Cotton is derived from the soft fibers that surround the seeds of plants of the genus Gossypium. There is evidence of its domestication dating back to several thousand years BCE in Peru, Mexico, India and Sudan. However, it was not until the 1770s, and the invention of machines like the spinning jenny, that cotton became the ubiquitous material we all wear.
Cotton’s softness and durability means that, even today, it remains one of our most popular clothing materials. However, popularity comes at a cost. It is estimated 2,700 liters of water are required to produce a single cotton t-shirt, enough to sustain a person for 900 days. Commercial production is also heavily reliant on the use of agrochemicals, especially pesticides. It is estimated cotton production uses 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land but is responsible for the consumption of between 16% and 25% of the world’s pesticides. This is more than any other single major crop and has led to the Organic Trade Association (OTA) describing it as the “world’s dirtiest crop.”
The high reliance on agrochemicals in the production of cotton is not restricted to pesticides. Much of the cultivated land used to grow cotton has been in use for decades, meaning it is now depleted. Cotton production therefore also uses vast amounts of nitrogen-based synthetic fertilizers. It is estimated about 150g are used to produce about 450g of raw cotton – the average t-shirt uses just under 450g of raw cotton.
What is Organic Cotton?
With regulators and consumers looking for more sustainable products and production methods, organic cotton is now a growth sector. To answer this demand, large fashion chains around the world are committing themselves to using only organic or recycled cotton fibers in their products.
Organic production is defined under European Union (EU) Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as, “an overall system of farm management and food production that combines best environmental practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources, the application of high animal welfare standards and a production method in line with the preference of certain consumers for products produced using natural substances and processes.”
In recent years, growth in the sector has been substantial. According to the Textile Exchange’s Organic Cotton Market Report 2020, in 2018/19 total global production was 239,787 metric tonnes, an increase of 31% on the previous year, which itself followed a 56% increase. It is predicted the trend will continue at a slower rate, with production expected to rise by 10% between 2019 and 2020.
The increasing demand for organic cotton is helping improve soil sustainability, water conservation, air quality, and the livelihoods of farmers. It is also contributing to the fight against climate change.
SGS Chemical Testing for Textiles
SGS offers a complete range of services to help brands ensure their products are truly organic. These include non-GMO screening of the raw materials to ensure no genetically modified cotton has been used. This service is conducted using the ISO IWA 32 test method.
If a particular chemical substance is detected at a level above the acceptable limit, the product cannot claim to be ‘organic’. After all, in the end, it’s only trusted because its tested.