The concept of organic cotton may seem paradoxical at first glance. Cotton is a plant, after all. It is organic right from the get-go.
The main issue around this type of raw material revolves around the methods used during its cultivation. In addition to being one of the most widely practiced types of agriculture in the world, conventional cotton cultivation is also heavily dependent on the intensive use of specific chemicals and pesticides.
In the areas and the lands where it is cultivated, the impact on the quality of water, air, soil, and even the health of farmers is immense. Pesticides can intrude into the natural course of rivers and destroy the environment that surrounds them, fauna and flora included.
The cultivation of organic cotton aims to put an end to this endless cycle, in which pesticides are used to control pests which, in turn, gain resistance to their effects, which implies the development of new pesticides.
And so on and on and on. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that are beneficial not only to themselves but to the environment as well. This is a noble balance between human consumption and Earth’s sustainability.
This is the main reason why more and more companies are offering their customers environmentally responsible options, such as the circular knitted fabrics made from organic cotton found at ITJV.
Organic cotton is thus a method of growing cotton. To make sure it is organically and sustainably grown, look for companies that are certified for this purpose by recognized and independent organizations.
Organic cotton fiber is a type of natural fiber cultivated by using methods and materials that seek to have the least possible impact on the environment.
During the process, no types of pesticides or toxic fertilizers are used, other than those that are certified by independent and competent organizations for the purpose. This allows for production systems such as organic cotton to maintain and restore the fertility of the soil itself whilst promoting biodiverse agriculture.
The use of genetically modified seeds for organic cotton production is also prohibited. The benefits of organic cotton cultivation are clear, namely with regards to sustainability.
In any type of agriculture, the large amount of chemicals used for its cultivation has devastating effects not only on the soils, but also on the farmers themselves, their families, and their communities.
Organic cotton is therefore beneficial on almost all fronts. Banning the use of chemicals or pesticides improves the health of farmers and helps keep the quality of air, water, and the land around the soils at sustainable levels.
At the same time, the soil gains greater resilience and can be cultivated much more often. Furthermore, the use of natural methods for growing organic cotton also allows for the land that is used to capture carbon and help combat climate change. And because they are healthy, the soils used can also play a key role in the event of floods, helping to absorb large amounts of water.
It is also very common for farmers to cultivate the soil with other different types of food, close to where they grow organic cotton for commercial purposes.
As the soil is now obviously healthier, the food grown there will also be so and can be safely used and ingested. In this way, farmers can provide their families and communities with more quality food and, in some cases, create another form of income.
Organic cotton works in line with the cycles of nature, helping to maintain a natural balance between fauna and flora.
However, as it is not genetically modified nor does it use pesticides, it is normal for organic cotton to be produced in much smaller quantities than the more conventional one.
For this reason, some studies indicate that, in the long term, the amount of water needed per square meter for the cultivation of organic cotton is greater than that needed for its conventional cultivation.
The great demand for organic cotton comes from producers or brands with social and environmental responsibilities or concerns, also manifested by a growing share of consumers.
At ITJV, we supply circular knitted fabrics made from natural fibers such as organic cotton fibers, available only through catalogue request and sample validation.
This text was written and published in 2021
