Originally Published September 12, 2012  Â
The Most Popular of the Organic Fibers
By far the most popular of the organic fibers is 
organic cotton. With concern for the environment on the up-rise, the push toward a greener lifestyle has seen an increase in consumer demand for organic cotton products. US production showed a 26% increase in 2009, while globally production increased by 20% over previous years. The US only trails India, Turkey, Syria, Tanzania and China in organic cotton production. Organic cotton fiber is used in everything from clothes and personal care items to linens, home décor and toys. Not only are the fibers being used in more products, but the seeds also have seen an increase in use especially in human food products and animal feed.
Growing Methods
Organic and conventional growing methods are quite different. Conventional cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop. Not only do these chemicals pollute the air, soil, and ground waters, but residuals of these chemicals on cotton fibers may cause skin irritation. As with all organic products, the goal is to grow and produce with a low environmental impact. Organic cotton growing methods actually replenish the soil and maintain a natural ecological balance. Regulations prohibit the use of genetically enhanced seeds and because it is grown without the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides, soil and groundwater contamination is eliminated. Cotton growers who use organic methods to grow and harvest cotton offer consumers a purer product and also benefit the environment by eliminating contaminants to the soil and ground waters.
Regulations for Growing Organic Cotton
Cotton grown and sold in the US as organic must adhere to strict regulations. These regulations are outlined in the Organic Foods Production Act and cover specific practices for controlling pests, for fertilizing and for handling organic crops. Following is a summary of these regulations:
- Prior to any crop planting, fields must be deemed organic through a three year period in which no prohibited substance is used on or near that field.
- The organic field must be surrounded by physical barriers that prevent contact, including runoff, with a non-organic crop.
- Growers are responsible for using natural cultivation practices to improve soil conditions and control soil erosion.
- Growers may only apply substances to crop production that are identified in the National List of Allowed Synthetic Substances.
These regulations are enforced by the National Organic Program through the USDA. If guidelines are not met, organic certification is not given. Organic Certification is the process of assuring that a certain product meets specified criteria for quality, production, growing, storing, packaging and shipping as established by national organic standards. Exempt entities are operations whose gross income from organic sales totals $5,000 or less. To be approved by the state certifying agency or the USDA, organic cotton producers must present for approval a step by step plan for their production and handling procedures. The plan must;
- identify all substances used on the crops
- include an explanation of preventative measures to assure the organic crop does not come in contact with any non-organic crops
- describe all of the procedures followed to avoid crop contamination during the handling procedures (picking and packaging)
Organic cotton growing fields are subject to periodic inspections.
Consumer Understanding
The biggest hurdle for growers is consumer understanding of the value added costs of buying organic cotton products. Additional expenses to establish an organic planting organic bunny toyenvironment, growing challenges of crop lost to insects and weeds, higher labor costs for special handling requirements, and competition from international markets make US organic cotton products slightly more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. But consumers must realize the benefits of using organic cotton products far outweigh the slightly higher price.
Foremost is the benefit to human health. Human exposure to toxic pesticides and fertilizers cause physical ailments like headaches and nausea, with prolonged exposure having more serious effects ranging from hormonal or nervous system problems, reproductive or immune system issues, or even cancer. Also of importance is the benefit to the environment. The absence of harsh chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the production promote ecological balance and avoid soil and water contamination.
Well worth a few extra dollars, organic cotton products offer a better solution for our health and for the environment.
