference between standard and organic cotton is an essential tool for the ethical and conscientious consumer in 2021.

This is how most cotton is still grown today. Only about 0.93% of cotton is grown organically; That means no harmful chemicals or pollutants are used. That's the difference on the surface, but there is actually so much more.

Because it is important?

Cotton growers spend days spraying crops with pesticide containers on their backs.

Exposure to harmful chemicals resulting from this practice has been shown to lead to several serious health complications, including cancer, respiratory diseases, chronic kidney disease, and neurological disorders. Around 300 million people work in the cotton industry. There are 300 million people who risk their health every day to grow cotton for our clothes manufacturers.

In addition to the damage that conventional cotton inflicts on farmers themselves, the surrounding communities are also feeling the burden of this industry. As resources are diverted to cotton farms, locals often give up basic necessities like clean water. A 2014 report showed that in 2013 the water consumption of India's cotton exports could have supplied 85% of the country's 124 billion people (100 million of whom do not have access to clean water) with 100 liters of water per day for a year.

The human cost of organic cotton is much lower. By not using pesticides or fertilizers, organic cotton clothing wholesale get a much safer working environment. Furthermore, organic cotton requires much less water (91% less in fact) and also offers a much more stable income due to the demand for greater plant diversity in ecological systems.

Agricultural practices account for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If deforestation of agricultural land is taken into account, this value doubles to around 30%. If we want to tackle climate change, we must ensure that we make decisions that support effective and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions.

The Ecological Balance of Cotton, published by the Textiles Exchange, showed that, compared to convective cotton, organic cotton:

• Reduction of blue water consumption by 91%.

• Reduction of the primary energy requirement by 62%.

• Resulted in 70% less potential for acidification (a process in which acid gases are released into the air).

• Resulted in a 26% reduction in the potential for eutrophication (eutrophication is a consequence of soil erosion caused by poor soil management practices).

Overall, organic cotton has been estimated to reduce cotton's global warming potential by 46%. Switching to organic cotton is a small change with a BIG impact.

Furthermore, inorganic cotton can also have a direct impact on the people who consume it. Pesticide residues on clothing are known to cause multiple allergies and skin irritations. Some people with skin problems report dramatic improvements in their condition once they switch to body tissues. Babies and young children are particularly prone to this irritation.

Cotton is not considered a "dirty crop" in vain. Convection cotton puts farmers and their communities at risk, and threatens the future of our little ones by polluting their planet and potentially irritating their skin. Choosing organic cotton manufacturers is an easy change, but potentially a very important one.