| First, Some Facts About Conventionally Grown | | | | containing a mixture of chilli, garlic and soap). This |
| Cotton: | | | | keeps pests off the crops but does not destroy |
| When we think about cotton, we think about | | | | their natural predators - which survive to control their |
| cleanliness, purity and comfort. In reality, | | | | numbers naturally. Organic farming really does start |
| conventionally grown cotton is one of the world's | | | | with the soil. Compost, frequent crop rotations and |
| dirtiest agricultural commodities and is one of the | | | | cover crop strategies replace synthetic fertilizers to |
| most environmentally damaging crops grown in the | | | | keep the soil healthy, fertile and productive. Unlike |
| world. | | | | the insatiably thirsty conventional methods of |
| Unfortunately, nearly all cotton production is hugely | | | | production, our organic cotton is largely rain-fed. |
| (and increasingly) reliant on pesticides derived from | | | | Organic cotton farming actually promotes biodiversity: |
| petrochemicals. Because it is not a food crop, cotton | | | | the fields contain a significantly higher number of |
| is routinely sprayed with an even heavier cocktail of | | | | insect species (especially those which are beneficial). |
| poisonous pesticides than normal agricultural crops. In | | | | When it comes to harvesting by hand, it follows that |
| fact 2.5% of all farmland worldwide is used to grow | | | | organic cotton is also much safer for those who pick |
| cotton, yet 10% of all chemical pesticides and 22% | | | | it. Workers aren't exposed to breathing in or |
| of insecticides are sprayed on cotton. This means | | | | otherwise ingesting toxic chemicals while active in the |
| that eight times more pesticide is used on one | | | | field, and don't have to worry about the same nasty |
| hectare of conventional cotton, than on other crops. | | | | chemicals getting into their water supply if they live |
| Heavy pesticide use reduces biodiversity, disrupts | | | | nearby. Therefore they can raise healthier children |
| ecosystems, and contaminates water supplies. Worse | | | | and livestock. |
| still, more and more chemicals are being used each | | | | The final cloth is unbleached and dyed with natural |
| year as the pests exposed to the synthetic | | | | plant dyes, therefore it really is a truly natural |
| pesticides build up a resistance to them. Many of the | | | | product. |
| chemicals used in cotton farming are acutely toxic. At | | | | Best For Baby: |
| least three of them are in the "dirty dozen" - so | | | | After all this, I don't think I have to do much more |
| dangerous in fact that 120 countries have agreed to | | | | to explain why organic is best for us and for our |
| ban them. So far this hasn't happened and they are | | | | babies. |
| still being used, resulting in an estimated 20,000 | | | | A babies skin is 5 times thinner than our own, allowing |
| deaths and three million chronic health problems each | | | | toxins to penetrate much more easily. It is even |
| year in developing countries. | | | | more necessary to protect their growing bodies and |
| In the U.S. it takes nearly a third of a pound of | | | | immature immune systems from harmful chemicals. |
| chemicals to grow enough cotton for just one t-shirt. | | | | When you buy organic cotton baby clothes you have |
| It is estimated that less than 10% of the chemicals | | | | the peace of mind that the fabric which is in contact |
| applied to cotton are accomplishing their tasks, the | | | | with your babies delicate skin is pure, natural and free |
| rest are absorbed into the plant, air, soil, water and | | | | from harmful chemicals. Organic cotton is so soft, and |
| eventually, our bodies. | | | | this is because the fibres have not been damaged by |
| Organic Cotton: | | | | the chemicals used in the farming and processing of |
| The alternative is organic cotton, which in contrast, | | | | conventional cotton. Being free from harmful |
| uses agricultural methods to help sustain the land it | | | | chemicals also makes it less likely to trigger allergies. |
| grows on, the people who grow and harvest it, and | | | | So by choosing organic you are not only helping the |
| the planet in general. It is not only less destructive to | | | | environment and saving lives, you are providing your |
| the environment, but provides a better income for | | | | baby with the safest, healthiest, softest clothing |
| farmers and is sustainable long term. | | | | available. |
| Organic cotton farming uses natural pesticides (usually | | | | |