The advantages of organic cotton are obvious: it is characterized by 62% less energy consumption and 91% less water consumption. In total, organic cotton has a 46% lower impact on global warming than conventional cotton. A significant influence on the eco-balance of organic cotton is the renunciation of the use of pesticides. The farmers also have something to gain from this, as they can generate higher revenues by growing organic cotton.
For these reasons, we have chosen to use only organic cotton since the inception of ANGELCAB.
As a member of the International Association of the Natural Textile Industry (iVN), we support and live its awareness of environmental protection. Since the turn of the millennium, the BEST iVN standard has reflected the guidelines for natural textiles developed by the iVN to serve as a benchmark in ecological and socially responsible terms for the entire textile production chain. Within the framework of BEST iVN certification, no substances may be used that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, impair fertility or are harmful to the child in the womb.
So far, only one percent of the cotton used in the world is organic. Farmers need three years to convert their farm from conventional to organic cotton production. During the conversion period, you are not able to sell the cotton as organic and you do not receive any subsidies. Small companies in particular abandon their plans within the first year.
In addition to the BEST iVN standard, textiles can also be certified according to the GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD, or GOTS for short. Here, too, the cotton is grown organically. No pesticides or pollutants are used that could harm the environment or the health of the farmers. Chemical defoliants for easier mechanical harvesting of cotton are not used. Instead, they are picked by hand. For example, a T-shirt must have 95% or more of its fibers from certified organic agriculture in order to be labeled with a GOTS seal.
For a GOTS label it is not enough that it is organic cotton. The finishing processes and supplemented materials must also meet this standard. For example, accessories used such as buttons are made of horn, mother of pearl or stone nut and bleaching of textiles is oxygen-based and eliminates the need for chlorine.
The ecology of textiles is an area of GOTS. Through the payment of minimum wages, health and safety protection at the workplace, a protection of employees through employment contracts and, of course, the prohibition of child labor and forced labor, people should also be protected.