Interesting.. Some real split opinions in this thread.
Here's some info from American Apparel on benefits of organic cotton:
Top Reasons to buy organic cotton:
"Organic crops are grown in balance with natural systems, eliminating the use of synthetic chemicals to ward off insects and weeds. Taking care of soil reduces the need to add artificial fertilizers to the land. When pesticides and other chemicals are used, they soak into the soil, into the groundwater and into people's bodies. Organic cotton helps protect us and future generations from the presence of dangerous chemicals and from the disruption of the delicate ecosystems that all organisms depend on. Buying organic products supports safe and environmentally sound methods.
Protect our health.
A 2005 study found that many Americans have levels of pesticides in their bodies significantly higher than those considered safe by the government. Many of the chemicals identified have been linked to infertility, birth defects, and cancers in children and adults. In the US, women, children, and Mexican Americans are found to have the highest levels of pesticides in their bodies. *
Studies have also found cotton among the crops most likely to cause pesticide-induced worker illness. Cotton is regularly sprayed with pesticides without formally notifying farm workers or surrounding communities, and agricultural chemicals often contaminate nearby air and drinking water.
* Read the study here:
http://www.panna.org/issues/publication ... ss-english
Support small-scale farmers.
Organic cotton is often grown on independent and family-owned farms, so buying organic products helps support these farmers both domestically and abroad.
Preserve wildlife.
At least 67 million birds and an estimated six million to 14 million fish are killed each year from pesticides often used in the cultivation of conventional cotton.
Maintain natural equilibrium.
Organic agriculture works with the presence of beneficial insects and micro-organisms in the soil. A single teaspoon of healthy topsoil can contain more micro-organisms than the total human population of the planet. Insects and birds are integral to healthy crop growth. Maintaining this equilibrium removes the need for synthetic additives that would otherwise be necessary to ward off pests and fertilize fields. Since healthy soil is the basis for agriculture, if the soil is not healthy or if it erodes, then things do not grow. It can take hundreds of years to generate just an inch of fertile topsoil—careless farming practices can cause that topsoil to wash away in only a few years.
Avoid genetic engineering.
Certified organic cotton is not genetically modified. Genetically modified (GM) crops are largely untested, potentially dangerous and cannot be contained within designated fields. Because they are designed to be stronger, GM crops run the risk of entering the wild and dominating or cross breeding with native plant species, posing a significant risk to biodiversity.
Protect our food.
60% of harvested cotton goes into the food supply as cottonseed. Cottonseed oil is used in everyday food items such as salad dressing, margarine and snack foods. Cottonseed oil is also used as animal feed, and pesticide residues accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, eventually ending up in meat and dairy products that we eat.
Organic cotton is preserving the climate.
The globalization of industrial agriculture is a leading contributor of greenhouse gasses connected with climate destabilization. Unsound farming practices release heat trapping gasses and employ many petroleum-based chemicals. Since organic cotton production relies upon natural growing processes that enhance soil fertility rather than overexploiting land, buying organic means supporting sound environmental practices."
So, in short, supporting organic clothing/food is whichever way you look at it, better for the environment which is directly better for you and I.
I also wholly support buying second hand from places like charity shops, as this means less garments, and consequently cotton is produced each year.
