Why Organic Cotton?

Cotton provides the world 50% of its fibre needs. Though it is often percieved as a "natural" product, cotton cultivation is a chemically intensive process that is a serious threat to the environment and the health of the famers who cultivate it. Cotton production accounts for 3% of the world's agricultural land but, uses a frightening 25% of all insecticides and 10% of all pesticides that are applied annually to crops. Consequently, to produce your favourite conventional cotton t-shirt it requires approximately 150 grams of pesticides- an amount equivalent in size to 1 cup of sugar.

 The World Health Organisation(WHO) estimates that every year in the developing countries 20,000 people die from pesticide poisoning of which many, due to their relative toxicity, can be attributed to cotton. Many of the chemicals are classified as acutely toxic and are often accidentally inhaled or absorbed through the skin with additional contamination occuring to local drinking water supplies through pesticide run-off. Some of the most widely used chemicals (such as organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates and organochlorines) have been associated with cancer and birth defects.

In contrast, organic cotton farmers use environmentally friendly agricultural methods that are beneficial to the long term health of the planet. Natural fertilizers derived from composted manures, pest deterrents made from benign ingredients such as chillis, garlic and neem, and crop rotation systems are just some of the ways that are used to grow organic cotton and maintain healthy biodiverse ecotsystems.

Clean Slate believes that to secure a healthy future for our children and future generations, we must end  the  poisoning of Earth from the destructive practises of chemical farming. It our responsibility to take the steps needed to create a sustainable future. That is why we are committed to using  organic cotton in our school uniforms.

For further information please visit:
Pesticide Action Network (PAN): www.pan-uk.org
Soil Association: www.soilassociation.org.uk