Organic cotton clothing (interesting interview). Organic Cotton - what kind of miracle cotton? Organic cotton fabric

One of the most popular fibers for textile production is cotton. But not all types are the same. Thus, organic cotton differs from the conventional production method, which is safe for the environment. Things from this material - organic cotton - are recommended for newborns, they are so high quality and environmentally friendly. How does the production of conventional cotton harm nature, how is organic fiber grown? The features of this fabric are detailed below.

How conventional cotton is produced

In short, the peculiarity of organic cotton is that it is produced absolutely without harm to the environment. Unlike organic cotton, conventional cotton is grown using a large number of insecticides and other chemicals. This plant is processed many times more than other agricultural crops. So, to grow the required volume of cotton fiber, the following treatments are required:

• pesticides - means for pest control;
• insecticides - to kill insects;
• herbicides - weed control.

All these "cides" cause irreparable damage to nature: they pollute the soil, air and groundwater. 10% of all pesticides and 25% of insecticides used in the global textile industry come from cotton plantations. Producers force the land to work “for wear and tear”. In the last 80 years alone, cotton fiber has been received 30 times more, while the total area of ​​cultivation has not changed. About 55% of the seeds are genetically modified, resistant to herbicides.

Pesticides are dangerous to humans. Fatal poisonings number in the thousands. Both animals and insects suffer from these substances. Mutations of some species are noted, and a more aggressive chemical poison is required for adapted living organisms. In addition to "cides", chemical fertilizers, dyes containing heavy metals, bleaches and other harmful substances are used in the production of cotton fabric.

Features of organic fiber

Cotton marked organic grown on farm plantations located in ecologically clean regions. The total amount of eco-cotton is just under 1% of the total production, but its share is constantly increasing. To stimulate growth, only organic fertilizers are used - manure and compost. Seeds are strictly natural. To repel pests, only natural natural remedies are taken: soap, garlic, pepper and other spices.

When growing bio-cotton, crop rotation is observed. If different crops grow on one piece of land, then the soil is regenerated in a natural way. In the production of ordinary cotton, the same site is constantly used, which leads to the depletion of humus, i.e. fertile layer. The consequence is an increase in chemical fertilizers.

Another difference with organic cotton is that it is harvested by hand. Cotton bolls ripen unevenly. The person determines which fibers can be harvested and which need to be given a little more time. Manual assembly guarantees the purity of the fiber, there will be no admixture of leaves and other parts of the plant. In comparison, chemicals are once again used to harvest ordinary cotton fibre. They contribute to the fall of the boxes, which simplifies the collection procedure.

In the production of eco-cotton, chlorine-containing bleaches, aggressive dyes with sulfur and heavy metals are not used.

Advice
When buying an organic product, pay attention to its color. Clothing made from organic fibers retains their natural color, of which there are only three: ivory, light green and light pink. Sometimes textiles are dyed, but only with natural dyes.

Properties, care

The first thing to note is the hypoallergenicity of the material. That is why it is recommended for the smallest children and people with sensitive skin. The fabric has a porous structure that allows the skin to breathe. Other important characteristics of eco-cotton:

• strength;
• sweat resistance;
• wear resistance;
• gentle and soft, pleasant to the body.

The clothing label must include a certificate issued by an independent commission. The main certification is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). labeled "organic" is made from 95% organic cotton, the label "made with organic" indicates 70% biofiber content.

Caring for organic cotton is similar to caring for delicate woolen garments. The main disadvantage of organic matter is, since it is not treated with chemicals for stability. Products are washed by hand or on a delicate mode at a temperature of 30-40 degrees. Spin - at minimum speed. After the first wash, an organic cotton product shrinks by 5%, so things are sewn with a small margin. Always follow the instructions on the label, and then the product will last as long as possible.

Buying organic cotton, you care not only about yourself, but also about the state of the environment. Even though buying one organic cotton item will cost much more, you will not worry about the health of the child, and you will also support the growing eco-product industry.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Taking care of nature, people began to grow organic cotton - what is it? These are fibers made without the use of chemicals. They are grown using technologies that do not harm nature and humans. There are very few organic cotton fields, but their number is rapidly increasing.

eco cotton

What is the difference between eco cotton and simple cotton in terms of growing method:

• When growing, chemical fertilizers are not used. In the fields there is a strict control with certain criteria. The number of such biological farms is only 0.1% of the total cotton fields. To get rid of pests, natural aromatic products are used: a composition of soap, chili and garlic. Ecologically clean areas are suitable for planting seeds.
• Crop rotation is observed - several types of plants are grown on one piece of land. This contributes to the natural renewal of the soil. Natural fertilizers are used - manure, compost. This contributes to the preservation of the quality of the earth and saturates the plant with all the nutrients. The fibers do not accumulate pesticides, insecticides, heavy and harmful metals.

• Weed weeds and loosen the soil by hand. It is also collected by human efforts. So you can track the ripe boxes, leaving the rest to ripen. Such cotton is cleaner, there are no pieces of leaves in it.
• Genetically modified seeds are not used. Solar panels and water-saving irrigation methods are used.

Only the observance of all these conditions makes it possible to indicate organic cotton on the tag. If any part of the process has been violated, the label will read fair trade. It confirms the partial quality of the material.

Description and properties

Biocotton, what is it - extra costs or benefits for humans and nature? Organic cotton is suitable for people with delicate skin prone to allergies and children. Ordinary cotton sometimes causes allergic reactions. When processing a canvas made of organic fibers, dangerous dyes and harmful chlorine-based bleaches are not used.

Natural dyes are used to dye the fabric. Paint only in light colors. Patterns and drawings are printed from the outside. Clothes for newborns are not dyed, their natural color is green or brown. Also, this cotton comes in light pink or ivory.

The fabric is stronger than regular cotton. It will last longer and keep the original appearance. Withstands up to 100 washes without changes and only after that begins to collapse. Ordinary cotton loses its structure after 5 washes. Breathability is 10% better. The material is softer and more delicate, more pleasant to the body.

Externally, bio cotton does not differ from ordinary. The product must have a certificate confirming its environmental friendliness.

Organic cotton is mainly produced in Turkey, India and China. There are fields in South America (Paraguay and Peru). West Africa (Senegal and Mali) also supply some of the material. There are farms in Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand.

What is sewn from bio cotton

It is applied to a variety of clothes for small children:

• sliders, undershirts, diapers;
• T-shirts, dresses, pants, shirts;
• underwear - panties, T-shirts.

Adult clothing:

Such products are quite expensive. But there is no doubt about the quality and safety for humans and the environment. The demand for organic materials is growing every year.

People are more concerned about the environment and their own health. When buying clothes, there are more and more questions about the quality and production of fabric. And manufacturers have to take appropriate measures.

Caring for organic textiles

Organic cotton clothing is machine washable only if labeled so. It indicates the water temperature, hand or machine wash, whether it can be ironed, how to dry and store. They take care of it in much the same way as for woolen products:

Regenerated cotton yarn is made from recycled materials. Cotton products are shredded and the fibers are combined with polyester without combing. The standard ratio is 70% cotton and 30% polyester.

Recycled cotton is used to make the following products:

• yarn and knitted things;
• household and home textiles - mops, ropes, carpets, blankets, curtains;
• gloves, socks, jeans.

Due to the addition of polyester, the yarn becomes stronger and more elastic.

Organic cotton is a completely safe product for humans and the environment. Buying things from eco-cotton for themselves and their children, a person makes a contribution to the conservation of nature and preserves the health of their loved ones.

Cotton is the most famous and loved textile fiber of plant origin and covers about 40% of the world's need for natural fibers. Approximately 20 million tons of cotton are harvested annually to meet the enormous demand for it on all continents.

Do you know that there is a difference between cotton and cotton? When our grandmothers and great-grandmothers advise us to dress the baby “exclusively in cotton diapers”, they, unfortunately, do not know how many chemicals are now “poured” into modern cotton at all stages of its production. Starting from the 60s and 70s, in pursuit of increasing yields, more and more industries began to use a huge amount of chemicals and genetically modified cotton. "Pure" cotton, which was grown by all previous generations, grown in a "natural" way, began to be produced again quite recently and is now called ORGANIC COTTON to distinguish it from ordinary, and to reflect the way it is produced - WITHOUT CHEMICALS.

Let's find out in more detail: what is the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton and how the choice between them can affect us personally?

A bit of history. The cotton bush belongs to the mallow family. Its large yellow inflorescences look like hibiscus flowers. Seed fibers are in large capsules - boxes. Ripe bolls burst and release white seeds covered with hair-fibers.

In India and China cotton has been known for 5000 years, in Central America for about 8000 years. Varieties of colored cotton in various natural tones were known in Peru. Now, in addition to the usual cream, only varieties with green and brown fibers have been preserved. Cotton has been known in Europe since the Middle Ages. But until the 19th century, it was not used as a textile fiber, because. clothes were made from linen, wool, hemp and coarse calico. In England, cotton fabrics have been in use since the late 17th century. Raw materials were supplied from the British colonies in the southern United States.

The entire process of processing raw cotton, from spinning, twisting and up to the production of the fabric itself, was carried out exclusively by hand. At the end of the 18th century, new machines were invented to facilitate the processing of raw materials. With their help, fibers were separated from seeds, in addition, spinning machines and mechanical looms. The industrial revolution began, which, unfortunately, pushed thousands of already impoverished workers into extreme poverty. In the 19th century, cotton became increasingly popular throughout the world.

But cotton was not left without competitors. Over the past 20-30 years, polyester and other chemical fibers have been increasingly gaining market share and have already pushed cotton into second place.

And finally, a new concept has recently appeared on the market - "organic (bio-) cotton", implying that this cotton differs from ordinary cotton in its cultivation and production methods.

So we want to know is there a real difference between "cotton" and "organic (bio) cotton".

Regular cotton: Machine harvesting, which is used today on large plantations, negatively affects the quality of raw materials. This method of picking uses chemical defoliants to make the cotton heads fall from the branches, whether they are ripe or not. Those. the combine harvests all the seeds. In addition, particles of leaves and bolls get into the raw material. Cotton and its seeds are poisonous. Thus, the plant is naturally protected from pests. However, cotton is often attacked by various pests. Damage to crops can be up to 35%. This forces producers to use more and more insecticides, which in turn leads to greater resistance of pests and an increase in the area of ​​​​infestation. Growing as a monoculture, without an annual change of plants, contributes to an increase in the number of pests and the area affected. Crop rotation naturally helps control pests and reduce losses.

In addition, ordinary cotton consumes a huge amount of water. According to WWF, it takes 7,000 to 29,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton! For example, the intensive exploitation of land for growing cotton was the main reason for the disappearance of the Aral Sea.

Organic cotton: Traditional methods are used in its cultivation. Those. Cotton is harvested by hand in order to select only fully ripened seeds. After the harvest, the fibers are separated from the seeds and processed separately, which ultimately leads to an improvement in the quality of the fabric from this cotton. Since organic cotton is the work of small farms and rural households, its cultivation also uses traditional, ancient methods of watering and irrigation (for example, drip method) using much less water than modern methods cotton production. Water is supplied directly to the root of the plant, which reduces the loss of water as a result of its evaporation.

Regular cotton: Cotton is by far the most important textile fiber of plant origin. About 200 million people in 70 countries around the world are engaged in its cultivation and processing. So cotton is one of them. critical factors the economy as a whole. However, the cultivation of cotton on an industrial scale also has its dark sides. The methods used now harm people, animals and plants, both in the process of cultivation and through textiles made from cotton. The only alternative is the cultivation of this crop in accordance with the norms of environmental safety and "Fair Trade".

While the total area of ​​agricultural land remained at the level of 1930, the return from these lands increased 30 times. To increase yields and control pests, not only fertilizers will be used, but also insecticides in large quantities. Approximately 10% of all pesticides used in the world fall on the sown area occupied by cotton. Some of these toxic substances were used during the Vietnam War. Due to widespread irrigation, these substances enter the groundwater and carry the risk of contaminating local drinking water supplies and soils, and eventually enter the global Ocean.

Organic cotton: The production of organic cotton does not use chemical synthesis products, but natural pest control products such as pheromone traps, various plants, etc. Weeds are removed manually. To enrich the soil, only natural organic fertilizers are used (from useful plants, from cow urine, from pheromones), as well as methods of planting alternation.

Regular cotton: Cultivation of cotton as a monoculture on large areas leads to a reduction in crops of other plants. Its cultivation for several years on the same sites causes an increase in the number of pests and pesticides used. As a rule, agricultural workers are not protected from the harmful effects of chemicals. The consequence of such handling of pesticides is illness, sometimes with a fatal outcome. According to the World Health Organization, about 3 million people become victims of the use of pesticides every year in the world, 20,000 of them die.

Organic cotton: Using natural insect control products, organic Agriculture prevents and eliminates these horrendous Negative consequences. Handling organic cotton is completely safe for both cotton pickers and workers at the cotton processing studio, as well as for residents of the surrounding area.

Regular cotton: The industrial extensive method of growing cotton causes everything more problems. The use of fertilizers, insecticides and defoliants leads to environmental and social disaster. The day is not far off when the areas currently occupied by cotton will not be able to bring significant harvests. Growing other crops on them is an incredibly difficult task, because soils have been damaged at the microbiological level. The consequence may be the desolation of the currently cultivated areas, their transformation into steppe zones, which means for the population living in poverty and hunger. In addition, traces of the chemicals used are found in textiles. Approximately 10% of these remain in the tissue and can lead to skin diseases and allergic reactions.

Organic cotton: That it is possible to do things differently is proven by numerous small and large organic cotton projects. Their prerequisite is a change of priorities: they are not profit, but people and the environment. Constant and consistent adherence to certain rules in cultivation and methods that meet the standards of "Fair Trade" are no less important components of success. Cultivation of cotton with some crops such as peanuts, for example, allows the soil to be enriched with nitrogen and other nutrients. Modern efficient irrigation, in which moisture does not evaporate, but penetrates into the soil, guarantees the maintenance of the groundwater level. Naturally, there can be no question of the cultivation of genetically modified plants. Organic fertilizers improve soil quality, crop rotation prevents the uncontrolled reproduction of pests. The use of defoliants is prohibited, the crop is harvested only by hand, which has a positive effect on the quality of cotton. Organic cultivation entails a decrease in the amount of raw materials harvested, but the cotton becomes better. That is why buyers of such raw materials pay about 20% of the premium to organic cotton producers, which is in line with Fair Trade rules. Such a bonus compensates the farmers for the losses from the decrease in the harvest and allows them to continue to grow high-quality cotton, covering their large labor costs.

Summing up, the production of ordinary cotton is an extremely harmful production that harms the health of people throughout our planet and the ecological situation on it.

Organic cotton is an attempt to somehow reduce this negative impact, restore our eco-system so that our children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.

And finally, directly regarding clothes made from organic cotton: due to the best quality of raw materials and the absence of pesticides, heavy metals and chlorine in it, organic cotton is softer than ordinary cotton, it “breathes” better and does not cause allergic reactions.

How to distinguish?

First of all, the lack of chemical fertilizers in the fields. Organic cotton is grown in a controlled biological farm without the use of chemicals- in accordance with strict environmental criteria. The share of cotton from controlled organic farming is less than 0.1% of the world's total.

Approximately 20% of all pesticides and 22% of all insecticides in the world are sprayed onto cotton fields with conventional cotton. Moreover, the volume of pesticides and herbicides used is growing every year, as the number of insects resistant to them is increasing.

To facilitate machine cleaning, leaf fall agents are used. Many of the substances used in the industrial cultivation of cotton are recognized by the World Health Organization as highly hazardous (lindane, DDT).

It has not yet been proven that all these chemicals affect people who wear cotton, but according to Greenpeace, 28,000 people die every year from pesticide poisoning on cotton plantations worldwide.

When growing organic cotton, insecticides are used instead of insecticides to repel pests. only safe substances(aromatic bait - a mixture of garlic, chili and soap).

Cotton cultivation in crop rotation (i.e. with the cultivation of certain catch crops) and the use natural fertilizers(compost and manure) saves the earth and provides the plants with enough nutrients.

organic cotton assembled by hand and not machines. It is profitable and economically, because. cotton bolls do not ripen all at once and are harvested as they ripen. Handpicked cotton is different best quality and more purity it does not contain impurities of foliage.

Genetically modified (changed) seeds are not used.

Apply Energy Saving Technologies(solar panels). If all these conditions are met, then the label indicates: Organic Cotton.

In the event that at least one of the conditions is violated, the item receives another label: fair trade. This is something like a quality certificate, confirming the partial "ethics" of such a product.

It is not hard to guess that the production of organic cotton is much more expensive than conventional cotton, and accordingly the price of organic cotton clothing will be higher.

Where are they grown?

The main producers are India, China, Turkey. There are small plantations in Peru and Paraguay ( South America), in Mali and Senegal (West Africa), in Thailand, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

WHY ORGANIC COTTON?

Organic cotton guaranteed will not cause allergies, with inorganic cotton, there can be no such certainty.

Knitwear from bio-cotton soft and delicate to the touch, it is pleasant to wear it, especially when you do not feel remorse, because when it was created, harmful substances that kill people and our planet as a whole were not used.

Information taken from the site www. camelwool. en

Cotton is one of the most popular materials for making clothes. About 20 million tons of cotton are harvested annually in the world, which can cover about 40% of the world's demand for natural fibers. All the advantages of the materials are obvious: the fabrics are durable, wear-resistant, have strong heat-shielding characteristics due to the hollow structure of the fiber, and its porous structure guarantees good air exchange. In other words, the ideal material for a person. But not ideal for nature.

What is harmful to the production of conventional cotton

Excessive water intake

To produce ordinary cotton, a huge amount of water is required. According to the World Foundation wildlife WWF, the production of one kilogram of raw materials takes from 7,000 to 29,000 liters of water. Some experts believe that it was the exorbitant exploitation of land and water for growing cotton that was the main reason for the disappearance of the Aral Sea.

Use of harmful chemicals

During the production of cotton, a huge amount of various chemicals is released into the soil - pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, chemical dyes, bleaches and formaldehydes. Approximately 10% of all pesticides used in the world and about 25% of all insecticides are sown to cotton. The amount of pesticides and herbicides used is only growing every year, as the number of insects resistant to them is increasing. At the same time, chemicals in cotton fields - orthophosphates, trifluralin, toxaphene, methamidophos and many others - are highly toxic. The chemicals used in cotton processing pollute the soil, air and surface water.

genetically modified seeds

According to various sources, today 55% of the world's total cotton is grown using genetically modified seeds that are resistant to pests and herbicides. Plants created on the basis of such seeds contain Cry-toxins or Bt-toxins (species-specific protein toxins), which negatively affect some living organisms. Genetically modified crops are believed to reduce biodiversity.

Subsequent bleaching and dyeing

When processing standard cotton fiber, most industries use chlorine bleaches. As a result, toxic by-products are released that enter the environment. Also, in the case of dyeing fibers in conventional industries, technologies are used that have a damaging effect on the fibers themselves and the structure of the fabric, since the paints contain sulfur and heavy metals.

What is organic cotton and why is it better

The “100% Organic Cotton” label is increasingly seen on the products of many global brands: H&M, Walmart, C&A, Nike, Anvil, Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn, Patagonia, and others.

For example, in early 2014, Stella McCartney, known for her love of organic cotton, cemented her position as an eco pioneer in the high fashion industry with the launch of the adidas by Stella McCartney line. The collection for the sports brand included models made from eco-friendly materials - organic cotton and yarn from recycled materials.

The European company C&A is one of the largest buyers of organic cotton. In 2013, she sold over 100 million garments made from this material. Products based on 100% organic cotton in the C&A collection are labeled "Bio Cotton".

In 2008, Levi's launched the "Levi's Eco" collection of eco-friendly jeans: the fabric for the models was made exclusively from organic cotton.

According to a 2009 study by the Organic Exchange Farm and Fiber Report, organic cotton production has increased by 20% since 2007. Organic cotton is grown in 22 countries of the world: Turkey, Syria, Tanzania, China, the USA, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso are among the leaders in production. Truth, general production organic cotton in the world is still far from mass: only 0.76% of the total.

Organic cotton is grown on small farms in accordance with the principles of the so-called sustainable farming (sustainable farming). This means that toxic and persistent (non-degradable) synthetic pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers are not used in its cultivation.

In this way, soil and groundwater pollution can be prevented. So, only safe substances are used to repel insect pests, for example, garlic, chili peppers and soap, manual weeding is carried out to remove weeds, cotton is harvested by hand, and only organic fertilizers are used as fertilizers.

In order to prevent soil depletion due to one-sided use, crop rotation is used on organic cotton plantations whenever possible: in the first year, the fields are sown with cotton and peanuts (or chickpeas), in the second year with corn, vegetables and wheat.

This approach is called intercropping - a combination of different crops in one field. The corn crop helps restore soil fertility. After a while, it can be sown again with cotton, as enough nutrients will be accumulated in the ground.

Organic cotton is grown using conservative watering and irrigation methods such as drip irrigation. Thanks to "old" technologies, it is possible to save much more water than in conventional industries. In addition, water is supplied directly to the root of the plant - this significantly reduces its loss due to evaporation.

In addition, in the production of Organic Cotton it is impossible to use genetically modified cotton seeds, and the subsequent processing of the resulting yarn does not involve bleaching with chlorine: the fabric is dyed only with dyes based on natural ingredients.

How do you know if cotton is organic?

This is confirmed by certificates issued by independent commissions. These "insignia" guarantee that the material is produced without exposure to harmful chemicals and colored with safe dyes. Symbols about received certificates can usually be found on clothing labels.

The main transnational certification system for textile eco-products is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). The GOTS quality mark confirms that the use of harmful chemicals has been limited or completely eliminated in the production, and the norms for using water have not exceeded the established maximum.

Other requirements include the use of environmentally friendly raw materials (“Organic” mark - at least 95% organic raw materials in clothes, the inscription “made with organic” - at least 70%), bleaching without chlorine, a ban on the use of formaldehyde and other hazardous substances.

Other well-known certifications for organic clothing are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (tests samples for pH, formaldehyde, heavy metals, chlorine carriers and protective agents like pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol), Fair Trade Fair Trade, Organic Exchange.

Ekaterina Prosvirkina, Head of PR and Press at H&M Russia

H&M is deeply committed to environmental issues and reducing the harm from the production of the textile industry, guided by the Reduce principle. reuse. Recycle. Since 2010, the company has been at the top of the Textile Exchange's annual rankings for the use of organic cotton - in 2010, 2011 and 2013 it ranked first, in 2012 - second.

Over the past year, H&M has increased its use of organic cotton in its production by 29% compared to last year. All organic cotton used by H&M is independently certified.

One of the company's strategic goals is to switch to using exclusively organic cotton by 2020. Organic cotton products are easy to distinguish: all H&M clothing containing at least 50% certified organic cotton is marked with a special green Organic Cotton label.

Products with a green label in Russia can be found in all H&M concepts, from basic lines and children's clothing to the Trend fashion line.