Organic cotton is a solution

Organic fair trade cotton is free of chemical pesticides and is produced with respect for the workers' rights and safety. Global production is still small but organic cotton is now grown in 18 countries around the globe.

Environmental benefits of organically grown cotton

Organic cotton production helps preserve natural habitats and keeps water supplies free from toxic chemicals. Organic agriculture also has a lower carbon footprint because of the absence of petroleum-based fertilizers and higher CO2 absorption.

If you don’t go for organic cotton

More chemicals are used for growing cotton than for any other crop. On average, nearly 1 kilo of pesticides is used per hectare cotton field. These chemicals harm the people working in the fields and contaminates surrounding ecosystems.

Still a long way to go to eliminate cotton-chemicals

Worldwide, only 17 countries have imposed bans on any of the top 10 hazardous pesticides used in cotton production. And only 2 of these are major cotton producing countries.

Non-organic cotton production requires massive amounts of water

It takes around 10 tons of water to produce 1 kilo of non-organic cotton. Organic cotton has 91% lower water consumption.

Organic cotton has a huge potential

At one Egyptian farm project, organic cultivation has boosted cotton yields by more than 30 percent, and the fiber is processed into textiles without any synthetic chemicals. In Uganda, organic cotton farms are more productive than the conventional farms.

Hemp is another alternative

Hemp has been used to make clothes for 12,000 years and is more robust than cotton so it does not need large volumes of chemicals. You can get three times more hemp fibre from the same area compared to cotton. Hemp also requires less water and energy than any other fibre - and it’s cheaper than cotton.