Material Guide
Organic Cotton
Cotton grown using organic farming principles.
Organic cotton is cotton grown using farming systems that restrict the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers and follow defined organic production standards. Where certification is provided for an individual product, this can offer additional assurance about the cotton and its supply chain.
What is Organic Cotton?
Cotton is a natural fibre harvested from the cotton plant and widely used in textiles, apparel, bags and promotional merchandise.
Organic cotton refers to cotton grown according to recognised organic agricultural standards rather than conventional cotton farming methods.
Organic production standards typically restrict synthetic pesticides and fertilisers and include requirements relating to soil health, farming practices and the inputs permitted during cultivation.
The term organic cotton, however, should not automatically be treated as a certification claim for the entire finished product. Certification and product composition should always be checked at individual product level.
From cotton plant to finished textile
- 1
Cultivation
Cotton plants are grown according to organic farming requirements.
- 2
Harvesting
Mature cotton fibres are harvested from the cotton plant.
- 3
Fibre preparation
Cotton fibres are separated, cleaned and prepared for textile production.
- 4
Spinning & fabric production
Fibres are spun into yarn and then woven or knitted into fabric.
- 5
Finished products
Cotton fabric can be used to manufacture bags, apparel, accessories and other textile merchandise.
Where you'll find Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is particularly suited to textile-based merchandise and is used across a variety of everyday promotional products.
Bags & totes
Used in shopping bags, tote bags, drawstring bags and other reusable carry products.
Apparel
Used in selected T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts and other garments.
Accessories
Organic cotton can be used in pouches, caps and other textile accessories.
Home & lifestyle
It may also appear in selected towels, kitchen textiles and lifestyle products.
Why consider Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton provides an alternative to conventionally grown cotton where the cultivation of the fibre follows defined organic farming requirements.
For buyers, it can be particularly relevant when material sourcing and agricultural practices form part of the merchandise brief.
However, an organic cotton component does not automatically mean that the entire finished product is organic, certified or environmentally preferable in every respect. A finished item can contain other fibres, dyes, trims, zips, labels, threads and components.
The specific composition and certification of each product should therefore be considered before making claims to customers.
How much of the product is Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton content can vary between products.
Some products may use predominantly organic cotton fabric, while others may use organic cotton as part of a fibre blend or only within a particular component.
Where the supplier provides a confirmed material composition or organic-content percentage, Ecosource may display that information against the individual product.
Always refer to the individual product information before stating a specific organic cotton percentage.
Certification matters
Certification can provide additional assurance about organic fibre content, processing and supply-chain requirements.
Depending on the individual product, you may see recognised standards such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or other supplier-provided organic textile certifications and documentation.
Certification must only be displayed or claimed where it is specifically confirmed for the individual product.
Do not imply that every organic cotton product in the Ecosource range is GOTS certified.
What about carbon impact?
The choice of fibre is only one part of a finished product's overall carbon footprint.
Farming, fibre processing, manufacturing, product composition, packaging, decoration, quantity, transport and final destination can all influence the overall footprint of an order.
Where supplier-provided product carbon information is available, Ecosource displays it separately against the relevant product.
Making accurate Organic Cotton claims
When presenting an organic cotton product to a customer, base claims on the information and documentation available for that specific product.
Avoid assuming that:
- the entire finished product is made from organic cotton;
- every organic cotton product contains the same percentage of organic fibre;
- every organic cotton product is GOTS certified;
- certification applying to a material automatically applies to every component of the finished product; or
- organic cotton alone determines the total environmental impact of the finished product.
Where available, use the product's stated material composition, certification and supporting supplier documentation.
Explore products made with Organic Cotton
Discover bags, apparel, accessories and promotional merchandise across the Ecosource range made with organic cotton.