One third of the world’s pesticides are used on cotton crops alone. These chemicals are absorbed into the cotton plant, the air, the soil, the water and eventually, our bodies. These harmful toxins also make their way back into our food chain - the cotton seeds are used to feed the cattle we get our milk and beef from, and also used to make cotton seed oil, a cornerstone of the processed foods most families eat every day; and it's not just bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
What is Organic?
Organic refers to the way agricultural products – food and fiber – are grown and processed. Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA).
The following is a quote from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
“What is organic product? Organic product is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic crops are grown without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic products before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.”
National organic standards require organic growers and handlers to be certified by a third-party state, private agency or other organization that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
-Skin is the body's largest organ. Unlike adult’s skin, a baby's skin is extremely sensitive and more vulnerable to toxins and chemicals. Harmful substances can easily penetrate through the skin into the baby's body and blood stream.
-Many pesticides and chemicals used in growing and manufacturing conventional cotton clothing are petroleum based and stay in the clothing even after washing.
-The Environmental Protection Agency considers 7 of the top 15 pesticides used on conventional cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" cancer causing chemicals (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA)
-Conventional cotton growing uses up to 25% of the world’s pesticides, putting about 1/3 pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to produce one conventional cotton t-shirt.
-Bleaches and dyes are toxic chemicals and when used in the processing of conventional cotton garments, traces of these toxins remain in the fabrics. Therefore, not only does the process have a detrimental effect on the environment but can also affect the consumer. Worst of all, the disposal of the waste chemicals used to process the cotton can destroy eco systems that have taken millions of years to evolve.
-Organically grown cotton is environmentally friendly as farms and factories are not spreading toxins into the water, soil and people involved in the process.
- The Organic Trade Association reports that children, by the age of 5, have ingested up to 35 percent of their lifetime amount of carcinogenic pesticides.
-Organic baby clothing made with organic cotton eliminates all possible health issues that come from traditionally grown cotton.
When you buy organic products, you are taking “baby steps” toward a greener lifestyle (eco-friendly, sustainable and healthy); you’re doing something good for yourself, our communities, and our planet!