Information on organic clothing and organic farming

Is organic and fair trade the same, or at least similar?

No, organic farming and fair trade are not the same thing.
Nevertheless, both aspects are very important to the people who produce our clothes.
However, they relate to different aspects of clothing production.

Certified organic farming focuses, amongst other things, on the inputs used in the cultivation of cotton. The Fairtrade system, on the other hand, focuses, amongst other things, on trading conditions as well as social and economic requirements for producers.

Both aspects can complement each other in a single product. However, organic certification does not automatically mean that a product is Fairtrade certified. Conversely, Fairtrade certification does not automatically mean that the cotton used, comes from certified organic cultivation.

What does "conventional cultivation" stand for?

According to the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), conventional farming causes proven harm to the environment and human health. The intensive use of synthetic fertilisers and monocultures poses a massive threat to biodiversity and weakens ecosystems.

Nitrate leaching also damages water resources and leads to the over-fertilisation of water bodies. The consequences in conventional cotton farming are particularly serious: due to poor soil management, it consumes enormous amounts of water.

What means "organic farming"?

In the case of certified organic cotton cultivation, there are specific requirements governing the use of agricultural inputs. Among other things, the use of synthetic chemical plant protection products and mineral fertilisers is prohibited.

Instead, depending on the cultivation system, different methods of soil management, fertilisation and pest control are employed. Crop rotation can also form part of organic cultivation.

The avoidance of certain synthetic chemical plant protection products and mineral fertilisers distinguishes certified organic cotton cultivation from conventional cultivation. Which further requirements apply, depends on the relevant organic standard and its certification.

Important: ‘Organic cotton’ primarily refers to the cultivation of the fibre. This does not automatically mean that the subsequent processing of the textile also complies with a specific environmental or social standard. For this, additional certifications such as GOTS may be relevant.

Why organic farming?

Cotton cultivation can involve the use of fertilisers and plant protection products, as well as high water consumption. The German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) therefore identifies cotton cultivation as an area where environmental pressures can be alleviated through certified organic farming.
A key advantage of certified organic farming is the avoidance of synthetic chemical pesticides and mineral fertilisers. This helps to prevent certain environmental impacts associated with these inputs.

This difference is also relevant for the people who grow cotton: by avoiding the use of synthetic chemical plant protection products, exposure to these substances during agricultural work can be reduced.

Further production stages, such as spinning, dyeing and finishing, also has an influence on the properties of the finished textile. Depending on the product, additional standards and certifications may set out specific requirements in this regard.

The benefits of organic cotton cultivation therefore relate to specific cultivation methods and their effects. One example is the cultivation of cotton in rotation (either temporally or geographically) with other crops. For the farmer, crop rotation offers economic and operational advantages: by growing different crops, the financial risk is spread, making the farm significantly less vulnerable to crop failures affecting a single crop type. At the same time, natural soil regeneration reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Furthermore, the staggered timing of cultivation – from sowing to harvest – evens out peak workloads throughout the year.

We therefore prioritise cotton products that provide transparent information on cultivation, materials and existing certifications.