Why Organic Cotton?

By choosing clothing made from organically grown cotton, your children can enjoy the benefits of cotton's beauty, comfort, and strength without harming the planet and the people in it. By some estimates, conventional cotton accounts for 10 percent of the world's pesticide use and 25 percent of insecticide use, making it one of the most toxic crops on earth.

Pesticides have been shown to cause a range of health concerns in humans, ranging from headaches, fatigue, nausea, asthma, cancers, neurological disorders and birth defects. The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that children exposed to methyl parathion, an insecticide, suffer memory loss and emotional swings. The World Health Organization estimates that pesticides poison at least three million people every year, with 200,000 people dying from pesticide poisoning annually [source: PANNA].

Your child can enjoy the incredibly soft feel of organic cotton, which is much softer, more durable, AND MORE NATURAL than conventional cotton.

ORGANIC COTTON CONVENTIONAL COTTON

SEED PREPARATION Uses UNTREATED seeds NEVER uses GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds	Typically treats seeds with FUNGICIDES or INSECTICIDES Uses GMO seeds for approximately 70% of US-grown cotton
SOIL AND WATER Builds strong soil through CROP ROTATION Retains water more efficiently thanks to increased ORGANIC MATTER in the soil	Applies SYNTHETIC fertilizers Loss of soil due to predominantly MONO-CROP culture Requires INTENSIVE IRRIGATION
WEED CONTROL PHYSICAL removal rather than chemical destruction Control weeds through cultivation and HAND HOEING	Applies HERBICIDES to soil to inhibit weed germination Repeatedly uses HERBICIDES to kill weeds that do grow
PEST CONTROL Maintains a BALANCE between "pests" and their natural predators through healthy soil Uses BENEFICIAL INSECTS, biological and cultural practices to control pests May use TRAP CROPS, planted to lure insects away from cotton	Uses INSECTICIDES heavily, accounting for approximately 25% of world consumption Uses PESTICIDES: the nine most common are highly toxic; five are probably carcinogens Frequently uses AERIAL SPRAYING, with potential drift onto farm workers, neighboring wildlife and communities
HARVESTING Relies mostly on seasonal FREEZE for defoliation May stimulate defoliation through WATER management	Defoliates with toxic CHEMICALS

The above information was taken from www.AboutOrganicCotton.org