Organic cotton plays an important role in slowing the impacts of climate change.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the negative effects of conventionally grown cotton on health, as well as the environmental impacts of traditional cotton farming practices. (Lesser known are the negative effects of manufacturing fibers like bamboo.) In addition to being better for our wellbeing– especially for babies, who have sensitive skin that is vulnerable to toxins– growing organic cotton is also helping to enhance climate resilience.
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which can leach into the soil and water sources, disrupting ecosystems and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. By avoiding these chemicals, organic cotton farming helps to protect the soil and water quality, which also promotes biodiversity.
Growing organic cotton uses sustainable farming practices that build healthier soils and increases their ability to sequester carbon. Healthy soils play an important role in mitigating climate change because they can absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Because organic cotton farming tends to use less energy and water, and produces less waste and pollution, it also has a lower carbon footprint than conventional cotton.
In fact, a life cycle analysis for the production of cotton t-shirts found that using organic cotton cultivation and renewable energy sources instead of the traditional techniques decreased global warming potential by 70%.
Choosing organic promotes thriving communities. By purchasing organic products, we encourage more farmers to grow organic crops and help to preserve our planet for current and future generations.