COTTON - ORGANIC, RECYCLED OR ORDINARY?
COTTON - ORGANIC, RECYCLED OR ORDINARY?
Why have we chosen to use organic cotton? And what exactly is the difference between ordinary, organic and recycled cotton?
At Tufte, we are concerned with developing clothes that suit the whole family. We participate in all outdoor activities, whether it is a local trip, forest trip or mountain trip. Our entire Outdoor collection is made of 97% organic cotton, and consists of anoraks, jackets and trousers, and specially made for adventures in the woods and fields.
THE PROBLEM WITH COTTON
The problem with cotton is often the way it is produced. Ordinary cotton production uses more pesticides than any other crop, it requires a lot of water and growing cotton in far too many cases leads to local environmental problems and reduced biodiversity.
Our solution is to use organically grown cotton or recycled cotton. Organic cotton is grown without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. This means that production promotes and improves biological diversity and biological cycles. It improves the soil and mainly uses less water. It is a time-consuming job that requires some knowledge, and at the moment it costs more - but it is definitely worth it.
RECYCLED COTTON
Recycled cotton is an even better option. It is made from either used clothes or surplus from textile production, which is then shredded and spun into new yarn and material. This helps to reduce the use of regular cotton and reduces the use of water, space on landfills and other consequences of cotton cultivation. All old cotton sweaters, socks and t-shirts can therefore be turned into new garments without affecting the environment too much.
DEGRADABLE CLOTHES
We at Tufte have made a 100% degradable t-shirt, made from organic and recycled cotton. Here are all threads by Tencel, and labels and tags are made of 100% organic cotton. All this means that the t-shirt breaks down naturally, and after about 4 months in compost with optimal temperature, the garment becomes soil. It will not be much more environmentally friendly, and we are happy to announce that we will redesign several of our current t-shirts next year, so that they can become part of the natural cycle.