Organic Cotton: Why Bother?

Joanna Michaels

Did you know that natural cotton clothes might be the most toxic clothes you wear? Cotton represents about 40% of textile production in the world. About 30% of the pesticide and fertilizers produced worldwide gets sprayed or dusted on cotton, so your T-shirt made out of natural cotton may not be as natural as you might think. In fact, every T-shirt made of conventional cotton requires a quarter pound of harmful chemicals! 

Pesticides used to maintain cotton crops poison the earth and the people who tend to them. According to the USDA, about 50 million pounds of pesticides are used annually on cotton fields.

Consider 100% organic cotton -- it's healthy for you, your family, and the Earth. Organically raised cotton is produced without all the harsh chemicals mentioned above. More organic cotton means less harmful chemicals in our environment. Check out the websites below for amazing collections of environmentally friendly clothing and more.

Earth Wear 
Live Life Organics 
KidBean 
Organic Cotton Plus
Near Sea Naturals

JOANNA MICHAELS Joanna has been a middle school science teacher for 8 years. She emphasizes ways to live an environmental friendly lifestyle in her classroom on a daily basis. For two years before she began teaching, Joanna lived "off the grid" with her husband and son. She says those two years were the hardest of her life, but also the most memorable and enjoyable. She hopes to return to that lifestyle after she receives her doctorate.