When it comes to bedding, clothing, covered furniture, toys, curtains, and more, you have a choice – sustainable fabric vs. non-sustainable fabrics. There are tons of nice sustainable fabrics out there, but today let’s start to look at organic cotton vs. conventional cotton.

Negatives of conventional cotton:

• May be (probably is) grown with pesticides (cotton accounts for anywhere from 15-25% of all pesticide use) AND keep in mind that farmers aren’t required to report this use, so numbers could be higher. In fact, according to the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), ” The California EPA reported that only15 chemicals accounted for 77% of the pesticides used on cotton from 1989 to 1998 and that these were some of the most toxic chemicals in the world. Cal EPA and US EPA analysis illustrate that seven of these fifteen most used cotton chemicals were probable cancer-causing pesticides, eight caused tumors and five caused mutations. Twelve of the top fifteen cotton pesticides in California caused birth defects, ten caused multiple birth defects, and thirteen were toxic or very toxic to fish or birds or both.” This means, if you’re buying conventional cotton, your skin, your kids, and your home are for sure exposed to those pesticides and dangers.
• According to the OCA , “Seven times as many pounds of toxic fertilizer are regularly used on cotton as are pesticides.” Not good news. Pesticides are bad, but so are toxic fertilizers that contaminate the  air, rivers, groundwater basins and aquifers.
• Conventional cotton is like a big toxic layered cake. After it’s grown, it’s processed with even more chemicals including unnatural colors (inks).
• You and your family are not the only folks exposed. The workers who are exposed to the conventional cotton process are exposed to much larger amounts of toxic pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. Buying conventional cotton makes you an accessory to this exposure.

Conventional cotton is never the most eco-friendly choice. You can choose items made with organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or another, more responsible material. Coming up later, pros of organic cotton.

Do you buy conventional cotton? If so, is cost of organic cotton products a major reason why?

[image via stock.xchng]

When it comes to bedding, clothing, covered furniture, toys, curtains, and more, you have a choice – sustainable fabric vs. non-sustainable fabrics. There are tons of nice sustainable fabrics out there, but today let’s start to look at organic cotton vs. conventional cotton.

Negatives of conventional cotton:

• May be (probably is) grown with pesticides (cotton accounts for anywhere from 15-25% of all pesticide use) AND keep in mind that farmers aren’t required to report this use, so numbers could be higher. In fact, according to the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), ” The California EPA reported that only15 chemicals accounted for 77% of the pesticides used on cotton from 1989 to 1998 and that these were some of the most toxic chemicals in the world. Cal EPA and US EPA analysis illustrate that seven of these fifteen most used cotton chemicals were probable cancer-causing pesticides, eight caused tumors and five caused mutations. Twelve of the top fifteen cotton pesticides in California caused birth defects, ten caused multiple birth defects, and thirteen were toxic or very toxic to fish or birds or both.” This means, if you’re buying conventional cotton, your skin, your kids, and your home are for sure exposed to those pesticides and dangers.
• According to the OCA , “Seven times as many pounds of toxic fertilizer are regularly used on cotton as are pesticides.” Not good news. Pesticides are bad, but so are toxic fertilizers that contaminate the  air, rivers, groundwater basins and aquifers.
• Conventional cotton is like a big toxic layered cake. After it’s grown, it’s processed with even more chemicals including unnatural colors (inks).
• You and your family are not the only folks exposed. The workers who are exposed to the conventional cotton process are exposed to much larger amounts of toxic pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. Buying conventional cotton makes you an accessory to this exposure.

Conventional cotton is never the most eco-friendly choice. You can choose items made with organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or another, more responsible material. Coming up later, pros of organic cotton.

Do you buy conventional cotton? If so, is cost of organic cotton products a major reason why?

[image via stock.xchng]