The Benefits of Organic Cotton
We love cotton for kid's clothes! And here's why, cotton is a strong, breathable, and natural material that can be made into many different fabrics and feels great next to the skin. But there's a catch. Pesticides used in conventional farming contaminate the soil, ground and surface water, and can also drift onto neighboring crops. The synthetic fertilizers commonly used result in water contamination and significant greenhouse gas emissions. These inputs have a significant negative impact on local communities and the surrounding ecosystem.
This is why using Certified Organic Cotton matters. Produced according to organic agricultural standards, it supports healthy soils, ecosystems, and people by banning the use of chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and GMOs. By choosing organic cotton products, you're making a positive impact on the environment and the farmers who grow it. Compared to conventional farming, organic farming results in cleaner air, better soil, safer farming practices, and keeps toxins out of the finished product.
Not All Organic Cotton is Created Equal
Mightly sources cotton from Chetna Organic Farmers Association. Chetna was founded in 2004 and has grown from just 240 farmers to 15,000 small scale organic cotton farmers in the Orissa, Telangana, and Maharashtra regions of India. For nearly two decades, Chetna has supported marginalized farmers, enabling them to practice sustainable and profitable farming. Chetna farmers use 70% less water and 60% less energy than the average non-organic farmer. To learn more about Chetna’s inspiring story, click here.
Organic Farming is Just the Beginning
Cotton farming is just the first part of the multi-step manufacturing process and every step in that process matters! That’s where the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification comes in. The standard was established by leading standard setters to define world-wide recognised requirements for organic textiles. From the harvesting of the raw materials, environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing to labeling, textiles certified to GOTS provide a credible assurance to the consumer and help generate positive impacts for both people and the environment.
Critically, GOTS covers all stages of organic textile processing. To carry the GOTS label, all steps must meet strict ecological and social criteria. One of the main focuses of GOTS is eliminating hazardous substances such as heavy metals, toxic chemicals, GMOs, formaldehyde, and solvents. Manufacturers are required to keep records of all chemicals used in production, and these substances must pass toxicity tests.
With the GOTS label, you can trust that organic cotton products meet world-wide recognized requirements for organic textiles from the farm to the finished product.