Is organic cotton better than natural cotton? Yes! Organic cotton is a far-superior alternative to traditional or natural cotton in terms of sustainability and environmental impact. Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or insecticides for crop-harvesting, organic cotton farming promotes environmentally friendly practices such as compost, efficient water-use management, and natural biological controls. Moreover, organic cotton is processed without toxic chemicals like bleaching agents or dyes which would otherwise negatively affect the environment. Organic cotton is a great way to drastically reduce any human footprint on nature.
Investing in futon cotton mattresses is not merely a comfort investment but an opportunity to promote regenerative farming. Did you know that when you sleep on a futon cotton mattress, you’re helping the environment? That’s because futon mattresses are filled with cotton grown through regenerative farming methods. Regenerative farming emphasizes soil health and biodiversity, allowing farmers to reduce their reliance on inputs like chemical fertilizers and artificially produced seeds. By choosing cotton grown through this approach, futon mattresses not only offers superior comfort but also contribute to a healthier future for our planet.
Benefits Of Organic Cotton
Breathable
Durable
Pesticide free
Hypoallergenic
Eco Friendly
No dyes
What is regenerative farming?
Organic farming is becoming increasingly popular as a way to help combat climate change. In particular, Regenerative Organic (RO) farming practices have the potential to be extremely beneficial in stopping global warming. These practices revolve around five key principles such as Soil Armor, Diversity, Continual Live Plant/Root, Livestock Integration and Minimizing Soil Disturbance. Organic farms are a much more sustainable alternative than traditional methods as they reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, preserve soil health and retain the topsoil's full carbon reservoir.
The 5 Principles of Regenerative Farming
- Principle 1: Soil Armor.
- Principle 2: Diversity.
- Principle 3: Continual Live Plant/Root.
- Principle 4: Livestock Integration.
- Principle 5: Minimizing Soil Disturbance.
Why Is Organic Cotton Better?
LEARN MOREAll About Cotton Farming:
Organic Cotton Production Handling Requirements:
The producer or handler of a production or handling operation intending to sell, label, or represent agricultural products as organic, must ensure that production practices must maintain or improve the natural resources of the operation, including soil and water quality. The producer must develop an organic production or handling system plan that is agreed to by the producer or handler and an accredited certifying agent, such as USDA for organic cotton fiber. An organic system plan must meet the requirements for organic production or handling. Natural Cotton Production Handling Requirements: Do not have to be certified by a third party.
Organic cotton production and handling system plan:
Organic product and handling system plan must include a description of practices and procedures documented through record keeping that is audited by the 3rd party agent annually. Lists of each substance to be used as a production or handling input, indicating its composition, source, location and where it will be used. Management practices and physical barriers established to prevent commingling of organic and nonorganic products on a split operation and to prevent contact of organic production and handling operations and products with prohibited substances; and additional information deemed necessary by the certifying agent to evaluate compliance with the regulations.Natural cotton production and handling system plan there is no standard plan or production and handling of conventional cotton.
Organic Cotton Land requirements:
Any field or farm parcel from which harvested crops are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “organic,” must: have been managed in accordance with the provisions organic farming and have no prohibited substances, as well as applied to it for a period of 3 years immediately preceding harvest of the crop; and have distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones such as runoff diversions to prevent the unintended application of a prohibited substance to the crop or contact with a prohibited substance applied to adjoining land that is not under organic management. Natural cotton land requirements Crop rotation. Rotating crops annually establishes a natural balance that minimizes large pest infestations that can grow each year
Organic Cotton Soil fertility and crop nutrient management:
The producer must select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion. The producer must manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials. The producer must manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances. The producer must not use: Any fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a synthetic substance not included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. Natural cotton soil fertility and crop nutrient management Cotton crops grow stronger and result in better yields with proper nutrition, making soil fertility a key priority for all conventional cotton farmers, and they rely on fertilizers, applying a mix of needed nutrients to their fields. These can be in the form of dry, granular fertilizers applied directly to the soil or liquid fertilizers that are sprayed onto the field.
Organic Cotton Seeds and planting stock:
The producer must use organically grown seeds, annual seedlings, and planting stock. Natural cotton planting stock producers can use GMO seeds or conventional cotton seed.
Organic Cotton Crop rotation:
The producer must implement a crop rotation including but not limited to sod, cover crops, green manure crops, and catch crops that provide the following functions that are applicable to the operation. These process include, improve soil organic matter content; provide for pest management in annual and perennial crops; manage deficient or excess plant nutrients; and provide erosion control. Natural Cotton crop rotation Even conventional cotton farmers must utilize crop rotation. Organic Cotton Crop pest, weed, and disease management: The producer must use management practices to prevent crop pests, weeds, and diseases. The producer uses crop rotation, and sanitation measures to remove disease vectors, weed seeds, and habitat for pest organisms. Cultural practices that enhance crop health, including selection of plant species and varieties with regard to suitability to site-specific conditions and resistance to prevalent pests, weeds, and diseases. Pest problems may be controlled through mechanical or physical methods including Introduction of predators or parasites of the pest species; Development of habitat for natural enemies of pests; Nonsynthetic controls such as lures, traps, and repellents. Weed problems can be controlled through: Mulching with fully biodegradable materials; Mowing; Livestock grazing; Hand weeding and mechanical cultivation. Disease problems may be controlled through management practices which suppress the spread of disease organisms; Application of nonsynthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs. The producer must not use lumber treated with arsenate or other prohibited materials for new installations or replacement purposes in contact with soil or livestock. Natural Cotton Crop pest, weed, and disease management is horse of a different color. Because cotton is attractive to a range of pests, and subject to diseases and weed infestations, many harmful pesticides are used, this includes the use of bio-control agents, pheromones and hormones; plant breeding and appropriate cultivar selection; various cultural and mechanical techniques; the application of conventional pesticides (both natural and synthetic) and more recently, the use of genetically modified plants. However, the use of synthetic pesticides is a dominant form of crop protection. Given this dominance, and that inappropriate or improper use of pesticides can adversely affect human health, contaminate water sources, food crops and the environment.
Click to read more about Organic Cotton Vs Regular Cotton
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Click to learn more about What is Natural Mattress Fiber?
Click to read about How Is Cotton Harvested?.
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Click to learn more about egyptian vs. pima cotton.
Click to discover what it takes to find certified organic cotton.
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