Organic Cotton - Conventional Cotton:

 

Organic Cotton --- A healthy way of Life

The good news is that positive alternatives to conventional cotton and its related businesses are available. Over the past decade, a small number of farmers and manufacturers have pioneered the market for organically grown cotton, producing fibers and clothing while significantly reducing toxic chemicals.

Difference between Organic and Conventional Cotton:

Criteria Conventional Organic Seed preparation

Treatment of seed with fungicide of insecticide Use of GMO (BT) seeds Soil & Water applies synthetic fertilizers Loss of soil due to MONO crop culture Weed control Applies herbicides and insecticides Repeated application infecting air, water and soil, Pest control Heavy use of insecticides. Use of natural predators to kill insects. Uses beneficial insects to control pests. Use of spray which affects air, water and also affects human life and nature. Harvesting Defoilates with toxic chemicals.

Uses untreated seeds NO use of GMO/BT Uses bio fertilizers like cow dung Strengthens soil through crop rotation Physical removal of weeds and bio-pesticides Use of mechanical and hand methods and totally harmless Consumes about 25% of worlds total insecticides Use pesticides which are highly toxic and carcinogenic. Use of trap crop to control pests. Natural defoilation

Organic Cotton - Market Potential Global Production of Organic Cotton

In 1998, Nike, one of the largest sports clothing lines in the world, decided to incorporate organic practices. Most of their products contain 3-5% organic fibers and they also offer a 100% organic line. Although 3-5% may seem insignificant, in the scheme of things (and in the volume that Nike is producing) the numbers are quite large. Nike alone uses nearly three-million pounds of organic cotton per year! And other large companies such as Patagonia, Timberland, and Orvis also incorporate organic fibers into their clothing lines; without public support these companies would not be successful.

1. Organic has caught on US & EU consumers like wild fire. The sales have been reported to increase over more than 300% in last five years. Moreover, the projections are even more bullish and the sales are expected to increase by about 1000% by 2008.

2. Proven business models Patagonia in Ventura, California, and Nike, in Beaverton, Oregon are just two of the examples of companies who have pioneered the organic cotton market and are sharing their expertise with the Cleaner Cotton. Campaign.

3. More and more brands joining the league Next, Adidas, M & S, Roots, Cotton Ginny, Target, Walmart,