That t-shirt you’re wearing, that cardigan on your child’s back, that scarf around your neck or the hat on your son’s head all look relatively normal, right? But everything we wear has gone through a long, resource-intensive production process and, unless certified organic, has likely been subjected to a plethora of chemicals and toxins that are not only hazardous to our skin but to our environment.
COTTON: THE TRUTH
Cotton is considered to be the world’s ‘dirtiest’ crop and here’s why:
- For every 1 pound of cotton produced, approximately one third of a pound of chemical pesticides and fertilisers are used. When you consider that it takes roughly 1 pound of raw cotton to make a t-shirt that’s a staggering amount of toxins against your child’s skin.
- 25 per cent of the words insecticides are used on cotton crop, making it one of the most chemically treated crops in the world. The overspray from the toxic chemicals can travel up to two miles contaminating the air that you breath and the food that you eat. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that up to 2 million birds may be killed annually from just one of the insecticides used on cotton.
- The cotton industry is renowned for human rights abuses and slave labour with many workers living in poverty.
THE HIDDEN TOXINS IN THAT BABYGROW
All fabric starts as a fibre that must be grown, harvested, spun and then subjected to chemical processes. Supposedly, these chemicals are said to be ‘washed away’ but, since most of the world’s textile factories are located overseas in locations such as India and China where safety precautions are not regulated, we are never guaranteed this is the case. Cue those nasty rashes, fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and a host of other ailments linked to toxin exposure. Some of the hidden toxins include:
- Caustic soda
- Formaldehyde
- Flame Retardants (a known carcinogen)
- Halogens and bromines
- Urea resins
- Sulfuric acid
- Ammonia
THE TOXIC TRADE-OFF
10 reasons why you should choose organic cotton clothing for your baby
Our skin is the largest organ in our body and since everything we eat and wear is absorbed into our blood stream, it makes sense to consider how our clothing and food is made. Buying clothing made from organic cotton means:
- No pesticides or chemicals are used when growing the cotton
- The soil must be free from chemicals for at least three years
- Organic clothing undergoes strict regulations meaning less negative impact on our environment
- Clothes get softer with every wash
- Clothes are more durable lasting longer
- Better lives for cotton farmers
- Fairer treatment of workers
- Higher quality products
- Less corporate control of cotton farms
- Helps promote a sustainable economy
TIPS FOR BUYING ORGANIC
- It’s certified by an industry standard body
- Dazzling colours usually indicate the presence of toxins
- Organic clothing has no artificial scents
- Organic clothing has no chemical bleaches
- Fairtrade alone is not organic, but optimal sustainability is certified organic and Fairtrade together
- Non-organic clothing often smells of chemicals
To see White & Green's new organic baby range, click here.
