Sustainable Improvement
Over the last month or so I have been asked on a couple of occasions what is the difference between organic cotton and ‘sustainable cotton’. It is a question that needed some research.
Let’s start with the basics. Organic cotton is grown and produced by certified standards which includes non-genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds and without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Certification for organic cotton comes in two types, a farm-level certification and a finished product certification. Sustainable cotton is promoted heavily in America and has a broader brush which not only covers the above but also how the cotton crop is grown and harvested. It is promoted under the Better Cotton Initiative, a label that is becoming more visible. Certification takes into consideration the labour and human rights practices involved in addition to the environmental practices. It could be said that it’s a more holistic approach.
As a definition, ‘sustainable’ means development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Sustainable cotton is therefore grown in a way that can maintain levels of production with minimal environmental impact, can support viable producer livelihoods and communities, and can do so in the face of long-term ecological constraints and socio-economic pressures. Two of the biggest cotton garment manufacturers in the T-shirt business, Gildan and Fruit of the Loom, have both committed to sustainable cotton manufacture using the BCI certification and are heavily promoting these benefits. Organic cotton still has its place and commands a strong position. However, with only 1% of the world’s cotton production being organic, and with a high demand from the retail sector, prices are rocketing and there is a need for an alternative eco solution.
Sustainable cotton has to be another step in the right direction but will need to work hard on its communication. Messages such as ethical manufacturing, transparent supply chains, independent certifications and responsible sourcing all need to be substantiated and become a true validation when choosing the next promotional garment you offer a client.
It still has a long way to go but it does offer the customer different choices and certification between organic cotton, sustainable cotton and regular cotton. Any choice that is better for the environment has to be supported. Happy selling, Clive (The Bag and Clothing Guru).
