Nearly 90% of cotton is planted with genetically modified seeds in the United States. The ‘conventional’ process to grow cotton creates mass amounts of environmental contamination and the cotton itself is showered with chemicals, making it one of the dirtiest crops around. These contaminants and growing methods have far-reaching environmental impacts on the globe and in our homes. To avoid chemicals and pollutants sneaking into your home through cotton products, it”s advisable to switch to organic cotton clothing.
The Dangers of GMO Cotton
Genetically modified cotton boasts plenty of seemingly-positive attributes, such as high resistance to cotton pests like bollworms. The cotton seeds are genetically modified so that the plants contain a protein toxic to pests. This sounds good, however, the insects are able to quickly adapt to the insecticidal proteins in the cotton. In the end, farmers still need to use heavy doses of chemical pesticides to keep the pests at bay as well as chemical fertilizers.
Today big-name conventional cotton manufacturers attempt to paint GMO cotton as a superior product, claiming it yields more product and uses less water. However, the truth is GMO cotton raises serious health and environmental concerns.
Toxic Chemicals
As it grows, GMO cotton is exposed to large amounts of commercial pesticides or herbicides in an attempt to ward off pests and increase production. Glyphosate (the chemical found in Roundup) is the most commonly-used chemical pesticide on numerous crops around the world, including cotton. In 2019 the chemical was proven to increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%. Farmers, especially those in rural or developing areas with fewer safety protocols, suffer the risk of inhaling carcinogens after repeated exposure to pesticides.
Chemical traces in cotton can also be absorbed through the skin while the material is being processed, or while being worn or used by consumers. Babies learn through interacting with their environments using all of their senses. If toys or clothing contain chemical traces, they can be absorbed through the child’s mouth or the skin. Since oftentimes these chemicals are not explicitly included in the label, or not included at all, children may suffer from allergies or skin reactions from hidden chemicals found in “safe” products.
Water Waste
The apparel industry is notorious for wasting huge amounts of energy and water. One claim of GMO cotton proponents is that the process requires much less water than traditional cotton farming. In reality, harsh chemical pesticides destroy the soil composition and make it hard for the soil to conserve water for drier times.
The pesticides also disperse and contaminate any nearby water sources. Fibers and materials nonprofit, Textile Exchange, compared Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of GMO cotton and organic cotton and found that the organic process did in fact use less water as well as remove the risk of chemical contamination of nearby water sources.
The True Value of Organic Cotton
As consumers become more aware of the hidden dangers lurking in GMO cotton products, more innovative brands step up and commit to using organic cotton. It’s now possible to find all sorts of products, from clothing to teddy bears to diapers, that are made with 100% organic cotton. The only snag is that these items often come with a higher price tag, which may discourage some from making the switch to go organic.
While at first, it may seem like paying more for almost the same product, the truth is the process to make organic cotton is entirely different than conventional methods. While GMO cotton fibers can be processed, cut, sewn, and dyed in one factory, producing certified 100% organic cotton requires separate steps and much more attention to detail. In order for a material or fabric to pass the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) testing, the fabric is examined and tested to ensure zero contamination occurred at any step in production.
Often brands that have committed to creating an organic product rely on small-scale, artisanal, and Fair Trade workshops to complete the time-consuming process of making organic cotton. This means workers are paid a fair living wage, do not face a dangerous or toxic work environment, and can expect a regular work schedule, unlike factories that pay per piece.
Find Organic Cotton Clothing & Toys on Donor360
If you are interested in supporting organic cotton brands and their mission to make the world a cleaner, greener place, you can get started right here on Donor360. Allmade is an innovative apparel brand that is dedicated to creating customizable, organic clothing while paying its employees a fair living wage. For 100% organic teddy bears and plushies for kids, check out Bears for Humanity. Their cuddly bears are perfect for kids of all ages and guaranteed to be hypoallergenic and free of any chemicals or heavy metals.
