Organic Cotton Baby Clothing Can Make a Difference

If you are a parent, you know how important it is that we leave the world a better place for our children. Supporting organic cotton baby clothing is a wonderful way for parents to participate in green consumerism. This trend is important because ordinary cotton is more responsible for poisoning our planet than any other crop in the world. We’ll start by discussing the problems with conventional cotton, describe the growing trend of organic cotton as a solution, and offer parents and consumers some ways that they can make a difference through their own personal choices.

Toxic Cotton

Cotton is one of the most versatile crops in the world, with millions of industrials uses and also finding its way into our homes, our clothes, and even our food. Cotton is single-handedly responsible for 25% of the world’s use of pesticides, as well as 10% of the world’s insecticides. What makes these figures really come into relief is the fact that cotton only accounts for 3% of the world’s crop acreage. In fact, for every three cotton t-shirts produced in the world, one pound of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals were used in production. Farmed with convention methods, it is not an exaggeration to say that cotton is the most toxic crop in the world.

So what? Why are pesticides so bad anyways? As it turns out, heavy pesticides are linked with problems in rivers and oceans, air pollution, the health of animals, as well as the health of human farmers and workers. Asthma, fatal poisoning, and cancer are just some of the human health risks associated with conventionally grown cotton. For babies, traditionally grown cotton is known to cause skin allergies and sensitivities due to the remnants of all these poisons still within garments. Also, cottonseed oil is found in many baby foods, still laced with small amounts of the toxins that have poisoned hundreds of workers around the world.

The Promise of Organic Cotton

Organic farming methods are crucial to turn around the negative effect of cotton production on the globe’s natural resources. Organic farming accounts for only a little over 1% of cotton production, but the organic cotton market is growing by about 15% a year. This trend is expected to continue as producers cash in on the new market, but it needs help from consumers too. Not only is organic cotton better for the environment as well as the health of millions of farm workers, but it also produces a high-quality product. Organic cotton baby clothes are softer than traditionally-grown cotton clothes, and also less likely to trigger skin allergies and sensitivities. This is especially important for infants and toddlers. In fact, organic cotton baby clothing is one of the fastest growing segments of the organic cotton movement.

What Can We Do?

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, consumers can do many things to help raise awareness about the benefits of organic cotton, from the easy to the more involved.

1. Support organic cotton through personal purchases and gifts to friends and family. This is the number one way that consumers can shift the culture of cotton from one of devastation to one of hope and renewal. Buying organic cotton baby clothing is a great way to support cotton from Day One.

2. Ask local retailers if they carry organic cotton and fill them in on its importance.

3. Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers about your concern.

4. Organize local events to educate the community about organic cotton. The SCP can provide resources for setting up a booth at a local fair or leading a discussion group.

5. Lobby city and county officials to consider buying restrictions for non-organic cotton. This is a growing trend on the West Coast of the US and in many European towns.

Although this situation is dire, there are many dedicated people and organizations working around the world to change to way cotton impacts our lives, from farm workers to consumers. So don’t lose hope; we can make a difference.