Organic Cotton: Good for your Baby, Good for the Planet!
The benefits of organic agriculture are now widely recognised: it has a low impact on the environment, promotes biodiversity, and produces tastier fruits and vegetables devoid of dangerous chemicals.
Over the past few years, the organic trend has also spread to the clothing sector. The cotton sector is one of the most polluting industries on the planet: the production process requires such a great deal of water and pesticides that it has caused grave environmental and health impacts to the regions where it is cultivated. The dyes used to color textile contain heavy metals and are therefore extremely harmful to the environment and to humans. Even farmers in Southern China have become accustomed to the fact that the rivers change color according to the chosen “couleur du jour” of the local textile factories!
The culture of organic cotton follows an entirely natural process: the use of chemicals, pesticides and genetically modified organisms is prohibited. The cloth is either left untreated or dyed using only low-impact environmental products. Even though it only represents a small fraction of the global production of cotton, it is slowly but surely gaining popularity and attracts the more environmentally friendly farmers. Today, most of the production comes from Turkey, Egypt, India, Peru and the USA.
Organic clothing is the ideal solution for babies and children. Their skin is a lot thinner than adults and therefore reacts strongly to external elements. It is only natural that it needs to be more protected. There are absolutely no risks of allergies or skin irritations with organic fabrics as no bleaching or harsh chemicals are used. Organic cotton is also more absorbent than regular cotton, which comes in handy for infants who spend most of their time laying down or crawling. Last but not least, organic fabric is more resistant and lasts longer than regular cloth – a feature that can prove very beneficial in a time when cost efficiency of products is essential!
There are a few places in Hong Kong to offer products that meet the highest organic certification standards set by organizations such as the EKO*, Control Union or Demeter. Organic certification insures that the production process meets the required “green” standard. This is done through a series of inspections; soil and water testing, testing of processing facilities, record keeping requirements, to ensure all standards are being met at all times.
Many products may be called organic, but are not necessarily genuine! It will be a guarantee that the product you have purchased is truly organic and not organically produced in one factory and artificially processed in another. To make sure a piece of clothing is made with certified organic cotton, simply look at the care label: it should clearly state “100% organic cotton.”
Going a step further, some shops even offer apparel that is manufactured in a socially responsible way by working with Fair Trade and Fair Wage suppliers around the world.
Buying organic clothing for toddlers and children is a truly responsible action. By acquiring the best quality clothes, parents can rest assured that their children won’t develop any type of allergy or skin disease. It is also a way to protect the planet and promote a healthy environment for farmers and textile workers around the world. As the famous Indian saying goes, “the planet does not belong to us, it is on loan from our children.”
- EKO: The use of the EKO Quality Mark is restricted to organic companies certified by Skal, a private non-profit foundation with a public task as certification and inspection body for the organic production in The Netherlands.
The EKO Quality Mark is only allowed on products containing more than 95% organic ingredients.
Organic Baby is located in Central and Causeway Bay. They have a wide range of adorable baby clothing, comfortable shoes, full sets of beddings and towels, cute soft toys that are safe for babies to chew. Visit www.organicbaby.com.hk or call 2882 6008 / 2882 6328 for more information.