[edit] Guide Note:
Cotton originally began in India and has been grown more than 6,000 years. It is one of the most widely traded commodities on earth.
[edit] Conventional Cotton
The chemicals used on cotton are among the most toxic substances used in farming, the runoff from irrigation seeps into our drinking water and contaminates it. Cotton was hand picked up till the late 40's or early 50's when it then was harvested mechanically. It then goes to a cotton gin where the seeds are removed.Cotton is the most versatile, durable and comfortable of all the fibers either natural or synthetic.In the U.S.during one season, they use 600,000 tons of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on cotton.
[edit] Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is grown using low impact on the environment. Organic cotton is starting to be more in demand each year. Many people are allergic to the chemicals in cotton and have turned to alternative means. Land can not have any chemicals used on it for three years to qualify it to grow organic cotton. Turkey, India and the United States grow the most organic. It has been proven the fiber strength is the same as conventional cotton.
[edit] Fair Trade Cotton
Fair Trade monitors the entire process. Make sure there is respect for the workers, and have good working conditions and fair wages. They also protect workers by control and reduction of pesticides and chemicals.
[edit] By-Products
Cotton seed oil is extracted from the cotton seeds. This is made into a oil and commonly used in potato chips and other snacks.
Cotton that is left in the fields are used for cattle feed as is the gin trash.
[edit] Fast Facts:
- U.S. paper currency isn't paper at all,it's a blend of 75% cotton lint and 25% linen
- 480 pound bale of cotton can be made into 313,600 $100.00 bills
- 215 pairs of jeans and 1,217 T-shirts can be made from a bale of cotton
- Between 1920 and 1922, the Boll Weevil caused cotton production in South Carolina to drop 70 percent
- Cotton fabric has been used to make clothing since 2200 BC
- Arabic peoples called it "Qutun," which is where we get the word "Cotton"
- Sheer cotton muslin, woven in ancient India, was so fine that 73 yards of it weighed one pound
- 1913: Mills in Lancashire, England exported 7,000,000,000 yards of cotton fabric, 221.97 yards per second
- Ancient Egypt, only the High Priest was allowed to wear a cotton garments
