With so many environmental terms being used to describe items, here is some information and some definitions we thought would be helpful to you and your family.
What is Organic Cotton? Organic Cotton is cotton that is grown without the use of harmful pesticides and have not been genetically modified. The growth of conventional cotton uses more pesticides than any other crop and accounts for a large percentage of the world’s pesticide use. The use of organic cotton reduces the amount of these chemicals entering the watershed and also from irritating fragile skin.
What is Conventional cotton? Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides on 3 percent of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chemical-Free Dyes Chemical-Free Dyes are often used in organic clothing and toys for babies. These dyes are made from vegetables and minerals with a water base. These natural elements are used in place of their synthetic chemical counterparts to give color to fabrics.
Soy Fiber Soy Fiber is a by-product of the refinement of soybeans for consumption. This is an example of turning something that was once a “waste” product into something that can be used and worn, and then can biodegrade if left uncovered in sunlight.
Chlorine-Free Whitening Chlorine-Free Whitening is a more environmentally safe method of bleaching cotton fibers than chlorine-based bleaches, because a chlorine-free whitening process can prevent chlorinated hydrocarbons from entering the environment. Companies like Seventh Generation, use a chlorine-free whitening process.
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