What Makes Cotton Organic? And Why It’s Sustainable

Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, using farming methods designed to protect soil health, promote biodiversity and minimise impact on surrounding ecosystems.

When cotton is certified organic, it has been independently verified,helping you spot greenwashing and choose a more sustainable option for your clothes and home textiles.

Read on to learn what makes cotton organic, how it differs from conventional cotton, and why it’s a better choice for people, nature and our planet.

What Is Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton is a moresustainable alternative to conventional cotton, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers and without genetically-modified seeds. Instead, organic farmers focus on building fertile soils andsupporting biodiversity.

How Is Organic Cotton Produced?

Cotton is a plant with fluffy white fibres that grow around its seeds. These fibres are harvested and spun into thread. Organic cotton is grown according toorganic farming methods, which can include:

• Using natural, preventative approaches to manage pests

• Minimising disruption to surrounding ecosystems

• Maintaining natural resources on the farm, like hedgerows and woodland

• Building healthier soils for long-term fertility

• Rotating crops to support soil nutrients naturally and avoid the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers

Once cotton leaves the farm, organic standards and certifications may also cover how it’s processed, including dyes, finishing chemicals and the environmental impact of manufacturing.

Organic cotton is grown with respect for biodiversity and in harmony with nature's systems and cycles.

How Does Organic Cotton Help the Environment

While conventional cotton consumes200,000 tonnes of pesticides and 8 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, organic cotton is grown tominimise environmental impact in the following ways:

1. Protecting Soil Health

Organic farmers focus on building healthy soil through crop rotation and the use of natural fertilisers. Not only does fertile soil help to protect arable land in the long-term; it can also store more carbon in soils over time, supporting climate resilience.

We love the documentaryKiss the Ground which shares more about the benefits of soil health:

2. Saving and Conserving Water

While depleted soils releasewater quickly, healthy soils can hold water like a sponge and release it more slowly, helping crops cope during dry weather.

Organic farming also avoids the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, which can pollute rivers and harm aquatic ecosystems througheutrophication.

3. Supports Nature and Biodiversity

Organic cotton is grown in a way that encourages wildlife and beneficial insects to keep pests in check, rather than synthetic pesticides. By managing natural resources, organic farmers can also protect wildlife habitats. For example,one gram of soil alone can be home to up to 10 billion microorganisms.

4. Empowering Farmers

Organic farmers don’t just grow cotton, but instead often cultivate diverse crops that keep their land healthy in the long-term and provide communities with a more resilient source offood or income.

Since organic standards don’t allow genetically modified cotton seeds, organic systems can also reduce reliance on GM seed supply chains, allowing farmers to maintain independence and save their own seeds.

Moreover, avoiding synthetic pesticides helps protect farm workers from hazardous chemical exposure.

If you want to use organic cotton in your home, everyday essentials are a good place to start. At Wild & Stone, our tea towels, hand towels, dish cloths, napkins and hair ties are all made of organic cotton.

How to Choose Organic Cotton

When buying organic cotton, it’s worth checking for trusted labels and certifications. These can help you understand what a product is made from and its manufacturing process:

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

GOTS is a leading standard for organic textiles that covers the entire supply chain from harvesting through to environmentally and socially responsible processing and manufacturing.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is a safety certification that tests textiles for harmful substances based on their intended use. Requirements are stricter for products that have more skin contact.

Organic Content Standard (OCS)

OCS is a voluntary standard that verifies the presence and amount of organically grown material in a product and tracks it through the supply chain.

While organic cotton is a more sustainable option than conventional cotton, it isn’t impact free. To make your purchase count, choose pieces you’ll genuinely use. If youwash and care for your organic cotton belongings properly, you can keep them in rotation for years. 

Our organic cotton tea towels are OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning they've been tested for harmful substances.

Organic Cotton for Your Home

When you switch to organic cotton, you are helping to support farming that’s better for soil, waterways, and the people who grow and make our textiles.

Choosing organic doesn’t mean throwing out what you already own. Instead, it’s about making a conscious choice whenever you need to replace everyday essentials in your home.

If you’re ready to start, we offer reusable staples liketea towels,hand towels,dish cloths,napkins and evenhair ties, all made from organic cotton and OEKO-TEX® certified.

At Wild & Stone, we choose organic cotton because we don’t want to contribute to the use of harmful chemicals that enter our waterways and seas, harming our environment and planet.