Is organic cotton better?

Cotton is one of the most widespread and most used plant fibers in the world. Problem : while its cultivation represents 2.5% of arable land, it consumes 15 to 20% of global pesticides (according to the WHO). That's a lot for a fiber we call natural... We have therefore witnessed for quite a few years the emergence of more responsible cultivation, which involves all stages of its production, from the cotton seed to its harvest : the famous organic cotton. But then, apart from pesticides, what's the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton?

Conventional cotton: as explained above, "traditional" cotton cultivation consumes a good portion of the pesticides and insecticides produced in the world. They end up in the soil, polluting the ground sometimes irreparably. In the United States for example, to eradicate cotton pests, farmers have long used arsenic-based products (which is literally a poison). And we're not talking about synthetic and chemical fertilizers...

Organic cotton: in organic cotton cultivation, no products of this type (neither pesticides, nor chemical fertilizers, nor GMOs) are allowed. Soil cultivation is done using natural compost or the use of manure for example. In addition to using natural compost, organic cotton cultivation favors crop rotation to always have more fertile and more humid soils.

Conventional cotton: the cultivation of this cotton requires astronomical amounts of water . While there are regions where water is naturally very abundant, for example in the Nile delta, in many others, it is necessary to set up complex irrigation systems, rarely without environmental consequences. We all have in mind the images of boats sitting in the sand of the Aral Sea. To give you an idea, know that to produce a t-shirt, 2,500 liters of water are needed (according to The Good Goods).

Organic cotton: the advantage when using fewer chemicals is not just about polluting less : soil that contains fewer chemical products retains water more easily, and therefore needs less irrigation. Using natural compost also helps reduce water consumption. Compared to conventional cotton cultivation, only 400 liters of water are needed to produce an organic cotton t-shirt. This represents a considerable water saving of 84%.

Conventional cotton: obviously, when pesticides and insecticides are used extensively, often in countries with poorly developed health standards, working conditions are not ideal, to say the least. Exposure to the various toxic products used in cotton cultivation has caused numerous health problems such as skin inflammation, throat pain or even in the worst cases fertility disorders. Take the example of Mali where pesticides are a real public health problem. A study (Sustainability of production in West African cotton areas, 2020) reveals that certain pesticides present in cotton crops (some of which are banned in Europe) are the cause of chronic toxicity and various health problems.

Organic cotton: obviously, when you don't handle toxic products, the risks of exposure are lower. The working conditions of employees at organic cotton farms are therefore better, and a virtuous circle begins : farms that grow organic cotton are more concerned about the environment of course, but also more broadly about the well-being of their employees.

At The Nines, we do our best to convert our products to organic cotton. We already have a small collection like our boxers or our polos or socks in organic cotton. Of course, in the short term it costs more to cultivate and use organic cotton. But, we prefer to think long term and build sustainably.