What Is Organic Cotton? How Is It Different From Traditional Cotton?

All cotton originates as a field crop whose fluffy fibers protect the seeds. These fibers are extracted, spun into threads, and woven into lightweight, breathable materials. While non-organic cotton is a highly unsustainable crop, the story completely differs from organic cotton.

Growing organic cotton starts with cultivating healthy soil. By using techniques such as crop rotation, green maturing, and compounding, organic farms can create healthy and resilient crops with nutrient-rich soil. In addition, the cultivation of organic cotton eliminates harmful pesticides and artificial fertilizers throughout the agricultural process. This practice not only benefits the health of the soil and plants but also helps promote biodiversity in the cotton field ecosystem. Since organic agriculture uses natural pesticides that do not cause harm to insects, the ecosystem of organic cotton is healthier and more prosperous.

Here are five reasons why organic cotton is a sustainable choice:

1. Help combat climate change:
By using natural methods rather than non-fossil fuel-based fertilizers, organic cotton farmers help build healthy soils that store carbon. Every acre of organic cotton can sequester 1.5 tons of carbon per year.

2. Protect and save water:
Organic farming maintains soil health, allowing it to act like a sponge, absorbing water during floods and retaining moisture during droughts. Since organic farming does not use harmful pesticides or fertilizers, these chemicals do not flow into nearby rivers and lakes. In addition, organic cotton uses 88% less water than conventional cotton.

3. Help farmers:
To maintain the balance of the farm ecosystem, organic farmers always grow various crops on their land. This helps maintain soil health and encourages wildlife. These diverse crop varieties help farmers and their communities achieve a more stable food supply while diversifying their sources of income. Organic cotton farmers earn 30-40% more than conventional cotton farmers.

4. Give control to farmers, not GMO companies:
Organic farming bans using genetically modified (GM) seeds, making farmers less dependent on GM companies. Instead, they save seeds and work with the environment in a long-term, environmentally friendly way.

5. Harmful synthetic pesticides are eliminated:
Organic farmers use natural methods such as crop rotation to prevent pests and diseases without using harmful synthetic pesticides.