Growing our Organic Collection
Growing our Organic Collection
Organic Cotton is an integral part of helping cotton communities thrive while protecting and restoring the environment.
It’s grown using practices and inputs that have a low impact on the environment, most importantly not allowing the use of harmful agrichemicals at any stage. The four main principles of organic production are Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care.
What is Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton farming practices must meet strict environmental rules that include requirements around soil health and the prohibition of artificial fertilizers, hazardous synthetic pesticides, and genetically modified seeds (GMOs). Post-farming, Organic textile production uses dyes, finishing, and whitening treatments that are also free from harmful substances. The working conditions along the organic supply chain are also an important part of organic production’s main principles, such as the right to a safe, non-abusive, non-discriminatory working environment.
Why is it important?
The importance of not using harmful synthetic agrichemicals in Organic cotton farming is removing the potential lasting effect they can have on the people who farm the cotton and the environment in which it’s grown. Harmful pesticides and fertilizers can kill beneficial species and organisms through direct or indirect paths disrupting the natural ecosystem which can have big adverse effects, such as not attracting wildlife, contributing to the extinction of species, or removing drinkable water from a community. Continuous exposure to those substances may also have health implications for the farmers or the surrounding community.
How is it monitored?
The core principles of organic farming are legally controlled; Criteria for organic farming is set by their respective governing authorities which all follow IFOAM Principles of Organic Agriculture and are certified to the IFOAM Family of Standards at the farm level. Beyond the farm, Independent third-party certification schemes manage the chain of custody of the organic cotton. The most common of these finished product standards are Textile Exchange’s Organic Content Standard (OCS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This ensures it is segregated from conventional cotton or other sustainable standards throughout the production process.
India grows over 60% of total organic cotton production. Many other regions globally grow organic cotton, with the other top four countries being China, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan & the USA.
This number however is growing with In-conversion farms that are transitioning from conventional farming practices to organic practices over a two-to-three-year period. This ensures that any remaining agrichemicals in the soil are removed over the in-transition crop seasons.
Why isn't all our cotton organic?
We love what Organic Cotton farming stands for and its efforts to protect the environment, however, Organic cotton accounts for less than 1% of all the cotton produced in the world. Within that 1%, there are varying grades of quality. A part of our purpose is to produce high quality garments that are built to last, the quality of cotton used for that, is important. Using only Organic Cotton would create a sourcing risk and would eliminate our ability to source from some of our preferred sourcing countries like Australia, who do not produce Organic cotton, but instead work on other sustainable farming practices and innovations.
More about our approach to responsible production
How we source
We select like minded suppliers, working with factory owners and management who share our values, operate a culture of dignity and respect, are in for the long term, and who like us, are willing to embrace change and continuous improvement.
Better Cotton
Better Cotton Initiative works with on-the-ground partners across the world to support cotton communities to build resilience, farm sustainably and improve their livelihoods.
Better Cotton trains farmers to use water efficiently, care for soil health and natural habitats, reduce use of the most harmful chemicals and respect workers’ rights and wellbeing.