| Over the past decade, there has been a lot of | | | | wants and needs of consumers but the environment |
| weight attached to the word "organic." This extends | | | | does benefit as well. |
| to foods, health and beauty products such as soaps, | | | | With plenty of information readily available, the light |
| and to your clothes. But what many people do not | | | | shined on farming practices and the use of pesticides |
| understand is that while it is generally understood | | | | and carcinogens in the production of cotton has |
| that organic foods and health products do have | | | | caused millions to think twice about their consumption |
| benefits since we consume food and apply beauty | | | | habits and the effect their habits have on their health |
| products directly on our skin and can be absorbed, | | | | and the environment. For example, cotton fields |
| many do not realize the serious benefits of clothing | | | | comprise of roughly 2.4 percent of all cultivated land |
| made from organic fibers especially for children. | | | | but it uses 25 percent of the world's pesticides and |
| First, it is important to note what makes organic | | | | 10 percent of the world's insecticides. This startling |
| clothing well, organic. According to the National | | | | ratio can be broken down to a more tangible |
| Organic Standards board, "Organic agriculture is an | | | | example. One pair of jeans and one t-shirt made |
| ecological production management system that | | | | from conventionally grown cotton used one pound of |
| promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles | | | | pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The environmental |
| and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal | | | | effects aside, these poisons are still on the garments |
| use of off farm inputs and on management practices | | | | that you put on your children. |
| that restore maintain and enhance ecological | | | | In fact, per Johnson & Johnson, "A baby's skin is |
| harmony." Anything that is "certified organic" has met | | | | thinner, more fragile and less oily than an adult's. A |
| very strict guidelines set forth by The National | | | | baby's skin also produces less melanin, the substance |
| Organic Standards Board. Every step in the | | | | that helps protect against sunburn. It's less resistant |
| production of the organic materials and to the | | | | to bacteria and harmful substances in the |
| production of the final product must meet this | | | | environment, especially if it's irritated. Babies also |
| standards and it is these standards that help protect | | | | sweat less efficiently than the rest of us, so it's |
| the environment and your children from the toxic | | | | harder for them to maintain their inner body |
| chemicals that conventionally grown cotton uses in its | | | | temperature." The risk is much greater for your |
| production. | | | | children to have health issues related to these toxic |
| If think this is a huge investment in money, time, and | | | | chemicals that adults. |
| energy, it is. But the question you may be asking | | | | You do not have to be an environmentalist to see |
| yourself is "Why would manufacturers produce | | | | the benefits of organic clothing but you can also see |
| organic products? It hardly seems worth it." The | | | | it in your child's health. With so many pollutants we |
| answer is consumer demand. Consumers want | | | | put into our environment and choosing to go with |
| organic products for themselves as well as for their | | | | organic clothing is an easy way to contribute to the |
| children for the sake of their health. The environment | | | | reversal of this detrimental effect. |
| usually takes a back seat as a driving force in the | | | | |