WHY ORGANIC COTTON?
Organic Cotton is one of the materials we use hand in hand with cork in SOBRI products.
An organic cotton farming system is a production that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It is based on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, instead of using artificial elements, such as pesticides and other chemicals that cause adverse effects.
The cultivation of organic cotton, according to Textile Exchange (2014) presents some significant environmental benefits in comparison to the cultivation of conventional cotton:
- 46% reduction in global warming resulting from cotton farming, since there is no use of herbicides, pesticides, excessive irrigation, etc.
- 70% reduction in acidification of soil and water in the area surrounding the cotton crop.
- Natural increase in soil and organic matter fertilization, automatically increasing the uptake of carbon from the atmosphere.
- 91% reduction in water consumption, since 80% of organic cotton crops use only rainwater.
HOW ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS WORK
Organic Cotton Life Cycle Assessment - photo sourced from: AboutOrganicCotton.com
The Organic Cotton we use in SOBRI products is GOTS certified (Global Organic Textil Standard certification), this certification is the most restricted in the market for organic products, where all stages of the textile process are integrated, from the production / cultivation of the fiber to the finished product.
This guarantees that: cotton production is organic, without the use of chemicals and toxic products, cotton processing plants also work under strict guidelines where there is a strong control of residues, which cannot be released into nature without any treatment, being regularly audited.
Furthermore, working conditions are a crucial point, and it is guaranteed that all workers are treated fairly, have safe conditions, do not work excessive hours and receive an adequate salary.
GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD
You can find out more about organic cotton HERE