Sustainable cotton, what is it?

Il cotton it is the most common and worn fabric in the world, but it will also be the most sustainable? And what impact does this material have on the environment? When we think about any kind of fabric or material, we must keep in mind that this can have a more or less profound impact on our Planet.

The same one cotton productionconsidered the natural fiber par excellence, has a heavy impact on the health of the soil, water and air, damaging numerous organisms.

Although it is of plant origin, in fact, this fabric is often produced using fertilizers, insecticides e chemical fertilizers harmful to the environment. Additionally, growing cotton can take large quantities of waterwhich makes this sector really not eco-friendly.

The good news is that, like many other fabrics, even cotton can become more sustainable if coming from organic farming and made paying attention to the most precious resource that exists: our Earth.

So let’s find out how much a cotton t-shirt pollutes and how to reduce the environmental impact of this fabric.

How much does cotton production pollute?

To understand why it is necessary to choose sustainable cotton, we must first understand how much the production of this fabric impacts the planet.

Although it is one natural fiber (cotton is obtained from the cotton wool that wraps the seeds of plants belonging to the genus Gossypium), the production of this fabric can have a strong impact on soil and natural resources.

For the cotton cultivationa high quantity of pesticides and substances that are aggressive to the environment are used. This fact makes the cultivation of cotton fiber one of the most polluting on Earth, with environmental consequences undeniably serious.

The use of aggressive chemicals involves a progressive loss of biodiversity (both plant and animal). Aggressive pesticides and fertilizers are gradually depleting the soil, making it less fertile.

If we add to this the enormous consumption of water for irrigation (according to the WWF, around 2,700 liters are used to produce the cotton needed for a single t-shirt), it becomes clear how the cotton production sector may not be very green from sustainability point of view.

What is sustainable cotton?

The enormous environmental impact of cotton could be drastically reduced thanks to a more eco-friendly production process. This is therefore where “sustainable” cotton comes into play, a term whose meaning can vary greatly depending on the factors taken into consideration.

Il sustainable cotton it could be what comes from organic farming (in this case we will talk about organic or organic cotton), or it could be a recycled cottonmade with recycled fabrics, or it could be a fabric made using low environmental impact manufacturing methods.

In all cases, it is a fabric produced with the value of sustainability in mind, which it aims to achieve reduce your impact on the environment and to promote and enhance biodiversity in all its forms.

What changes between cotton and organic cotton?

But why would cotton from organic farming be more sustainable than conventional cotton?

It is easy to say: if in “normal” conditions this material is produced using enormous quantities of pesticides, pesticides and, above all, very high quantities of water resources, in organic cultivation you aim to use only natural substances that act in synergy with the environment and the soil.

Organic agriculture, therefore, does not usually include the use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides, but is based on the use of substances with a low environmental impact. Precisely for this reason, the liters of water needed to produce cotton are also drastically reduced.

Furthermore, in the field of organic production rainwater is generally used, which makes this method even more sustainable.

Failure to use synthetic pesticides also involves a reduced soil pollution and air, and it will not only be animals and plants that will benefit, but also the health of workers and consumers. This makes this typology of even more sustainable cotton in every respect.

Here’s how to choose less polluting fabrics

But at this point, how can we understand if our cotton sweater is polluting or if it was made in a sustainable way?

To do a conscious choiceit is always useful to look for the appropriate ones sustainability certifications of tissues. An example of all is the GOTS certification (Global Organic Textile Standard), international label which certifies that a specific fabric has been made with respect for the environment and workers.

Furthermore, to be sure that a garment is truly sustainable, the entire production process of the product must be evaluated, from planting to clothing storepassing through processing, transport, packaging and every segment of the production chain.

To do this, it will be useful to consult the company website and search for information online regarding the actual impact of the product we intend to purchase.

Let’s learn to support those companies that make sustainability and environmental protection their strong point, to create a cleaner world together.

Sources