What is organic cotton? Why it's sustainable and good for the environment

Do you know about organic cotton?
Organic cotton is attracting attention as it is healthy and environmentally friendly.
Recently, the number of products using organic cotton has increased.

I'm curious as to what exactly it is. Therefore, this time we will introduce organic cotton. You can also learn about the difference from regular cotton and the unknown material ``Kapok''. Please check it.

What is organic cotton?

Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers during the growing season. Another important point with organic cotton is that the cotton is made with consideration for the working environment and child labor. Organic cotton has elastic fibers and a gentle texture. However, all cotton materials have a good texture and are not limited to organic cotton. Currently, each country has standards for establishing organic cotton. There is also a certification mark, which we use as a reference when making purchases. There is also a standard that the fruit must have been grown in fields where no chemical agents were used for at least 2 to 3 years.

Difference between organic cotton and regular cotton

Organic cotton and regular cotton are both cotton. It is impossible to determine what has been harvested and processed. However, there is a big difference in the process of making them. Here, we will introduce the differences in cultivation, harvesting, and production processes between organic cotton and conventional cotton.

Differences in cultivation methods

・Normal cotton

When growing regular cotton, apply insect repellent to the seeds. Then, we spray herbicides to remove weeds and insecticides to kill pests.

・Organic cotton

When growing organic cotton, no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used. Therefore, weeds are removed manually. We also use ancient methods to control pests, such as spraying extracts from plants that pests dislike, and using the power of beneficial insects that eat pests.

Differences in harvesting methods

・Normal cotton

At harvest time, defoliants are used to kill the leaves and stems, and then the cotton is harvested mechanically. Harvest large amounts of cotton at once.

・Organic cotton

Just like picking tea, you can visually tell which ones are ready to be harvested. The cotton is carefully picked by hand over several days.

Differences in production process

・Normal cotton

When processing regular cotton, it is bleached to make it easier to dye. Various chemical treatments are also applied to the fibers to make them easier to handle.

・Organic cotton

As with growing and harvesting, no chemicals are used. Basically, products are made that utilize natural colors such as brown and white without being dyed.

It takes a lot of time and effort to make organic cotton. Many people may think that regular cotton can be made more efficiently. I'm curious as to why you choose organic cotton. So next, let's take a look at the damage caused to us by ordinary cotton.

Ordinary cotton and people's damage

When producing regular cotton, large amounts of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers are used. Records show that in the 1990s, approximately 20% of the world's pesticides and insecticides were used to grow cotton. Let's take a look at the health hazards and environmental impact of chemical agents.

Health damage caused by pesticides

Although there are differences depending on the type, it is known that touching or inhaling pesticides can have health effects. Cotton products have almost no pesticide residue. However, large amounts of pesticides are used in the cotton manufacturing process. It is also true that defoliants are used during harvesting and various chemical agents are used during processing. Although there are regulations on chemical agents, there are concerns about their impact on the health of those involved in cotton production.

Environmental impact

Chemical fertilizers dissolve from the soil and contaminate groundwater. Nitrogen released from chemical fertilizers is also one of the causes of global warming.

Lastly, I would like to introduce kapok, a material that can replace cotton.

What is Kapok better than cotton?

Kapok is a tree that grows in Southeast Asia and the tropics. The fruit of this tree contains cotton and is called kapok fiber. Kapok fiber is a highly functional material characterized by good water repellency and lightness. Compared to cotton, kapok weighs approximately 1/8.

To grow kapok, there is no need to use pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and since cotton is obtained from the fruit, there is no need to cut down trees. Although it has the drawback of being difficult to process into thread, it is expected to be an ecological material.

Check out Kapok knot in detail

Try organic cotton and kapok products!

This time, we introduced a wide range of products, from organic cotton to kapok. Being considerate to the global environment and the people who manufacture our products is important for us to continue to live a prosperous life. By choosing products made from organic cotton and other environmentally friendly materials, you can move closer to realizing a sustainable society. Please try our organic cotton and kapok products.