Is Your Promotional T-Shirt Made of Un-Natural Cotton?

So I go to a "green" event and they hand out cottonAll equipment and processing of organic cotton must
canvas bags. The bags are reusable, sturdy andbe done separately from traditional cotton to avoid
made from a non-petroleum product and that's good.contamination. Organic cotton must also be certified
However, conventionally grown cotton is one of the(look for it on product information or labeling) to
most non-ecofriendly materials available forensure that each bale of cotton has been grown
promotional T-shirts and bags.using organic methods and that it has remained
Promotional wearables supplier Bodek & Rhodesuncontaminated throughout its journey from field to
reports that traditionally grown cotton uses 25% offactory to buyer. With all the meticulous farming,
insecticides and 10% of the pesticides used in theprocessing, and monitoring required for organic
entire world! They estimate that it takes 150 gramscotton, it is often more expensive than conventional
of pesticides and fertilizers to make one T-shirt.cotton.
Chemical fungicides, herbicides, and defoliants are alsoWhile the manufacture of organic cotton is more
used. Even to begin with, the cotton seeds areearth and people friendly than traditional cotton, the
frequently GMOs (genetically modified organisms).fact remains that land use needed to produce cotton
Natural? Hardly.is significant. And though land use may still be an
Why is this? If cotton crops are not rotated, whichissue, we are also seeing entries in the promotional
can be the case in traditional cotton farming, soilwearable and bag market that are made from soy,
becomes sterile and devoid of nutrients to fosterbamboo, corn, and other non-cotton plant-based
healthy crops and fend off pests and diseases. Thussources.
the need for genetically engineered seeds which areWould you believe it if I told you that in some cases
stronger, coupled with a healthy (??) dose ofpolyester fabrics are a more ecofriendly choice?
chemical support.Granted, polyester is not typically degradable, though
Intensive irrigation is also required. As noted in theit can be recyclable. And most people prefer the
book Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amorycomfort of cotton. But here's something to consider.
Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, traditionally producingAgain referring to the book Natural Capitalism, the
just one pound of cotton fiber takes about 2-1/2authors quote biologist Peter Warshall in reporting
tons of water.that the output of a 300-acre petrochemical plant
And all of this doesn't even take into considerationalong with a small acreage natural gas facility can be
the land use devoted to traditional cotton farming.equivalent to that of a 600,000 acre cotton farm.
Contrast conventional cotton farming with a trulyThat's around 0.1% of the land use!
natural alternative: organic cotton. Organic cottonMy prediction? Additives to enhance plastic
farming starts out with untreated non-GMO cottondegradability are becoming more common in
seeds. The seeds are planted in fields where cottonpromotional product offerings such as mugs. I think
crops are rotated to increase organic matter, buildwe might see manmade fabric T-shirts with enhanced
fertile soil, and increase water retention capability,degradability, too. Recycled polyester fibers are also
thus reducing water needs. Natural pest predators,creeping into the promotional product marketplace
trap crops, and cultivation methods are used toand help close the green loop by remanufacturing and
eliminate pesticide use. Hand weeding methods asrepurposing fibers for new uses to keep them out of
opposed to chemicals. Those of you who arelandfills.
gardeners know this is quite a job!