Sustainable production starts with the raw material
For the holistic concept of sustainable and fair production to work, it is essential that everyone in the entire production chain does not experience any disadvantages. This starts in nature with the selection of the respective raw materials and continues with the farmers, the processing and the end consumer. Only when every step of the process is included and social understanding grows, will the trend of sustainable and fair production prevail in the long term and become suitable for the masses.
Cotton Greener than Polyester?
If you compare polyester, a synthetic material that is not exactly known for its environmental friendliness, with cotton, cotton is of course more ecological because it is something natural, isn't it? Unfortunately, "natural" does not apply to cotton in about 99% of cases, as in many cases genetically modified seeds are used and at the same time huge amounts of pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilisers are applied. As a result, on average a whole litre of chemicals is used to obtain one kilo of cotton.
Not only does the soil and nature in general suffer from this process, but we humans are also affected. Drinking water is contaminated and the farmers often suffer extreme damage to their health, especially in low-wage countries where, for reasons of cost and lack of education, hardly any protective clothing is used. With organic clothing, on the other hand, care is taken to ensure that the resources are of natural origin and are processed responsibly. Organic cotton does not use chemicals and uses organic fertilisers such as cow dung. In summary, organic cotton is definitely a step in the right direction towards more ecological sustainability.
What is the ADVANTAGE of organic cotton?
Environmentally friendly products are not only beneficial for the ecosystem, but also for the end consumer who comes into contact with them. Chemicals used in the production process are still partly present in the product, which comes into contact with the skin when worn. Not only can this lead to allergies and rashes, but other illnesses are also possible because the skin, as an "open" organ, absorbs everything and can easily transport chemicals into the body. Environmentally friendly T-shirts not only ensure that the body does not absorb any toxic chemicals when wearing the clothes, but at the same time indirectly support all those who were involved in the production, such as the farmers and their families. Because with every organic T-shirt, people's health is not unnecessarily endangered during production and it contributes to keeping drinking water clean and edible.
Use of recycled polyester
But the use of recycled polyester fibres also helps to significantly reduce the ecological footprint. The recycling of existing products or even PET bottles into the basic fibres so that they can be reintroduced into the production cycle significantly reduces the consumption of raw materials and requires only a fraction of the energy needed. The use of organic cotton and recycled polyester fibres is therefore the future of sustainable production and a big step in the right direction.
