Environmental Friendly Cotton
Natural fibres — renewable, sourced from nature, and biodegradable — are the most obvious example of environmentally friendly textile raw materials.
Cotton, the cultivation of which provides employment and a decent income in some of the world’s poorest regions, contributes directly to accomplishment of more than half of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Cotton is grown, not produced – it absorbs carbon during its growth.
- It helps reduce poverty, providing sustainable and decent jobs around the globe.
- It biodegrades much faster than synthetic alternatives, reducing plastic waste in waterways and helping to keep oceans clean.
- It is the only agricultural crop that provides both fibre and food.
- It thrives in dry climates where few other plants can grow.
Every type of cotton meets these basic criteria, yet — depending on cultivation methods — several distinct categories are recognised.
Did you know?
CIn some of the world’s poorest regions, cotton is often grown without pesticides and harvested by hand — practically like organic cotton.This happens not because of ecological awareness, but because smallholder farmers simply cannot afford chemicals or the costly organic certification process.
Environmental Friendly Cotton
Conventional Cotton
This refers to cotton grown in the traditional way, using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides that may negatively affect farmers’ health and the environment.
Among the numerous myths surrounding cotton, the claim of its excessive water consumption is perhaps the most common.
Is that true? Absolutely not.
Negative opinions repeated in public discourse are largely based on data from decades ago — from a time when, in cotton and other crops alike, chemical fertilisers were overused and environmental awareness among producers and consumers was very low.
Over the years, continuous improvement in farming practices and better farmer education have resulted in a significant reduction in the use of pesticides and herbicides.
In most cotton-producing countries, national and international Cotton Pest Management Systems now monitor pesticide use.
When it comes to water, the majority of cotton crops rely solely on rainfall.
Moreover, as a dry-climate plant, cotton requires far less water than crops such as wheat or maize.
Even in regions where irrigation is still used, modern techniques — such as drip irrigation — have drastically reduced water consumption.
All these measures mean that an increasing share of the world’s cotton is now produced within sustainable farming systems.
Did you know?
In 2020, around 30% of global cotton was produced under recognised sustainability programmes and initiatives. It is estimated that by 2025, this share will reach 50%.
Environmental Friendly Cotton
Sustainable Cotton
The term Sustainable Cotton refers to cotton production that takes into account the environmental, social, and economic impacts of cotton farming — aiming to reduce negative effects and strengthen positive ones.
Across the globe, numerous programmes have been launched to support sustainable cotton production.
They may focus either on the farming stage alone or on the entire life cycle of cotton — including sustainable supply chains, responsible cotton use, recycling and circular economy initiatives.
Some of the largest and most widely recognised sustainable cotton programmes include:
- Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) (see more)
- Responsible Brazilian Cotton (see more)
- e3® Sustainable Cotton (see more)
- Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) (see more)
- Fairtrade
- International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)
- myBMP (see more)
- EUCOTTON (see more)
- U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (see more)
- SASSI Brasil (see more)
Did you know?
“Cotton in conversion”, also known as transitional cotton, refers to cotton grown during the three-year transition period from conventional to organic farming.During this time, the soil is being “cleansed” and cultivation follows all organic principles, even though the farm has not yet obtained final certification.Cotton produced during this period has the same properties as fully organic cotton, but is not yet certified as such.
Environmental Friendly Cotton
Organic Cotton
Organic Cotton refers exclusively to cotton produced in compliance with certified organic standards, such as GOTS, OCS , the EU Organic Logo, and other standards within the IFOAM family.
These standards cover cotton grown from non-GMO seeds and without the use of synthetic fertilisers or pesticides.
However, organic certification does not include all aspects of environmental or social performance — such as emissions, biodiversity protection, or workers’ welfare.
Globally, organic cotton accounts for only 1–1.5% of total cotton production.
By choosing organic cotton, we support farming practices that are more environmentally friendly.
Yet, it is essential to pay attention to the credibility of labels, as in recent years there have been numerous cases of counterfeit organic certificates and misleading product claims.
Did you know?
The negative perception of GMO products stems mainly from concerns about genetically modified food crops, such as maize or soy. However, non-food GM materials, including cotton, are completely neutral to end users and do not affect human or animal health.
Environmental Friendly Cotton
GMO Cotton
Genetically modified (GMO) cotton is developed to make the plant resistant to specific pests.
GMO cotton itself is not harmful to human health or to farmers.
In fact, its resistance to pests can lead to higher yields and reduced use of pesticides and insecticides.
However, there are ongoing concerns related to:
- The emergence of resistant “superweeds” – the spread of weed species adapted to survive GM farming environments.
- Environmental impacts – changes to soil microbiology and potential disruptions to local ecosystems.
- Declining long-term effectiveness – reduced resistance in subsequent generations of plants.