What is Organic Cotton and how is it used in promotional gifts?
Promotional gifts made from organic cotton are classed as eco promotional gifts but just what is organic cotton and how does it differ from normal cotton? Organic cotton is cotton produced from non-genetically modified plants – plants grown and farmed without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. To be classed as organic farms and plantations have to meet the relevant requirements of the organic bodies bodies of their countries. For example in the US this is the National Organic Program (NOP) and in the UK, the Soil Association. These institutions asses farming practices for their pest control, growing, fertilizing and handling of the crops from seed to growth, harvesting and handling.
Worldwide the rate of organic cotton is production is growing at more than 50% per year. This is driven by market demands for more environmentally friendly cotton products such as ECO t-shirts other clothing items. Cotton production actually covers over 2.5% of the World’s farming lands, yet uses over 16% of all insecticides produced. This in itself is more than any other farmed crop and demonstrates how fragile cotton production is to weather and pests and the growth of organic cotton can help to reduce pesticide pollution of air and surface waters, whilst increasing biodiversity.
The benefits of organic cotton farming are many fold. Moving to biologically-based farming practices offers a healthier and cleaner product, which in itself is also more environmentally friendly. The soil itself used for growing organic crops also benefits as it generally contains higher organic matter, thicker topsoil and composition, helping to reduce the threat of soil erosion.
The largest producers of organic cotton are based in Turkey, India and China and these countries have become synonymous with the production of eco friendly promotional workwear as well as the many other types of clothing, domestic, retail and industrial clothing, towels, flannels, blankets and cloths available. Other countries within an organic cotton producing league include Eygpt and countries around Africa that can provide the necessary sun, water and humidity levels needed for cotton production.
Is there a price for organic cotton-based promotional gifts and clothing? The answer is generally yes, but only initially for the goods themselves. Their degradable nature and suitability for recycling means that organic promotional clothing actually represents a far lower life cycle cost than traditional cotton or man-made materials.
Posted in ECO Gifts, ECO Clothing
