COTTON USA IS SOFT, SENSUAL AND NATURAL

NEWS

Consumers urged to look 'behind the label'

Consumers are increasingly conscious of where the products they buy come from, how they are made, what they are made of, and what impact this has on the environment and society.

In line with this, terms such as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ are now part of everyday language. These are increasingly used in clothing and textiles, but consumers often need to look ‘behind the label’, to satisfy themselves of a garment’s real sustainable credentials.

Results from the Global Lifestyle Monitor™ reveal that consumers throughout the world trust cotton to be the safest fibre for the environment. Can the U.S. cotton industry support this with fact?

For agriculture to be sustainable it must balance quality of life, the environment and economic factors to enable people to enjoy the benefits of the product being farmed, both now and in the future.

There are three points to remember. Firstly, the adoption of modern farming technology minimises the environmental impact of cotton production by ensuring that there is now less land, water and energy use, less soil erosion, and reduced pesticide application per unit output. U.S. cotton is regulated as a food crop and its production only uses a small amount of pesticides compared with other crops, such as fruits, vegetables, rice and corn.

Secondly, cotton is a principal contributor to local economies. The production and processing of natural fibres worldwide employs hundreds of millions of people, particularly in developing countries. Cotton generates hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity as it moves from production at the farm level through processing and retail.

Finally, cotton is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre that provides apparel, home textiles, and even food and medical products for our comfort and benefit.

So, the U.S. cotton industry is committed to producing cotton in a sustainable manner, taking into account the economy, environment and social responsibility, to ensure that people can continue to reap its natural benefits, today and in the future.

Further information is available on the environmental responsibility page of our website.