materials Organic Cotton
Over recent years, the fashion industry’s impact on the environment has worsened to dramatic levels.
• Cotton plantations consume 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides
• 2.720 liters of water are needed to produce one t-shirt; the same amount is enough to quench the
thirst of a person for 3 years
• 123 g of chemical fertilizer are needed to produce one t-shirt
• The irrigation of cotton fields is one of the major causes for the desiccation of the Aral lake.
The differences between organic and non-organic cotton are rooted in the process of cotton farming used to grow the crops. Unlike traditional cotton, organic cotton is produced without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or other chemicals such as fertilizers. Farmers use natural techniques to ward off insects and threats, including releasing beneficial insects into the crops and covering them with natural materials to prevent invaders.
The ground water is not burdened during this process. The cultivation of organic cotton also reduces water consumption. This is possible due to a very old production technique called crop rotation. When using this technique the type of crops is changed regularly to ensure that the fertility of the soil increases. Not only does the increase of fertility reduce the need for water, it also makes fertilizers unneeded.
Last but not least organic cotton is healthier than conventional cotton and feels softer. The reason why organic cotton feels softer is that the threads that make up cotton have not been broken down or damaged by chemicals used in their growing process, making their surface smoother and nicer to the touch. Find below an overview on certificates, technologies and innovations of our producers.
OEKO-TEX ® Standard 100
The Organic Content Standard (OCS) relies on third-party verification to verify a final product contains the accurate amount of a given organically grown material. It does not address the use of chemicals or any social or environmental aspects of production beyond the integrity of the organic material. All RE-BELLO products in jersey bamboo, eucalyptus (Tencel) and beechwood (Modal Edelweiss) present this certificate. More information on Oeko-Tex.GOTS
The world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. Environmental criteria include, for example, the evaluation of all chemical inputs (e.g. dyes, auxiliaries and process chemicals) that must meet basic requirements on toxicity and biodegradability/eliminability. But GOTS certificate considers also social criteria: all processors and manufacturers must meet minimum social criteria based on the key norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). More information on Global-Standard.ECO RANKING
It is a challenge to find the perfect fabric among all sustainable materials. Different fabrics have different advantages and disadvantages for the environment in all the various phases of the production process.
Bamboo, for example, even if presenting very high benefits in farming (high soil yield, low water consumption, etc.), is an artificial fiber which needs to be extracted.
On the other hand, cotton is a natural fiber but it presents the disadvantage of the low soil yield and the fact that it steals precious areas that could potentially be used for food farming.
Our aim is to further improve the selection of sustainable materials and to concentrate, where possible, on new and innovative materials with a particular focus on upcyling&recycling.
