I’m going to continue to prioritize buying organic cotton because I think the whole organic movement is coming from more of a “doing things better” attitude as opposed to the conventional “how do I make the most money of this” attitude. We could use genetic modification as a tool to make cotton (and any other) crops more effective, to make it grow more cotton on the same size of land, and with a smaller amount of water. With the rise in illness and increasing health hazards people have become more aware and conscious about healthy self improvement needs. Additionally, they can be harmful to our health as well. Organic cotton is a sustainable, renewable and bio-degradable fibre that is ideal for eco-fashion products. This makes organic cotton clothes more durable and better quality in general. Fair-trade Cotton. For only 1 kilogram of cotton, we have to use around 20,000 liters of water. As cotton began to gain high popularity, in 2009, a group of entomologist from Monsanto corporation found and confirmed the pink bollworm (a major cotton pest) has developed resistance to bt cotton in 4 states in India {Monsanto}. Organic cotton uses two swimming pools of water for the same outfit! India is the largest organic cotton grower in world, and accounts for 50 percent share of total world organic cotton production. The next time you are shopping for clothes, consider cotton as a material option but know the disadvantages to help you decide if it is the right material for a particular clothing item. The advantages and disadvantages of organic farming involve cost, production labor, and market size. Library. We're here to help you learn more about why sustainability and ethics are important when it comes to fashion and to show you that it's possible to become a more conscious consumer and keep your kick-ass style at the same time! Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air and water free from contaminates that cause harm. Dying cotton with toxic chemicals can be very dangerous and harmful for the workers, and it also produces tons of wastewater and muddy the waters of aquatic life. If our organic cotton crops are less effective, it also means we’re watering the same amount of plants for less cotton. Cotton is a natural fiber that grows outside the cotton plant’s seed husk. It is less toxic, better for your skin, and seems to be better for the environment. The next time you are shopping for clothes, consider cotton as a material option but know the disadvantages to help you decide if it is the right material for a particular clothing item. This was the world's first recorded instance of resistance to bt cotton. Although tilling may be used to control weeds in lieu of synthetic herbicides as well as for incorporating organic fertilizers & manure into the soil. Organic cotton is grown in a way that uses methods and materials that lessen the impact on our environment. Caring for Eco Friendly Cottons. It costs less there is no spending on fertilizers, pest controls or weed killers. Many consumers and parents also agree with this. Estimated Market size of organic fruits and dairy products at present is USD 80 million and USD 20 million respectively. Organic cotton farmers use natural pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers. While the addition of natural cotton fibers does help to make the finished fabric softer and more comfortable than 100% polyester, there are some disadvantages to polyester cotton. And with deforestation, there comes global warming, biodiversity loss, acidification, and all the other stuff we once thought is going to lessen with organic cotton farming. GMO became such a negative word, you instantly think of villain trying to suck out all the taste of strawberries. It is a textile product that is widely available, and its versatile and impressive characteristics make it one of the most respected fabrics around. Machine wash in cold water with other like colours. Organic cotton has a very subtle and natural scent that is completely harmless and disappears quickly, which is an advantage. During the past years, the government and NGOs have undertaken various attempts to enhance agricultural productivity particularly that of cereal crops so as to achieve food security and to reduce poverty in the country. Bt Brinjal Organic cotton has a very subtle and natural scent that is completely harmless and disappears quickly, which is an advantage. 4. But we have to make attention because not every organic cotton garment is dyed organically! But I think it’s important to get the whole picture and not just the parts that fit my “sustainable agenda”. The Cons. Social risks. Organic cotton fibers are longer and they have a stronger connection with each other. In organic farming not all are advantages, it also has its disadvantages, some for farmers and others for consumers. Non-organic cotton makes use of more than 16% of the world’s chemicals. Organic cotton waterproof quilted mattress protector are not fireproof. Our organic cotton … Pin board. However, other mattresses that are made of synthetic materials can be protected against fire for a range of substances such as formaldehyde. One disadvantages of organic cotton production is that it is expensive. According to WWF, in the biggest cotton producer countries (India, US, Pakistan, China) 2.4% of the farmable land is already used for growing cotton. This is needed to support the wool. 2010). Go Organic, Go Healthy because it just is a disadvantage. According to reports, organic cotton fields yield 40 percent less than conventional cotton. Natural cotton is easy to care for. In organic farming not all are advantages, it also has its disadvantages, some for farmers and others for consumers. These benefits have created a boom in the organic cotton clothing industry in the past few years. Certified organic cotton is cotton fiber that has been grown without pesticides and fertilizers, through a process that preserves biodiversity, biological cycles and soil well-being. Our organic cotton textiles are processed into fibre using organic chemicals that are covered under the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification and are 100% recyclable. This study showed that organic cotton production from planting the seed to baling cotton is way more sustainable than producing regular cotton. Projects & Contacts. 3. Nothing is perfect, though, and cotton clothing also comes with a few disadvantages. Organic cotton has some disadvantages, and you need to know about those too before you can make an informed decision. Advantages and disadvantages of GM cotton plant? Bollworm resistant cotton). The Disadvantages of Organic Farming. About us. Wearing cotton clothing has many advantages and a few disadvantages, so read on to find out what they are. Disadvantages Of Organic Cotton Baby Clothes Cost: Unfortunately, organic cotton baby clothes do cost more than standard clothing, due to the fact that organic production costs a lot more. Disadvantages of Organic Cotton Wool: Metal is put inside the Mattresses: Though all brands of mattresses have metallic spring inside them, the mattress made of organic cotton wool has metal inside it. Disadvantages of Organic Cotton. Again, this is something we’ve been doing for thousands of years. because it just is a disadvantage. And this stuff can be absorbed by your skin if you don’t them off before the first wear. We’ve already previously written about the impact of growing and using regular cotton, and the pros and cons of organic cotton.. It can take more than three years for a farm to receive organic certification. Natural cotton is easy to care for. You probably pay more for an organic T-shirt, than for a regular one, so you might end up thinking it’s very smooth and comfy to rationalize those extra bucks spent. And what is 1 kilogram of cotton is enough for? Organic cotton doesn’t use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and it isn’t genetically modified. Then I let you make your own decisions. 20 percent of industrial water pollution is due to textile dyeing and treatments, a figure that can greatly be reduced when factories adhere to textile standards such as GOTS. You do not always get an extra price for the product. The cotton might have been grown organically, but might have been dyed with all the extremely toxic chemicals, and it can still harm your skin when you think it wouldn’t. it’s softer and smoother to the touch and is very breathable. If we want to be more eco-conscious it’s very important that we make the right decision when purchasing cotton. Especially with all the conflicting info that I’ve found online, it looks like the different sides are all pushing their agenda and it’s difficult to find out what the real numbers are. Fair-trade Cotton. Disadvantages Of Organic Cotton Baby Clothes Cost: Unfortunately, organic cotton baby clothes do cost more than standard clothing, due to the fact that organic production costs a lot more. And they also use natural ways to nurture the soil when growing organic cotton. What I realized from this post so far, is all of the advantages of organic cotton come from the fewer amount of toxic chemicals it uses. Organic growers do not use genetically modified or engineered food crops, some of which are engineered to tolerate herbicides (e.g. The major abiotic stresses are drought, high salinity, cold and heat which reduce the survival, biomass production and yields of staple food crops up to 70% (Thakur et al. At least, so far. Greenwashing is such a dirty trick especially when you know that fast fashion is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Natural fertilizers like manure and compost are used which are the reasons behind the benefits the organic food provides. Organic cotton has some disadvantages, and you need to know about those too before you can make an informed decision. Cotton grown without the use of synthetic chemicals is considered ‘organic cotton’. This is one of the main reasons the organic clothing movement has become so popular among people who eat mostly organic food. BT Cotton. Also, organic cotton crops can’t be genetically modified. Those pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers are being used for a reason. So what happens if you buy an organic cotton T-shirt that doesn’t have any certifications like GOTS. Pin board. Your closets and drawers are filled with clothing made of cotton, the most commonly used fiber in the United States. But it’s important to look into that as well because dying is the process that uses the most and harshest chemicals. When more people are eco-conscious, it is a hot trend that fashion goes green. But it’s still animal poop! Organic cotton farmers working as a part of the Better Cotton Fast Track Program use 20 percent less water than their traditional peers. Synthetic Fiber Polyester is a man-made fiber made of coal, air, water and petroleum products. They use natural pesticides and insecticides to protect the plant from insects, fungi, and weeds. But all of its disadvantages come from it not being genetically modified. The problem is when they try to pass something as organic and sustainable which actually isn’t. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Organic Cotton 755 Words 4 Pages ORGANIC VS CONVENTIONAL COTTON Organic cotton is grown in subtropical countries like Turkey, USA and China from non-genetically modified plants, which is said to be used without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides. Fear and ignorance of change by farmers, hence the need for information and disclosure to the sector. And if you regularly shop fast fashion you might feel a little better about yourself when you notice that little “organic” sign on the label, but you might have zero ideas what organic means. But it might help a little. Organic cotton produces around 46% less CO2e compared to conventional cotton. Growing organic cotton is a more sustainable process while regular cotton is more effective in terms of the use of land and water. However, because of commercial farming methods, ordinary cotton … The potential impacts of tillage on soil erosion may be minimized & even eliminated by appropriate use of many of the above-mentioned strategies. The Textile Exchange has studied the life cycle of organic cotton compared to regular cotton. But the real problem is, it’s very difficult to tell where that item is really coming from. This was the world's first recorded instance of resistance to bt cotton. There’s a tendency in the sustainable fashion movement to glorify everything that’s organic and to just trust our instincts that something that’s organic and natural must be better for the environment. There is a high amount of farmer interaction time with their crops. Organic growers do not use genetically modified or engineered food crops, some of which are engineered to tolerate herbicides (e.g. This is due to the lesser production of Organic Cotton and higher prices of organic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Certified organic cotton is cotton fiber that has been grown without pesticides and fertilizers, through a process that preserves biodiversity, biological cycles and soil well-being. Due to these long fibers, organic cotton clothes feel better on your skin. 21 22. At least, so far. Our organic cotton textiles are processed into fibre using organic chemicals that are covered under the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification and are 100% recyclable. it’s softer and smoother to the touch and is very breathable. Without subsidies, there will always be a measure of risk involved as well. Advantages of these fabrics include affordability, wearability, and accessibility for a large audience. Some organic cotton growers may use natural crop management and protection tools such as sulphur dust, citric acid, nitrogen, and zinc sulphate (source: ICAC, 2006). As we mentioned earlier, pads made with synthetic fiber have a perforated surface, which absorbs a little faster than the organic cotton pads. Organic Cotton Plantation. Not all farms are suitable for conversion to ecological , due to its location, microclimate, crop variety, etc. Organic agriculture is different from other techniques of farming, such as conventional agriculture which is an industrialized system using chemical synthetic substances for fertilizers and insecticide to maximize the volume of production and profit (Guido et al 2010) . All three factors must be present for a farmer to create profits from their organic methods. Natural cotton garments are sometimes offered in limited colors because traditional dyes are made from chemicals that must be avoided. Copyright © 2020 IPL.org All rights reserved. And it has tons of positive impact not only on the planet but on your precious skin as well. Into the sustainability of GM crops of many of the use of many of biggest. Option if this fabric is to use around 20,000 liters of water for the body the... 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