Why is growing organic cotton better than growing conventional cotton?

Although organic cotton tends to be more expensive than conventional cotton due to its more expensive production, more and more consumers are looking for healthier and more environmentally friendly options and are choosing to buy organic cotton products.

At Quat'rues, the choice of organic cotton clothing quickly became the only option. Indeed, even if the figures for conventional and organic cotton cultivation can vary according to many factors, such as the region, weather conditions and farming practices, the differences between the 2 types of cultivation are such that they cannot leave any room for doubt. Here they are:

- Pesticide use:

Conventional cotton farming uses a lot of pesticides to protect the crop from insects and diseases. These chemicals harm the environment and can have adverse effects on human health when used in large quantities.
Organic farming uses natural methods, such as crop rotation, growing resistant varieties and using natural predators to control pests.

- Fertiliser use:

Conventional cotton is grown on a large scale using chemical fertilisers to feed the plants to increase production and yield.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. Instead, natural fertilisers such as compost and plant-based fertilisers are used to improve soil fertility. This approach is beneficial for the environment and for the health of the farmers who grow the produce.

- Ethical production (or not):

Conventional cotton accounts for more than 99% of the world's cotton production. The need for yield and productivity has left out any prospect of improving working conditions. Wages are very low and social benefits non-existent.
Organic cotton is very often grown ethically, giving a fair dimension to the clothes. The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification, for example, ensures that farmers and workers are treated well, i.e. paid fairly for safe work.
Quat'rues clothes are fair trade and organic. They are FairWear and GOTS certified.

- Water saving:

The amount of water needed to grow cotton varies depending on many factors such as climate, soil and growing practices used. It is estimated that conventional cotton farming requires on average between 12,000 and 29,000 litres of water per kilogram of cotton fibre produced.
Organic cotton farming generally uses more sustainable water management techniques such as drip irrigation, efficient soil management and rainwater harvesting, which reduces total water consumption. On average, organic cotton production requires about 60% less water than conventional cotton production. This is partly due to the cultivation of companion or intercropping plants that promote water retention in the soil.

- Product quality:

Organic cotton is often considered to be of better quality and softer than conventional cotton. This is partly because the chemicals used in conventional production can leave residues on the cotton fibres.

Thus, organic cotton cultivation can be widely regarded as more sustainable and environmentally friendly than conventional cultivation.
This is why all products offered by Quat'rues are and will remain made from 100% organic cotton. If we are looking for additional, more local resources, they too will certainly come from organic and sustainable agriculture.