Sustainable

Fashion

What Are You Wearing?

• Check the tag: it’s probably not organic

• Regular cotton has a high impact on the environment

• 10% of the world’s pesticides and 23% of the world’s insecticides are used on non-organic cotton

• One cotton t-shirt requires 2000L of water and uses 150g of toxic chemicals.

Organic Cotton Quick Facts

• Organic cotton doesn’t use chemicals, so water run-off is not toxic.

• It takes about one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to grow enough non-organic cotton for just one T-shirt.

• 25% of the world’s pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton.

What is it?• Grown using methods that have a

low impact on the environment• Cotton that is good for farmers,

consumersand the environment

• Grown without using synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides

• Used in bathrobes, towels, clothing and stationary.

Other Alternatives• Hemp; can replace most

toxic petrochemical products.

• Bamboo; strong, durable, soft and a highly renewable, biodegradable grass

• Made from the refined pulp of the bamboo plant.

• Wool or corn fiber are other great eco-friendly garments.

Fair-Trade• Guarantees an agreed and stable price for

small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries.

• Poor countries hold 40% of the world’s population, but receive only 3% of the world’s income from trade. Rich countries make up 14% of the world’s population but get 75% of the profit from trade.

Case Study: Uzbekistan

• Two thirds of the world’s cotton is grown in developing countries and the former Soviet Union

• Uzbekistan is the second largest exporter of cotton in the world

How Can You Help?• Recycle your clothing,

purchase used second-hand items.

• Donate your clothing to charities instead of throwing it out.

• Purchase organic cotton, bamboo etc. clothing .

• Buy fair-trade clothing.• SPREAD THE WORD!