The importance of buying ethical t-shirts and being organic

Almost 50% of people say that while they care about the environment, they haven't considered the negative supply chain that their clothing has on the planet. So what do we do about it?  Go organic! Over half of world clothing is made from cotton. Choosing a sustainable organic alternative is by far, one of the most significant opportunities that we have to reduce the impact we have on the environment and humans. Let's look at the benefits of using organic cotton more closely.

Traditional cotton has earned the somewhat unfavourable nickname as the 'dirtiest crop on earth'. It is a superpower that consumes two-billion dollars of pesticides each year which is almost a fifth of the planet's usage. The pesticides and insecticides contaminate the water we drink, the soil that we use to grow edible crops and the air that we breathe. The contaminants are responsible for the deaths of many animals exposed to them. Not only does the industry affect our planet, but growing non-organic cotton releases greenhouse gases into our atmosphere each year. It's time to think about change and considering ethical t-shirts.

Unfortunately, then there is more bad news. Every non-organic cotton t-shirt uses 2,700 litres of water. Why is that so important? Freshwater is a limited resource, and many people don't have access to fresh water and have inadequate sanitation. Yet, we continue to process cotton in this way. Buying one organic t-shirt saves a staggering 2,457 litres of water, that's eight glasses of fresh water, for one person for three and a half years. Water scarcity is one of the primary concerns of the World Economic Forum. 

Cotton farming employs over 300-million people, the majority of whom live in developing countries. These people are exposed to harmful substances, earn very little and work long hours. Decreasing cotton rates, competition and climate change don't make things any easier. Is this an acceptable cost for buying shamefully cheap cotton? No matter how hard we look, there is nothing positive about non-organic cotton. It is unethical.

Organic cotton is grown without using toxic chemicals and leaves our atmosphere, soil, water and air pollutant-free. Conventional organic cotton growers prefer to use rainwater rather than irrigation. The growers also use useful insects for pest control rather than relying on all of the harmful chemicals used in pesticides. This is called biodiversity, so it is great for humanity and the earth. By choosing to buy organic cotton, you are enhancing the health of humans and animals and sustaining natural resources around the world.

Supporting organic agriculture is essential if we want to help improve the lives of millions of farmers. It is fairly traded and moderated, so it is, therefore, a safer and healthier environment in which they work. Not only will you protect them, but you'll also protect your own families from harmful substances and the health issues that surround pesticides. Many people have reported a remarkable improvement in various skin allergies that are related to the chemicals used in non-organic cotton. 

Ethical Tees use quality cotton grown without the use of herbicides or pesticides, and they are all Global Organic Textile Standard certified (GOTS). Working with trusted suppliers such as AS Colour, Stanley Stella and Earth Positive, they can ensure supply chain transparency, and understand where their products come from.