Why buy Organic Cotton artist's canvas?
Organic cotton is cotton grown without using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or defoliants on land that has been free of these chemicals for at least three years. Organic agriculture is better for workers and the environment.
Benefits for the Earth
With organic cotton the soil is treated with care so that it continues to thrive and to give the cotton everything it naturally needs. No chemicals are added, and no synthetic fertilizers are used. The healthy crops that result lead to even healthier soil. When excess water does eventually run off into nearby streams and lakes, it’s not filled with chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. It’s a cycle that keeps getting stronger, and one that nourishes the earth.
Benefits for People
In non-organic cotton farming, many of the chemicals used are highly toxic and kill plants, animals, and even humans. According to the UK-based Pesticide Action Network, at least 20,000 people in developing countries die every year from poisoning by agricultural pesticides, and three million suffer acute or reproductive after effects. These pesticides and other chemicals find their way into our food chain through things like cottonseed oil, which is found in everything from cookies to canned tuna. About 23 per cent of the world's insecticides and more than 10 per cent of the world's pesticides are used on non-organic cotton. With organic cotton, things are different. Farmers aren’t exposed to harmful chemicals, so they don’t face the associated health risks. Plus they use sustainable farming practices, which means they can rely on their crops year after year.
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