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Certified Organic Cotton Towels

Conventionally Grown Cotton

Conventionally grown cotton is a very chemically intensive crop and consumes approximately 25% of the insecticides and 10% of the pesticides used for agriculture. Producing enough cotton for one T-shirt requires about a 1/3 to 1/4 of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers. According to the US Department of Agriculture, fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2003 and over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional cotton in 2000. Synthetic chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticide use increases the likelihood of human exposure even if there is no direct contact with these substances. These chemicals leach into the groundwater and contaminate our drinking water and end up in our food supply. Their production requires use of non-renewable petroleum based ingredients and the manufacturing process, storage and transportation produces more potential pollution.

The US Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens. The US General Accounting Office has said "Exposure to pesticides can cause a range of ill effects in humans, from relatively mild effects such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea, to more serious effects such as cancer and neurological disorders. In 1999, EPA estimated that nationwide there were at least 10,000 to 20,000 physician-diagnosed pesticide illnesses and injuries per year in farm work. Environmental effects are evident in the findings of the U.S. Geological Survey, which reported in 1999 that more than 90 percent of water and fish samples from streams and about 50 percent of all sampled wells contained one or more pesticides. The concern about pesticides in water is especially acute in agricultural areas, where most pesticides are used."

The Definition of Organic and "Certified Organic"

The National Organic Standards Board of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic agriculture as "An ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony." Certified Organic means a verification process was performed by an independent state or private organization to ensure that the strict organic standards were followed in the crop or product's production. Organic standards regulate the farm production of the raw material, but the finished materials can be treated with synthetic chemicals and toxic dyes and still be labeled Organic. When choosing Organic products, it is important to know if the product was made from "Certified Organic" base materials and any potentially harmful finishing processes used to produce the final end product.

The Benefits of Organic

Cotton textiles make up half of the planet's fabric sales, therefore making a shift toward organic production will have a major beneficial impact on all of us by reducing toxic chemical human exposure and pollution to our air, water, food and land. Organic crop production is based on a system of farming that doesn't use toxic synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides to replenish and maintain soil fertility. Supporting Organic agriculture means toxic synthetic pesticide exposure can be reduced in our families and in our environment. It also helps to create a market transformation in which higher demand reduces costs and provides finished goods through more mainstream sources.

Organic Cotton Farming

The Cost of Organic

There are several factors that impact the cost of Organic products. At the present time, Organic textile products cost more than a comparable conventionally grown textile product. As demand for Organic products increase, the growing, manufacturing and distribution costs will decrease to a point closer to conventionally grown products. Here are a few reasons why Organic textiles are more expensive.

• Economies of Scale - conventional product sales substantially exceed Organic product sales. The costs associated with the growing, manufacturing and distribution are higher due to the smaller quantities.

• Organic Farming is more Labor Intensive - because Organic farming uses mechanical and human intervention rather than pesticides for crop maintenance, growing costs can be higher.

There are two costs associated when purchasing textile products:

1. The Purchase Cost - this is the cost you pay for your product at the retail outlet.

2. The Environmental Cost - this is the cost you don't see when purchasing the product. There is a real financial cost and a personal cost associated with the use and exposure to toxic chemicals. The financial impacts may be through increased health care costs or through toxic waste cleanup and treatment of our air, water and land. Personal costs are more devastating such as those from disease, birth defects and changes to our wildlife.

Fabric Colors and Dyes

The process of dyeing textiles to produce color can have a significant impact on the environment. Chemicals, dyes and pigments leftover from the dyeing process can be discharged into water systems and can include salts, acids, and heavy metals. These products can be toxic to aquatic life, plants and animals and pollute our water and land. "Natural" and "Low Impact" dyes are better options to the conventional dyeing processes. Benefits of using these dyeing options include:

• Conserves resources through lower water, dye and energy requirements.
• Uses no heavy metals such as chromium copper and zinc.
• Reduced chemical compound use.

Pure Rest Organic Cotton Towels

• Plush Certified Organic Cotton towels are 675 grams per sq. meter of super softness. Washcloths are 550 grams per sq. meter.

• Heavy weight fabric is extra absorbent.

• Towels and washcloths feature an attractive border and wash well.

• Produced from selected long staple organic cotton grown in India and hand picked to minimize dark specs in the cotton.

• Fair trade labor, Skal and Eko Tex Certified Organic Cotton.

• Low Impact water based dyes have exceptional color fastness and will not bleed.

• Finished without toxic finishes that can cause sensitivities and outgassing of harmful vapors.
• Only chemicals that meet Organic fiber processing are used.
• Available Sizes - washcloth, hand towel, standard bath towel, oversize bath towel.
• Available Colors - Natural, White, Blue, Rose.

Organic Cotton Towel Colors Natural · White · Blue · Rose Oversize Bath Towels Available in White & Natural Only

Towel and Washcloth Size Chart
Washcloth	Hand Towel	Standard Bath Towel	Oversize Bath Towel
13"w x 13"l	20"w x 30"l	27"w x 54"l	34"w x 70"l

Organic Cotton Towels Washcloth Size Colors: natural, white Price: $6.45 Colors: rose, blue Price: $7.45 Natural Organic Cotton Wash ClothWhite Organic Cotton Wash ClothBlue Organic Cotton Wash ClothRose Organic Cotton Wash Cloth Quantity: Hand Towel Size Colors: natural, white Price: $12.95 Colors: rose, blue Price: $13.95 Natural Organic Cotton Hand TowelWhite Organic Cotton Hand TowelBlue Organic Cotton Hand TowelRose Organic Cotton Hand Towel Quantity: Standard Bath Towel Size Colors: natural, white Price: $25.95 Colors: rose, blue Price: $27.45 Natural Organic Cotton Bath TowelWhite Organic Cotton Bath TowelBlue Organic Cotton Bath TowelRose Organic Cotton Bath Towel Quantity: Oversize Bath Towel Size Colors: natural, white Price: $43.45 Natural Organic Cotton Oversized Bath Towel White Organic Cotton Oversized Bath Towel Quantity: