Using current mainstream methods of cultivation, it takes almost a third of a pound (140 grams) of fertilizer and pesticides to produce enough cotton for a single t-shirt!

That's almost the weight of the t-shirt itself! Added to that, seven the most common pesticides used on cotton are either suspected or confirmed carcinogens. As the modern cotton industry has evolved, insects and weeds have become increasingly resistant to chemicals, meaning that more of these highly toxic chemicals need to be used.

In regards to water, at least 925 gallons (around 3,500 litres) are required to produce a single pound of cotton; and 60% of the water used to irrigate cotton is lost to evaporation and poor irrigation practices. The Aral Sea in Russia, which was one of the world's largest freshwater lakes, has practically dried up due to water being diverted for cotton irrigation.

Somewhere in the region of 79 million acres of land is currently utilized for the production of cotton globally.

The environment has paid a huge price for our cotton demand.

Organic cotton

In recent years, some producers have banded together to create an organic, sustainable cotton industry. Changes to common practices such as using manure to replace synthetic fertilizers, biological pest controls instead of pesticides and more efficient weeding strategies are being developed to help minimize the impact that cotton growing and product has on our planet. Crop rotation is also used to rest the land between plantings. Different crops are planted during the rotation period in order to restore fertility to the soil.

In order for a field to be certified as organic it needs to be pesticide and herbicide free for at least three years.

Cost of organic cotton

While the organic cotton industry is doing very well, it's still in its infancy. Growing organic cotton is a labor intensive process. Also, given the crop rotation requirements, it means that growers harvest less. This increased labor and decreased production does reflect in the price of 100% organic cotton garments, but some companies are minimizing price increases by using blends of organic and non-organic cotton.

Misleading companies

When buying organic cotton items, check to see if it's 100% or blended. If it's the latter and an amount isn't stated, there's a possibility that as little as 1 - 3% of the cotton used in the item is organic. You'd be surprised at how many of the big name brands have tried to fool consumers using this strategy. If in doubt, contact the company and ask them straight out "what percentage of organic cotton do you use in X".

Organic cotton - truly sustainable?

While the attempts of some cotton producers to produce a more earth-friendly product are surely admirable, it's my understanding that given the nature of the cotton plant it will always be an industry that requires incredible, and perhaps unsustainable amounts of water. If impact on water supplies is something that's of great concern to you in your purchase choices; you may want to investigate alternative fibers for your clothing, such as hemp or perhaps hemp and organic cotton blends.