Going Green: choosing organic cotton clothing
Going Green: choosing organic cotton clothing
Many people are beginning to think about buying organically grown food, but may not think about what their clothing is made out of or where it comes from. However, the types of clothing and other textiles you chose to purchase can have as much if not more impact on the environment and the health of the workers who produce these products.
Conventional Cotton
Conventionally grown cotton is one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pesticides in an attempt to prevent damage by insects. The use of pesticides has a huge impact on the environment. Pesticide residues are carried away from cotton fields by storm water runoff, which can lead to contamination of rivers and streams. It has been estimated that the cotton industry uses 53 million pounds of chemicals each year in an effort to control insect damage to plants.
Genetically Modified Cotton
Genetically modified cotton plants, which have been designed to be resistant to pests, have been developed in order to lessen the use of pesticides. However, most of the GMO cotton contains a gene called Bacillus thuringienisis (Bt). This gene kills the caterpillars that feed on cotton plants. While the use of genetically modified cotton may be solving some of the pest control issues for some farmers, we have no idea what the long term repercussions will be. Other plant and animal populations may suffer as a result of the loss of the caterpillars that are killed by the genetically modified cotton plants.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is more expensive and labor intensive to grow than conventional cotton. However, farmers receive a substantially larger amount of money for their organic cotton, which makes up for the difference. Organic cotton farmers typically use ladybugs and other types of natural insect enemies to control pests. Sometimes the pests are handpicked from the plants. This process does require more labor. However, organic cotton farmers do not have to pay for GMO seeds, or expensive chemicals, while receiving a higher dollar value for their crop.
Buying Organic Cotton
Organic cotton has been difficult to find in the past because it makes up less than 1% of the entire cotton industry. However, consumer demand for organic products is increasing. As a result many large retailers are incorporating organic cotton into their products. For example, Levi Strauss has launched its line called “Levi eco”, which includes the use of 100% organic cotton. Other companies such as Timberland, Nike, and Patagonia are beginning to use organic cotton in their various clothing lines as well.
The use of organic cotton not only helps to reduce the amount of pesticides being used, it also protects workers from being exposed to dangerous chemicals. Studies have shown that it is not only the farm workers who are exposed to the pesticides being used on the farms where they work. They carry the pesticides home on their clothing and bodies, which results in their families and homes being exposed to these chemicals as well.In addition to this, organic cotton is more likely to have been produced with the use of “fair trade” labor. This means that the employees who made the organic cotton products were paid a living wage for their work and were able to work under safe and humane conditions.
When purchasing clothing, bedding, towels, and other textile products made from cotton, look for organic cotton. When you purchase organic cotton, you are not only helping to protect the earth and its workers, you are helping to support the companies who are making eco-friendly decisions. By purchasing environmentally friendly clothing and textiles, you are voting with your dollar to let retailers know that you want these types of products to become more available. Your mindful purchases can go a long way toward protecting our earth and its inhabitants.
Written by: Angela Coate-Hermes
Copyright 2009 RawPeople.com All rights reserved
These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. The preceding information and/or products are for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. Please consult your doctor before making any changes or before starting ANY exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using this information or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.
References
Gow McDila, Diane. The Everything Green Living Book. Avon, MA: F+W Publications Company, 2007.
| Comments |
|