Organic cotton is much more sustainable
You may not know it, but to grow one kilogram of conventional cotton, you need 11,000 litres of water. Now bear in mind that this is only enough cotton to manufacture roughly one pair of jeans or a single T-shirt. To put this in context, 11,000 litres of water would allow one person to have a shower every day for six months or keep a family of four hydrated for three years.
At Royfort, we've always wanted to do our part when it comes to sustainability. By committing to using organic cotton and sustainable manufacturing processes, as well as eliminating harmful pesticides, we've managed to reduce our water consumption by more than 90%.
Keep an eye out for the GOTS certification
In addition, Royfort bedding is GOTS certified. The GOTS symbol is recognised across the globe as the leading standard in processing textiles made from organically produced natural fibres. It signifies that not only is our cotton organically grown, but also that our entire production process meets a set of social and ecological criteria. In this way, we can grant you peace of mind that fair wages are paid across our entire supply chain and that we observe a set of strict environmental and social standards.
So, what does organic really mean?
Unlike conventional cotton cultivation, organic growing prohibits the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers. This means that only dung and compost can be used to maintain and improve the natural fertility of the soil. These fertilisers increase the soil's humus content, allowing it to retain more water and CO2. Additionally, they reduce the soil's susceptibility to erosion.Farmers also have to follow a crop rotation system, which means that they alternate between growing cotton and other crops. The reason for this is that it's better for the soil, preventing a proliferation of pests and diseases. Simultaneously sowing other plants also helps to reduce the need for pesticides.
Organic cotton is harvested by hand, because use of chemical defoliants to aid with mechanical harvesting is prohibited. Unsurprisingly, it’s also not acceptable to use genetically modified plants.
You're supporting communities
Right from the start, we were convinced that pesticides and other pest control products have a negative impact on the environment. But the benefits of organic cotton cultivation are even more far-reaching than we would have imagined. This is because the toxic chemicals used in agriculture are also harmful to the people working in the cotton industry. The organic cotton industry mostly employs smallholders. They receive a better price for organic cotton and this subsequently raises their wages. You can be sure of this when you buy a product with the GOTS label. Organic farmers also benefit from not having to buy expensive and harmful pesticides from larger corporations. This means that when you purchase Royfort bed linen, you're also supporting small independent farmers and helping them to secure an income for their families.
This is just the start
Organic cotton still makes up less than one percent of cotton produced worldwide. In the past year, global organic cotton production has increased by 10%.
So, together we're making a wonderful contribution to society by shopping organic and looking out for labels like "GOTS". While our simple designs may be timeless, our organic Royfort bed linen is even more long-lasting.
Oh, and another thing
Have you ever wondered how cotton got its name? The word "cotton" actually derives from the Arabic word "qutun", which describes any fine fabric. Nobody knows exactly when cotton first came to Europe from the Middle East, but it is thought to be thousands of years ago. It is widely assumed that cotton originated from an area that now lies in modern-day Pakistan and India. Cotton became so popular because it was seen as a great alternative to linen and other fibres.