Many of us might find it surprising to hear that one of the most popular forms of textiles used today, especially in Asian countries such as China, India, and Indonesia, is textile machinery that uses the cotton fabric to produce clothing. While this may seem shocking to Western eyes, it's a fact that more cotton clothing produced in these countries are becoming unsustainable. Cotton itself is a byproduct of the cultivation of many crops, which are then processed to make clothing.
Natural fiber
Cotton is a natural fiber and therefore biodegradable, but the production of cotton requires more land than most other fabrics. Because of this, farmers often use fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which cause toxic chemicals to be used in the process of growing the cotton, making them harmful for the environment. In addition, some of these chemicals seep into the soil and contaminate the water supply, making it unsafe for fish and other aquatic life.
The problem lies not with the production of cotton clothing but in the making of clothes from these organic fibers. Cotton, unlike other organic fabrics, does not decompose over time, so the byproducts remain in the soil and pollute it even after it has been harvested. As a result, they leach toxins into the soil, causing excessive chemical pollution. In addition, because these toxins cannot be properly removed from the water supply, they eventually end up in drinking water. This is a major concern, as many water bodies around the world have become endangered due to this problem.
Facing Difficulties in Growing Organic Clothing
Another issue facing many farmers is that the cost of organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics has increased steadily over the past few years, despite rising demand. One of the reasons for this is that it is now more difficult to grow organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics on a large-scale basis in places where it is commercially viable. These fabrics are very expensive to produce, meaning that it is no longer economically viable for large-scale farmers to grow them in order to sell them to consumers. In response, many smaller farmers have been forced to become competitive with the prices offered by the larger companies by producing products using less expensive and more efficient technology.
Cotton clothing, regardless of how it is produced, is still damaging the environment. As noted previously, cotton cloth contains a large amount of cotton fibers. These fibers are covered in chemicals, some of which can be carcinogenic and others that cause allergic reactions. Therefore, even if a clothing item is labelled as being organic, it may still contain traces of harmful chemicals and other toxins.
Environmental Friendly Clothing
If you are looking for clothing that is environmentally friendly and will not cause you or your children from harm, you should purchase organic clothing. Organic clothing is made from materials that have not had any chemicals added to them during the growing process, which makes them 100% natural. This means that you will be buying clothes that are healthier for you and your children and will not have irritating synthetic chemicals mixed into them. The benefit of buying organic clothing is not only skin-friendly, but also economical. It is cheaper to buy organic clothing than most other types of clothing on the market today. However, when you shop online, you will often find that the cost of organic clothing is considerably more than that of regular clothing due to the shipping costs.
Is cotton clothing sustainable? The answer to this question will depend largely on whether you are looking at the long-term effects of chemical exposure or if you just want healthy, green clothing that you can wear for a while. Clothing that is healthy and green can be worn daily for several years and will not cause skin reactions or other health problems over the long-run, but there are definitely health and environmental benefits to purchasing organic clothing.
Textile Industry
The textile industry will continue to expand for years to come, so there is no guarantee that you will ever be able to completely eliminate your use of cotton. However, if you are concerned about the damage that cotton is causing to the environment and the health of people around the world, then you should definitely consider switching to another type of fabric. Many consumers are also beginning to turn to cloth made from recycled materials. Cloth that has been produced from used clothing is often not as healthy as clothing produced from new materials, but it can be much more cost effective. So, is cotton really the "green" textile that you've been led to believe all along?