Organic Cotton Products

 

Conventionally grown cotton is the most pesticide-dependant crop in the world, accounting for 25 per cent of the world’s pesticides. Experts believe that non-organic cotton contains chemicals that could affect consumers adversely. The chemicals left in the cotton could potentially cause allergic reactions to ezcema and asthma and moreover, chemically dyed cotton adds other potenitially harmful chemicals to the cocktail, making non-organic cotton even more potentially harmful to use.

Between one and three per cent of agricultural workers worldwide suffer from acute pesticide poisoning with at least one million requiring hospitalization each year, according to a report prepared jointly for the FAO, UNEP and WHO. These figures equate to between 25 million and 77 million agricultural workers worldwide.

Much of the world's cotton is grown in developing countries and as more and more pesticides and chemical fertilisers are used, the soil fertility is damaged. This in turn forces farmers to buy more chemicals to encourage their cotton plants to grow – thus sinking them and their families into debt. This means many of these farmers cannot afford to send their children to school.

One of the key aims of Globalkids is to improve the prospects for children in developing countries through the sale and promotion of baby and children’s organic clothing .

All of these facts have propelled a growing interest in organic cotton and especially in Organic Cotton Baby Products.

    

So what is organic cotton?

 

Organic cotton, which is used to make organic baby clothing is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.

• Organic cotton clothing is especially safe for people with allergies and chemical sensitivity, and organic baby clothes are particularly important for babies who have delicate skin.
• Buying organic clothes has the added advantage of safeguarding the environment, water quality and the health of people who grow, manufacture and use it.
• Choosing organic cotton clothes helps to support organic farmers who report substantially higher incomes, allowing them to educate their children and gain access to health care.
• Organic cotton feels softer and smells cleaner because the cotton fibres and left intact and the baby clothes are not finished with formaldehyde

How do we know that our children’s organic clothing is made from organic cotton?

When we source our designer baby clothes made from organic cotton we look for robust evidence from our ethical children’s clothing suppliers of organic certification.

Certification of organic cotton production adds credibility to the final product, assures the buyer of the organic status of the product and encourages payment of premium prices to farmers who engage in organic practices. When a grower or processor is certified organic, an independent organisation has verified that the company meets or exceeds defined organic standards. Certified organic farms are inspected regularly and must maintain comprehensive records of their production methods.

Most organic cotton certifications ensure two basic facts. First, that all fibres must be natural and grown organically. Second, every step in the process of cotton production (spinning, weaving, washing, etc.) has to meet certain criteria of environmental responsibility.

There are many certification agencies worldwide for organic cotton products which includes organic baby products and organic baby gifts and toys. The suppliers we deal with provide certificatiion from SKAL and the Soil Association.

Organic certification doesn’t only apply to natural and organic cotton baby products , the Soil Association also certifies organic baby skin care products. You can find more information on our organic skin care facts page.

What is fair trade?

 

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price).

 

Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

How do you know the fair trade toys and fair trade children’s clothing you buy is really fair trade?

 

There are a number of organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation that are dedicated to setting strict standards and then auditing producers, suppliers and fair trade retailers including fair trade websites selling fair trade clothing.

 

 

Fairtrade certified organic cotton clothing is a fairly new concept. Our organic baby clothing range from Bishopston Trading is fully fairtrade certified, including our best selling fair trade baby dungarees, but other products such as fair trade toys still currently fall outside of the certification process.

 

We ensure that all the fair trade suppliers we conduct business with are ethical and can substantiate their claims that products such as fair trade wooden toys or fair trade soft toys that they source or manufacture are really fairly traded.