ORGANIC COTTON... Growing Market, Despite Major Obstacles
Cotton is the most widely used
fiber in the world today, comprising
40 percent of all fiber production.
Twenty- five million tons are grown
each year in 35 countries on five
continents. There are five prominent
types of cotton produced today:
Egyptian, Sea Island, American
Pima, Asiatic and Upland. The fiber
develops in closed, green capsules
known as bolls that burst open
when ripe, revealing the soft white
fibers that are so desirable and
useful in textiles manufacturing.
Cotton is extremely important as a
crop of international trade.
Natural—But Not
Environmentally-Friendly
Because cotton is such a valuable
money crop, the focus has been
on finding ways to grow cotton less
expensively—but those methods
have not always been good for our
planet. Cotton is attacked by boll
weevils, bollworms and other crop
damaging pests, so farmers have
become increasingly dependent on
chemicals, using pesticides as well
as genetic engineering of seeds to
help improve their yields.
Now that consumers are becoming
more aware of how their foods
and textiles are produced, they are
looking more closely at ORGANIC
cotton as a way to improve the
environmental footprint of this crop,
but converting major producers like
China (36 million bales) and India
(25 million bales) is no small task—
for many reasons!
The Organic Push
While it might seem like producers
would be jumping at the chance
to corner the demand for organic
cotton, annual worldwide production
is now only about one million bales,
with Turkey being the number one
producer and the U.S. following
closely behind.
While the number of organic bales
produced is growing, organic cotton
is still only about one percent of
total world production of cotton
fiber, with growing costs being the
point of resistance. Results from a
six-year study in the San Joaquin
Valley of California showed organic
cotton production costs running
approximately 50% higher than those
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of conventional cotton. Almost every
facet of crop production involved in
organic farming is more expensive
than conventional methods.
Organic farming does not mean
simply replacing synthetic fertilizers
and pesticides with natural ones.
The list of requirements for organic
certification (as outlined by US
Department of Agriculture National
Organic Program) also includes:
Seed Preparation: Organic cotton
begins with seeds that are not
genetically modified. The seeds
are also free from pesticides
and fungicides.
Soil and Water: Crop rotation is used
to help build healthy soil and to
reduce water use.
Weed Control: In organic farming,
weeds are controlled by
manual weeding.
Pest Control: Insects are controlled
by the introduction of predator
insects and by the use of trap crops
that lure insects away from the
cotton plants.
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Manufacturing: For fabric to be
certified organic, the mill equipment
must be cleaned of residues from
conventional cotton before it can
be used to weave organic fabric.
Most mills are reluctant to shut
down production to clean their
machinery for relatively small
runs of organic cotton.
Harvesting: In organic farming,
seasonal freeze or water
management is used to defoliate
cotton plants.
Despite significantly higher
production costs, organic cotton
does not currently enjoy a
comparable premium when farmers
are ready to sell their crop. Much
of this is likely due to the fact
that, unlike organic foods, organic
textiles are far more limited in their
production and distribution and
while organic cotton sounds like a
planet-friendly idea, designers and
consumers often have difficulty
making workable choices from
the very limited color and pattern
selections being offered by the
major fabric houses.
Organic cottons are being added to
certain collections and some smaller
fabric houses are now catering to
this new market demand.
Because of all the reasons listed,
organic cotton is still more widely
used in the making of clothing
rather than in home furnishings.
Can Fabric Protection Help?
Fiber-Seal Brand protective
treatments are the very best in the
industry. Our treatments can help
slow the penetration of liquids and
make oily soils easier to remove.
The Aftercare Pros!
Because the textiles world is always
changing, Fiber-Seal is ready to help
clients keep up with the demands of
all the newest fibers and fabrics.
You can also connect with us on
our social media networks!
Need Help With Fabric Cleaning
Or Fabric Protection?
Your local Fiber-Seal Service Center is ready to help and
just a few clicks away... find out which one is closest to
you by visiting www.FiberSeal.com/Locations.
Or, you can always give us a call at 214.333.9400 or
email us at [email protected].
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COPYRIGHT 2016
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