Organic Cotton

...organic cotton is of a higher quality and is noticeable softer. Sustainable Textiles means 100% organic clothing production is certified from farming through to finishing

 

As with all organic production organic cotton is produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, insecticides or fertilisers.

Our cotton is processed using biodegradable aids, AZO and heavy metal free dyes making our garments ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Our Organic line is certified by: Skal or Control Union. Organic production respects the environment.

What's the difference?

Grown without the use of herbicides insecticides and chemical fertilisers.
Pests and disease are controlled by natural methods.
Sustainability is key, the soil is kept fertile by rotating crops and using natural fertiliser such as manure from (organically reared) cows.

The plants being healthier, organic cotton is of a higher quality.
As the cotton must be fully traceable it is not mixed or downgraded with inferior quality cotton during processing.

Will I notice the difference?

Organic cotton is noticeable softer than conventional cotton. It is also very durable, wearing well over a long period of time. Organic cotton washes the same as other cotton.

Organic Sustainable Textiles

How are we unique? Terramar offers a range of 100% Organic clothing. With Terramar you know that the whole process of production is certified organic, from farming through to finishing.

It is common with organic textiles for the manufacturers to only certify the cotton used as organic. This means that only the cotton and not the finished garment is certified organic.

The garments we sell are ecologically sound and ethically sourced. See our Standards page for further information.

 

 

About...

Pesticides - Coventionally, during an eight month growing period 8 litres of (highly concentrated) pesticide would be sprayed on one acre of cotton. Conventional cotton production requires the use of huge quantities of pesticides and insecticides, which causes long lasting damage to the environment and health of local populations.

Cotton and tobacco are the two crops that, when conventionally grown, require a highly intensive application of pesticides and insecticides. Conventionally grown cotton alone accounts for the usage of 11% of all pesticides and 25% of all insecticides used in worldwide agriculture annually. This is particularly striking in light of the fact that only 2.5% of all agricultural land is used for growing cotton.

The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 20,000 people die of pesticide poisoning annually.

Water use - Both organic and conventional cotton farming requires the use large volumes of water. However, because of its use and need for pesticides, a conventional farm will use substantially more water. On average a conventional producer of cotton requires 3000 cubic metres of water per acre more than the organic farmer. As this water is used in conjunction with poisonous chemicals in the form of pesticides ground water becomes contaminated damaging the health of the local population and destroying the local environment.

Where cotton crops are rainfed, no additional ground water is used and if the cotton crop is also organic the water used to feed the cotton will not contaminate the groundwater supply and will therefore not damage the health of the local population or the environment.

Yield - In general, well managed organic cotton farms generally have the same yields or higher than conventionally grown cotton. GMO and BT cotton projects in India and China are beginning to show that far from being a miracle solution, GMO/BT cotton is causing more debt and problems for already impoverished farmers who are finding that despite growing GMO/BT cottonseed they still require to purchase insecticides and pesticides due to unexpected incidence of pests and disease.

Chemical fertiliser - Soil which is over treated by chemical fertilisers and insecticides becomes less productive with time requiring ever greater applications of chemicals so forming a vicious cycle resulting in the abandonment of the land as infertile and the poisoning of the local eco-system. Land farmed organically is more in tune with the eco-system, remains fertile and therefore provides a sustainable income opportunity.

Crop rotation - crop rotation is an important part of organic farming as it allows the soil to recover its natural chemical balance and fertility. Generally, each type of crop is only grown once every two years in the same area. For example, a potato crop grown in area A in year One will be grown in area B in year Two, while area A will have a grass crop rich in clover in year Two etc.

Cotton crops are often rotated with chilli crops as chillis grow in similar conditions and are a cash crop providing additional income to cotton farmers. Chillis also encourage natural pest predators for the protection of the cotton crops.

Natural pest and disease control - Common ways to control pests in organic farming involve encouraging natural predators. Depending on local conditions, certain species of bird, bees and ladybirds are encouraged. This is often done through the planting of plant and flower varieties in borders around the crop aimed at specifically attracting a particular species. This encourages bio-diversity and is self regulating.

About our Cotton
The cotton used in the production of our tees is sourced by our suppliers from farmers in Uganda, Turkey and India who are paid a premium of between 15-30% more than the market price of conventionally produced cotton.

Sustainable production is encouraged by our suppliers who guarantee purchase of the cotton crops and are very closely involved in the social and environmental aspects of the organic cotton projects. Our suppliers have been working with various organic cotton projects since 1989 and have established long term relationships with all those involved in the production of the cotton and have certain conditions which all involved comply with.

This is ensured by direct contact with and direct access to all producers in order to safeguard the authenticity and reputation of the fair trade and organic produce.

Our suppliers do not use production units where the basic rights of workers are disregarded or where child/forced labour is used. Minimum conditions include: access to clean drinking water, food and housing, fair payment, safety of the workplace, medical support.

The ecological aspect of production, that is, the organic part, is certified by the European organic certification body Control Union (formerly Skal International) which operates under the auspices of the rules set out in EEC REG. 2092/91 on production of organic agricultural products.

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