| Product Categories
Bedding - Wool
Bedding - Cotton
Babies
Children
Toys
Men
Women
Personal Care
Socks
Nightwear
Bathroom
Household
Specials
Gift Vouchers
Order Form
Testimonials
Links
|
ABOUT COTTON...
"The human body is like a sponge, it soaks up chemicals through the
lungs, the skin and the digestive system. Once chemicals have entered the body
they are absorbed into the blood stream where they circulate and can affect the
whole body." Excerpt from an article entitled 'Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in
Australia' (ASEHA Q.L.D.)
The current situation: Cotton provides nearly 50%
of global fibre requirements and is perceived by most consumers to be a
"natural" product. Yet it uses nearly 25% of all insecticides applied to
agricultural crops, and 10% of all pesticides, poisoning the soil and polluting
waterways. 20,000 people in developing countries die every year from poisoning
by agricultural pesticides and 3 million suffer acute or reproductive after
effects. There is no real need for this insanity, and more and more cotton
farmers are returning to “organic” practices- the natural way things were done
before the chemical revolution of the past
century.
Here
are 8 compelling reasons
why…
you should be using organic cotton.
- QUALITY. The wide variety of chemicals used in the growing and
processing of conventional cotton – some 82 of them – only serve to weaken the
structure of the fibre and eventual fabric. Organic cotton is more
durable.
- COMFORT. Consumers consistently report that organic cotton
products feel better against their skin. As any kinesiologist will confirm,
organic cotton products resonate more harmoniously with the human
body.
- WELLBEING. Chemicals are not
good for us and are largely to blame for the escalation of degenerative
diseases in our society today. They are absorbed through our skin and through
our lungs, especially when body heat causes them to
vaporize.
- SMELLS BETTER. Being
absolutely pure and free of additive substances such as formaldehyde, commonly
used in the “finishing” of conventional cotton, organic cotton has a
delightful, natural aroma.
- ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE.
Conventional cotton is disastrous for our environment, poisoning our soils and
our waterways, consuming vast amounts of water, much of it needed to put out
chemical sprays.
- SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. Every
time we purchase a cheap imported conventional cotton product, we support the
mindless practices that helped produce it. Every time we purchase an organic
product, we affirm conscious, life-enhancing practices – we are helping to
build a better world.
- FAIR TRADE. It takes a lot of
conscious, well intended effort to grow cotton organically. Around the world,
the experience is that organic farmers care for their workers – and not
poisoning them is a good start! We are tending to see whole communities turn
away from chemicals and start to receive a fairer return for their product,
which is now at a premium.
8. NOT G.M. About 80% of
Australia's cotton is now grown from genetically modified seed. Usage of G.M.
seeds
can contaminate organic
seeds, making it impossible to grow organically. Certified organic cotton is
grown
from seed that has not been genetically modified.
Blessed Earth is the Australian
distributor for SEKEM in Egypt.
To quote from the SEKEM
handbook:
"When SEKEM was founded in 1977, the
knowledge of natural and organic farming had been lost in Egypt, replaced by
methods that sap vitality from the soil, much to the detriment of the land and
its people... SEKEM's main objectives are now, as they have always been, the
cultivation of natural, chemical free products and to safeguard the environment
for future generations ."
All of our Egyptian cotton is grown
on the SEKEM farms in Egypt and is certified by the international inspection
agency DEMETER. Blessed Earth has a copy of certification verifying that the
cotton has been DEMETER certified by the Centre of Organic Agriculture in Egypt.
Organic certification ensures that the seeds are G.M. free.
SEKEM has also
established benchmark practices in water utilisation, worker conditions and in
every stage of the manufacturing process.
Compost is made from
organically grown green waste and manure from their 150 head dairy herd, which
is raised on organic fodder .
Special caring methods that don't use
chemicals have been developed for the cotton, which is often attacked by various
diseases and insects.
For example, pheromone (a natural repellant) and water
traps are used against flying insects and caterpillars.
Only when the cotton
is mature is it carefully picked by hand in several stages, to achieve the
finest quality.
Egyptian cotton has very long fibres and can be manufactured
into especially soft fabrics.
At Blessed Earth, we are honoured to be associated with the vision
that is SEKEM and look forward to developing and diversifying our range of
products with them in the years
ahead.
Secure ecommerce shopping cart software
and credit card processing provided by ezimerchant
|
