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Purchase clothing made from organic cotton

Why This is Green

Wearing what you already own, participating in clothing swaps, and shopping vintage when you want something new-to-you is as green as it gets. Inevitably the desire will strike for something truly new. Choosing organic cotton or other natural materials can drastically reduce the impact of what you buy.

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, conventional cotton farming uses about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides. The pesticides used on cotton happen to be among the world’s worst: five of the nine most commonly used have been identified as possible human carcinogens. Others are known to damage the nervous system and are suspected of disrupting the body’s hormonal system. One widely quoted statistic is that it takes one-third of a pound of chemical pesticides to produce one conventional cotton t-shirt.

Manufacturing synthetic fabrics, including polyester, is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of crude oil and pollutes the air, which can cause or aggravate respiratory issues.

Beyond fabrics, other eco-concerns pepper the manufacturing chain: processing and washing are water-intensive; chemicals used to bleach and dye clothing harm our waterways; formaldehyde is used on permanent press fabrics; packaging and transportation take a toll.

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How To

Certified organic cotton is a solid alternative to conventional cotton and synthetic fabrics. For patterned or colored items, look into what kind of dyes are being used. Wool and hemp are also good choices, especially if they were sustainably raised/grown and produced. Always read the fine print.