There's more to cotton than you think.
If we hear the word ‘cotton’, we think of comfortable clothes but do we also think about the fact that cotton is a natural renewable product, that it doesn’t produce microplastics and provides income to millions of people, many in developing countries?
We celebrate cotton on World Cotton Day. Learn more about three important facts:
Cotton is a natural fibre that is grown agriculturally and is therefore a renewable raw material. At the same time, the naturally produced fibre is 100 percent biodegradable. For thousands of years, people have appreciated the properties of cotton. Cotton is breathable, absorbs moisture and has a low allergy potential.
As a renewable natural fibre, cotton is 100 percent biodegradable. Fibres that get into the environment through abrasion decompose after a while. In contrast to petroleum-based clothing such as polyester or elastane, cotton textiles do not pollute water or soil.
Around 26 million tonnes of cotton are produced every year. Worldwide, approximately 150 million people are involved in its production and further processing, including seven million smallholders. As a so-called “cash crop”, it supplements food cultivation and generates income. The soil is protected by crop rotation.
