What is Organic Cotton?। Tex wahid
Organic cotton is a sustainable option as it is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs.
It helps reduce chemical pollution, safeguard farmer's health, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
Choosing a T-shirt made from organic cotton lowers its environmental impact compared to conventional cotton.
Approximately 222,000 farmers across 19 countries cultivate organic cotton, with India (51%), China (17%), and Kyrgyzstan (10%) being the major producers.
Despite its benefits, organic cotton only accounts for 1% of global cotton production.
Certifications like GOTS, Organic Content Standard (OCS), and GOPCA confirm the use of GMO-free seeds for organic cotton cultivation.
Organic cotton naturally possesses color without the need for chemicals or dyes.
It is ideal for sensitive skin, as it lacks chemical toxins. GOTS-certified cotton undergoes laboratory tests to ensure no chemical toxins are present in finished products.
Growing 1 kg of organic cotton requires 7,000 liters of water, significantly less than the 29,000 liters needed for non-organic cotton.
The annual production of organic cotton is around 249,153 tons, which accounts for only about 1% of total cotton production worldwide.
Did you know that producing the cotton for just one t-shirt consumes 2,700 liters of water? In comparison, organic cotton only requires 243 liters for the same.
Organic cotton emits 46% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional cotton due to avoiding intensive farming practices and nitrous oxide-releasing fertilizers.
Oxford-based brand Y.O.U Underwear exemplifies water-saving and sustainability efforts. By using organic cotton, they saved 414,946 liters of water last year, equivalent to the average water consumption of a UK resident for 7 years and 6 months.