Natural vs Organic

// November 2nd, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Uncategorized

Natural vs Organic

Organic is a buzzword. Products with the “organic” label are abundant.  But does everyone know how to read the labels? Unfortunately, highly overwhelmed with different labels in the market, consumers are highly confused, in fact they are uninformed. For instance, what is the difference between “100% organic” and “organic”? What about the label that reads “Made with organic ingredients”? What is “natural” and how it differs from “organic”?

Eco Pulse 2009, one of four annual surveys conducted by Shelton Group, asked 1,006 consumers across the nation what they know about eco products. The latest Eco Pulse study showed that 31 percent of the American public prefers products with a “100 % Natural” label to the ones with “100% Organic”. And when it comes to organic products, just 14 percent of the population believes “100% Organic” is the best description to read on a label.

But the second key finding of the study is a little more worrying.  It reveals that confidence is high when it comes to products with a “Natural” label.  Consumers erroneously believe that “Natural” is a regulated term whereas organic is not regulated by the government.  They also think that “Organic” is a fancy label used to increase prices.  Contrary to these fallacies and urban legends, natural products do not live up to their promises , whereas organic products are certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hence they are trustworthy.  According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America, organic agriculture and farming remain the most strictly regulated sector in the country. Unlike natural products, certified organic products live up to the consumers’ expectations.

As the demand for organic food, apparel and other products increases significantly, it is highly critical to educate consumers and correct these inaccuracies.  Their confidence in the term “organic” must be gained.  Both the OTA and the USDA work relentlessly to inform consumers about the organic labeling.   They publish on their website what to look for when purchasing organic products. For instance, according to USDA, products labeled “100% Organic” must consist of only organically grown and produced ingredients and processing aids , whereas products with “organic” label must contain at least 95 percent organically grown and produced ingredients and processing aids.  Along with these highly strict federal standards, strong standards exist at the global level.

Among these, the most well known is the International Working Group’s Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard is composed of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Soil Association (UK), International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) (Germany), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association.  Companies, manufacturers, and producers wishing to be licensed must comply with all compulsory criteria for their products to be labelled “Global Organic Textile Standard”.

Another internationally recognized organization is Organic Exchange, “a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton” (www.organicexchange.com). Organic Exchange has developed two standards: OE 100 and OE Blended Standards. Companies wishing their products certified to these standards, should contact one of the Organic Exchange licensed certifiers.

Organic Apparel USA, an advocate and an industry pioneer of organic farming is certified to OE 100 Standards and Global Organic Textile Standards.  Through different initiatives and collaboration with other companies, Organic Apparel USA pushes for the adoption of stricter standards, organic practices, and code of conduct rules worldwide.

Organic cotton vs. Conventional Cotton

// November 2nd, 2009 // 6 Comments » // Uncategorized

Organic Cotton vs. Conventional Cotton

The difference between organic and conventional grown cotton is mainly in the farming methods used. Below comparison chart shows us the difference between organic cotton and  conventional cotton farming form seed preparation to harvesting Part.

SEED PREPERATION

Shocking Facts about Conventional Cotton

Worldwide, conventional cotton farming

• Uses 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers (formaldehyde, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, parabens, chemical dyes etc) per year

• Uses 25% of the world’s insecticides

• Uses only about 3% of the farmland but consumes approximately 25 percent of the chemical pesticides and fertilizers (84 million pounds of chemical pesticides per year)

Organic cotton saves lives

• No pesticides, hazardous chemicals (believed to cause up to a million cases of poisoning a year and 20,000 deaths)

• No formaldehyde (used as a finish): According to a National Cancer Institute (NCI)study, there is a link between formaldehyde exposure and cancer of the nasopharynx (the uppermost part of the throat)
• No nickel which can cause skin rashes.

USDA Organic Standards

Four principal labels for cotton fiber products are:
1. 100% Organic Cotton. This must contain 100% organically produced cotton.
2. Organic Cotton. This must contain 95% organically produced cotton.
3. Made With Organic Cotton. This must contain at least 70% organically produced cotton.
4. Made With __% Organic Cotton. This must contain the percentage of cotton advertised.

Global Organic Standards

International Working Group’s Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard is composed of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Soil Association (UK), International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) (Germany), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association.  Companies, manufacturers, and producers wishing to be licensed must comply with all compulsory criteria for their products to be labelled “Global Organic Textile Standard”.

Organic Exchange, “a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton” (www.organicexchange.com). Organic Exchange has developed two standards: OE 100 and OE Blended Standards. Companies wishing their products certified to these standards, should contact one of the Organic Exchange licensed certifiers.

What is organic cotton?

// November 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

What is organic cotton?

It is impossible to imagine a world without cotton products. Our undergarments, outerwear, workout clothing, bathrobes, beach towels, bath towels, kitchen towels, bed sheets, tablecloths, napkins you name it. Although new fabrics are being developed, cotton is never out of fashion. It is timeless, most trusted and comfortable.

Cotton is still the number one choice but our good old friend is not that innocent. 100% cotton is thought to be the safest choice, but there are some shocking facts about conventional cotton. For instance, according to Organic Trade Association (OTA), conventional cotton uses 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers per year. It also uses 25% of the world’s insecticides and 84 million pounds of pesticides per year. Unlike, conventional cotton, organic cotton is a safe and healthy choice. It offers all the benefits without the negative side effects of conventional cotton. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic chemicals that are harmful to our health and the environment.

In organic cotton clothing, there are no pesticides believed to cause thousands of deaths per year. In clothing made of organic cotton, there is no formaldehyde which is associated with skin rashes, asthma and other skin related allergies. And more importantly there are no carcinogenic azo dyes. Organic cotton does not only save lives, but also protects the environment. According to the definition agreed by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) at its April 1995 meeting in Orlando, FL, “organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”

Organic Apparel USA, as an organic clothing manufacturer has a mission to raise awareness, educate people about the benefits of organic cotton clothing. Organic Apparel USA works relentlessly with governments, NGOs and trade associations to expand organic cotton production and adoption of sustainable practices. A pioneer in organic apparel industry, Organic Apparel USA invests heavily in research and development (R&D) to find eco-friendly solutions. We also need the support of industry partners in our quest for a sustainable world. Our goal is to increase organic farming and organic cotton fiber production worldwide.

Organic Farming

// November 19th, 2008 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

Organic farming relies on ecosystem management to reduce and eliminate external agricultural inputs, particularly synthetic ones. It is a holistic production management system that promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.

Organic vs. Non Organic Farming

Unlike non-organic farming methods, organic farming emphasizes management practices, taking into consideration that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. Utilizing both traditional and scientific knowledge, organic agricultural systems rely on agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods (these may require external inputs of nonrenewable resources, like tractor fuel), as opposed to using synthetic materials. Organic farming is also associated with universal principles beyond cultural practices, such as fair trade and environmental stewardship, although this does not apply to all organic farms and farmers.

Organic farming bans the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and also it excludes genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In many countries the use of veterinary drugs is excluded as well. In a variety of countries, including the US, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia, India, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Costa Rica, Tunisia, and in the EU, organic farming is defined and enforced by law. That is the commercial use of the term organic to describe farming and products is regulated by the government. Where laws exist, organic certification is available to farms for a fee, and it is usually illegal for a non-certified farm to call itself or its products organic.
While organic farming methods vary, organic approaches share common goals and practices. These include soil protection (from erosion, nutrient depletion, structural breakdown), biodiversity promotion (e.g. growing a variety of crops rather than a single crop), and outdoor grazing for livestock and poultry. Within this framework, individual farmers develop their own organic production systems, determined by factors such as climate, market conditions, and local agricultural regulations.
It is important to note that organic farming is a reaction against the large-scale, chemical-based farming practices that have become the norm over the last 80 years. The differences between organic farming and modern conventional farming account for most of the controversy and claims surrounding organic agriculture.