Organic Cotton
A sustainable approach has been a primary consideration in developing Hey Soleil and is naturally incorporated in all the processes. From sourcing the best, fine-quality, sustainable and recycled materials for our clothes to our suppliers.
What we know today about non-organic cotton:
Conventional cotton has “earned” the title of being the dirtiest crop on earth. It consumes 16% of the world's insecticides. Pesticides and insecticides used in conventional cotton production contaminate the soil used to grow crops, the air we breathe and the water we drink. The deaths of animals exposed to these contaminants is counted in the millions every year.
Global consumption of non-organic cotton releases huge amounts of greenhouse gas into our atmosphere, about 220 million tons a year. 1 ton of conventional cotton fiber produces 1.8 tons of CO2. The damage caused by growing non-organic cotton is enormous and is a real threat to us and our planet.
Global organizations estimate thousands of people exposed to the chemicals used in non-organic cotton production die of cancer, poisoning, and miscarriages each year. The exposure to these toxic chemicals is taking its toll mostly in developing countries, such as India and Uzbekistan. About 100 million households are engaged in growing and producing cotton and 300 million people work in the cotton sector as a whole. Other factors such as climate change, decreasing prices of cotton and tough competition from farmers in rich countries don’t make it any easier.
2.700 liters of water
This is how much water it is used to make 1 non-organic cotton t-shirt.
Although 70% of our planet is covered in water, only 3% is freshwater and just 1/3 of that 3% is available for us to use. 1 billion people don’t have access to freshwater and 2.4 billion people suffer from inadequate sanitation. Millions of people, mostly young children, die each year due to water-borne illnesses caused by inadequate sanitation and lack of water. Yet the fashion industry still uses 10,000 liters of water to process just 1 single kilo of conventional cotton.
Several studies indicate that organic cotton reduces water consumption in 80% to 90%! This is largely because growers of organic cotton typically rely more on rainwater than other sources.
What can we do about it?
Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air and water free from contaminates that cause harm. Organic cotton produces around 46% less CO2e compared to conventional cotton. It also uses far less water to grow. On top of all that, organic cotton growers use beneficial insects to control unwanted pests instead of relying on harmful chemicals, thus encouraging biodiversity. It's a win-win for humanity and Earth. It is also known that various skin allergies relate directly to the chemicals used in non-organic cotton farming.
Many people with skin problems report a dramatic improvement in their skin condition once they switched to organic. By choosing to buy organic cotton you are enhancing the health of humans, animals and natural resources around the world. Supporting organic agriculture is also essential if we want to create improved working conditions for cotton farmers because farming organic cotton is more regulated, and therefore, fairly traded. Babies and young children skin are the most vulnerable to health issues related to pesticides. When you choose to use organic cotton you spare your kids from the exposure to these harmful substances and ensure a safe and healthy sleeping environment.
Organic cotton is 46% less harmful to global warming.
There’s 70% less acidification of land and water.
The potential for soil erosion drops 26%.
Surface and groundwater use falls 91%.
Demand for energy could go down by as much as 62%.
We our happy to tell you that we only use organic cotton certified and produced under the fair trade regulations.
Act now, the change can start with you. Find some sustainable measures here.
https://www.soilassociation.org/media/6491/cool-cotton-organic-cotton-and-climate-change-2015.pdf
http://textileexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Textile-Exchange_Quick-Guide-To-Organic-Cotton_2017.pdf
https://www.global-standard.org/https://www.icac.org/getattachment/Home-International-Cotton-Advisory-Committee-ICAC/measuring-sustainability-cotton-farming-full-english.pdf
https://www.swedishlinens.com/blogs/news/organic-vs-conventional-cotton