Appearances often deceive – unfortunately. But the truth is that there is little that is natural in cotton if it is cultivated and processed using conventional methods. Conventional cotton cultivation is well-known for its intensive use of pesticides. Each year around 18% of the entire amount of pesticides used in the world is used for the cultivation of cotton. This high use of chemicals affects not only agriculture but also the further processing of the cotton at almost every production level. But there is an alternative: ORGANIC COTTON.
For some years cotton growers have been investing in new methods: “organic cotton” is an organic farming product that is subject to continuous and consistent monitoring and for the cultivation of which no use can be made of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and defoliants. The cotton plant is planted at certain intervals as part of a crop rotation cycle, which in turn allows it to retain its natural cycle and biological balance. The new methods also result in reduced water consumption and the overall burden on the environment is signifi cantly lower. Naturally no use is made of environmentally-damaging agents and procedures during later processing and end-product production either. Organic growing requires more time, more experience and more effort, and therefore the costs involved are also higher. But it’s worth it.