| Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without | | | | than ever. |
| pesticides from plants which are not genetically | | | | Demand for organically grown cotton has |
| modified. | | | | increased continually in recent years. Excluding |
| Testing for harmful substances is a must. | | | | pesticides,genetically-altered seed,and sustainable |
| The trend for consumers to prefer organic and | | | | method of crop-rotation are,however,not without |
| fair trade products are the important aspects to | | | | cost. Organic cotton is almost twice as expensive |
| be considered while designing products made of | | | | as conventionally grown fibres. As in the past,the |
| Organic Cotton. | | | | major portion of the annual harvest of some |
| Cotton is grown in more than 100 countries and | | | | 60,000 tonnes is grown in selected projects |
| some 350 million people are employed in this | | | | located primarily in India and Turkey. |
| industry world-wide. | | | | Compared to conventionally grown cotton, which |
| As of 2007, 265,517 bales of organic cotton were | | | | has annual harvest of 25 million tonnes, the |
| produced in 24 countries and world-wide | | | | amount of organically grown cotton produced |
| production was growing at a rate of more than | | | | each year barely accounts for a shadow on the |
| 50% per year. | | | | scale. Even in the long-term, this is not expected |
| Though organic cotton has less environmental | | | | to change, because for producers, the cost of |
| impact than conventional cotton, it costs more to | | | | switching to organic production and the residual |
| produce. Side-effects of conventional production | | | | risks of maintaining sustainablity criteria are too |
| that are avoided in organic growing methods | | | | high. |
| include: | | | | A further positive development is beeing driven |
| High levels of agrochemicals are used in the | | | | by the entry of traders coming onto the scene |
| production of non-organic, conventional cotton. | | | | who ensure organic farmers will retain markets |
| Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit | | | | by commiting themselves to use continually |
| area than any other crop and accounts in total for | | | | organic cotton for processing into specially labelled |
| 16% of the world’s pesticides. | | | | shirts and jeans. Cotton that has been raised |
| The chemicals used in the processing of cotton | | | | organically does not differ chemically from its |
| pollute the air and surface waters. | | | | conventionally grown counterpart. As a result, |
| Residual chemicals may irritate consumers’ | | | | evidence that cotton has been organically grown, |
| skin. | | | | processed,and worked into a final product in a |
| Naturally colored cotton has also been grown | | | | sustainable way can only be documented |
| successfully with organic methods. | | | | conclusively by certificates issued by |
| | | | independent,third parties. |
| Despite price, demand for organic cotton is higher | | | | |