zee skinny on organic cotton

 

conventional cotton (booo!)

Cotton is a fiber woven throughout our world, and the way in which it is cultivated and grown bears significant impact on its environment, its communities and the individuals involved. Here are some facts on conventional, that is non-organic, cotton production:

  • Roughly 5% of the world’s agricultural land today is used for farming cotton, the vast majority grown using significant quantities of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
  • Conventionally grown cotton is the 2nd most pesticide-laden crop in the world (after corn),
  • The crop consumes 25% of the insecticides, more than 10% of the pesticides used worldwide (275 million pounds in the US alone).
  • Conversion of conventional cotton into clothes uses numerous toxic chemicals at each stage - silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, softeners, brighteners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde - to name just a few.

    ...that new shirt smell just doesn't seem the same...


consider yourself educated.

"One acre of organic farmland can absorb and store 3500 lbs. of CO2 per year effectively removing this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere."
(Organic Trade Association)

 

Skal Certification

Our onezees are made with 100% certified organic cotton fibres. In fact, the entire onezee production is SKAL-certified.


EKO certification

zee seal of approval

Skal International is a non-profit foundation that that inspects organic harvesting and production methods in accordance with the public law, based on EU-Regulation (EEC) nr. 2092/91. This occurs by order of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The office is located in Zwolle and counts 20 employees, cool, eh!

Skal's final aim is to offer certainty to the consumer that a product with the indication "organic" really originates from an organic production process. Skal realizes this by an independent survey of the organic producers by means of inspection and certification

 

 

 

organic cotton (yeah!)

Organically grown cotton is cotton grown in soil that has been certified free from pesticides, herbicides and other cytotoxins for at least three years, Organic farming uses 50% less fossil fuels than conventional agriculture. way cool.

Organic cotton farming builds strong soil through crop rotation, compost and tillage, retains water more efficiently because of increased organic matter in the soil, and results in production yields either the same or better than conventional cotton.

Certified organic cotton farming also prohibits the use of genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, toxic and persistent synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. By its very nature organic cotton cannot be grown from genetically engineered seed.

Zee Spot's manufacturer in India uses a delicate combination of buttermilk, cow's urine (holy cow!) and neem oil to reduce infestation of their cotton crops.

 


Photo courtesy of The Organic Exchange

 

hope in numbers...

"Global organic cotton product sales are projected to skyrocket to $2.8 billion US by the end of 2008, reflecting a 116% average growth rate" (Organic Exchange).

"In 2005, US organic fiber products sales grew by 44% to reach $160 million US, with the infant clothing and diaper category the second fastest growing, with 40% per
annum growth". (Organic Trade Association)

 

you now have zee power to make a difference.

 

related links

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