Organic Cotton Sheets vs. Regular Cotton: The Ultimate Guide to Better Bedding
We spend 1/3 of our lives in bed. We should be surrounding ourselves with bedding that feels good—and more importantly—bedding that is made to the highest standards of care. While cotton has been the fabric of choice for centuries, loved for its soft, breathable qualities, with modern advancements in farming and production, today’s regular (conventional) cotton has lost many of its most prized natural qualities.
Why are organic cotton bed sheets the best? Organic cotton is cotton in its purest form, and it's made better at every step. At Boll & Branch, we source the finest organic cotton in the world. Here, we break down the difference, and why it matters for you.
What Is Organic Cotton and Why Is It Better For Bedding?
Organic cotton is cultivated using environmentally conscious agricultural methods that prohibit the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides. Instead, organic cotton farming relies on natural processes and beneficial insects for crop protection. Grown from non-genetically modified (non-GMO) seeds, organic cotton is not only more environmentally friendly, it also adheres to stringent ethical standards, ensuring better conditions for farmers and ecosystems.
What Is Conventional Cotton?
Conventional cotton (or regular cotton) is cotton that can not be certified organic, and describes cotton as it is generally known today: cotton cultivated using modern agricultural methods, which are often reliant on synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Also important to note, conventional cotton is generally grown from genetically modified (GMO) seeds. As such, conventional cotton can be produced more cost-effectively and on a larger scale than organic cotton.
Why Organic Cotton Sheets Are Better For The Environment—And For You
Conventional cotton is often referred to as "the world's dirtiest crop" because of the environmental toll it takes to grow it. Cotton accounts for 16% of global insecticide use, despite occupying only 2.4% of the world's arable land, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).
Let’s take a look at the differences between the two as it relates to people and the environment:
The Impact Of Cotton Farming On The Health of Farmers & Workers
Conventional cotton farming utilizes significant amounts of synthetic pesticides and insecticides. These chemicals can have profound negative impacts on the health of farmers and agricultural workers. Long-term exposure can lead to various ailments including skin disorders, respiratory problems, certain cancers, and neurological damage.
Organic cotton farming doesn't use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, greatly reducing the health risks associated with chemical exposure for farmers. This leads to safer working conditions. Because organic cotton farmers experience fewer health issues than conventional cotton farmers, they are able to remain employed longer.
The Impact Of Cotton Farming On The Environment
This is a big topic, so we broke each point down into five main buckets.
To start, conventional cotton farming practices have devastating effects on the environment:
Water Pollution: The heavy use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is a significant contributor to water pollution. These chemicals can leach into groundwater or runoff into water bodies, affecting aquatic ecosystems and posing risks to human and animal health.
Soil Degradation: Intensive conventional cotton farming practices, including heavy chemical use and monoculture, can degrade soil health. The reliance on synthetic fertilizers depletes organic matter, disrupts soil microbiota, and contributes to soil erosion, reducing long-term soil fertility.
Biodiversity Loss: Pesticides used in conventional cotton farming don't discriminate between pests and beneficial insects. The widespread death of non-target species can upset the local ecosystem's balance, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. This lack of biodiversity can make the ecosystem less resilient to changes and could potentially lead to the extinction of certain species.
Water Consumption: Cotton is a water-intensive crop, and its cultivation often occurs in regions that face water scarcity. Conventional cotton farming requires large amounts of irrigation water, putting strain on water resources and contributing to water depletion in water-stressed areas.
Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Synthetic fertilizers used in conventional cotton farming release nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas approximately 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide—contributing to global warming.
These are major environmental concerns. To give a side-by-side contrast of the impact organic cotton farming has, we examine the same topics. Note how organic cotton farming practices not only reduce the environmental toll, but in many ways, these practices provide beneficial roles for the environment:
Reduced Water Pollution: By not using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, organic farming greatly reduces water pollution. Organic cotton farms typically implement buffer zones along water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or streams with native vegetation to help filter and absorb any potential runoff from fields.
Soil Health: By avoiding synthetic chemicals, organic farming helps maintain the natural balance of soil microorganisms, which are essential for soil fertility. Organic farming practices, such as crop rotation and using organic fertilizers, can improve soil fertility and prevent soil degradation.
Biodiversity Protection: Organic cotton farming tends to be more biodiverse, as it doesn't use pesticides that kill non-target organisms.
Water Usage: While cotton still requires a significant amount of water to grow, organic methods can be more water-efficient and help conserve water. This is due to healthier soil having a better ability to hold water, as well as the use of more efficient irrigation techniques.
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Organic cotton farming practices, like the use of organic fertilizers, cover cropping, and composting, enhance soil health and increase carbon sequestration in the soil. This helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), which contribute to climate change and air pollution.
What Standards Does Cotton Need To Meet To Qualify As “Organic”?
To meet organic standards, organic cotton must be grown and processed according to specific guidelines and requirements:
Certification and Inspections: Organic cotton farms must undergo a certification process by an accredited certifying agent and adhere to USDA organic standards. The certification process involves documentation review, on-site inspections, and compliance verification.
Processing and Traceability: For cotton to be sold as organic, the processing and handling of the fiber must also meet organic standards. This includes ensuring that organic cotton is not mixed or contaminated with non-organic fibers during ginning, spinning, weaving, and other processing stages. Organic certification extends throughout the supply chain to maintain traceability and integrity.
What Is GOTS Certification, And Why Does It Matter?
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) establishes and maintains the global standard for the processing, manufacturing, and labeling of textiles made from organic fibers. Its goal is to ensure the organic status of textiles, from the harvesting of raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing processes.
All Boll & Branch cotton fabrics are certified organic and comply with either GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OCS (Organic Content Standard). We utilize both certifications to accommodate our diverse product assortment.
GOTS partners with an organization called IFOAM Organic International, who inspects how farmers plant, grow and cultivate cotton. Any company seeking GOTS certification must first have their materials certified as organic by IFOAM. Once they are, these organic fibers can be processed, spun, and woven into fabrics.
To make any GOTS Certified fabric, at least 70% of fibers need to be organic, and you can look for the percentage of organic materials on the label itself. If a GOTS label simply says “organic” with no percentage, this means that the product is made from at least 95% organic fibers—indicating a higher level of purity. Since we only source the finest 100% organic cotton, each of our products falls under GOTS’ stricter, more selective organic label.
What Makes Boll & Branch Organic Cotton Better?
While many makers of organic cotton bed sheets tout the benefits of eco-friendly bedding and sustainable sheets, for us, the benefits extend into quality. Organic cotton makes up a very small percent of the world’s supply of cotton: only 1-2% of cotton grown every year is certified organic. Of that, Boll & Branch organic cotton represents the finest, long-staple fibers we can possibly source. Less than 0.6% of the world’s cotton meets our standards. We use long-staple fibers, which are difficult to grow naturally, to create softer, more durable threads, and, ultimately, the most luxurious bedding possible.
Which Boll & Branch Fabrics Are Made of 100% Organic Cotton?
Boll & Branch organic cotton sheets come in fabrications that are specially woven to have a distinct look and offer a unique feeling. Our bestsellers include:
- Signature
- Percale
- Signature Vintage Washed