Cotton is the most widely-used natural fibre in the world and plays a central role in the textile industry. Apart from clothing, it is also often used for other materials, such as bed linens. Cotton is extremely long-lasting and therefore particularly durable. Compared to synthetic materials, cotton can be used for several years without any problems.
As cotton bed linens are becoming more and more popular, we want to take a closer look at the advantages organic cotton offers. In this article, we will give you six reasons why organic cotton bedding is ideal for your needs!
Organic cotton bed linens are sustainable
With regards to cotton, one should always distinguish between conventional and organic cotton. 99.5% of the cotton grown worldwide is unfortunately not organic, but rather conventional. Cotton is grown in countries with a dry climate, such as China, USA, Pakistan, India or Turkey. India is the largest cotton producer in the world, growing 6,188,000 tons per year, followed by China (6,178,318 tons) and the USA (3,593,000 tons).
During the cultivation process, conventional cotton consumes an incredibly high amount of water; on average, 11,000 litres are needed to produce 1 kg of cotton. As mentioned before, cotton is grown in dry regions to ensure that the cotton does not become mouldy. This means a great deal of water must be added to the soil via water bodies or groundwater.
Compared to conventional cotton, organic cotton consumes 40% to 91% less water. This reduction is achieved by various factors: A thicker layer of topsoil is used for the cultivation of organic cotton. Topsoil can retain moisture better and does not dry out as quickly. Furthermore, organic cotton cultivation does not use genetically modified plants, which on average require more water in order to grow.
Greenhouse gases can also be reduced by growing organic cotton. Organic cotton uses 62% less energy. This is mainly due to the fact that during production, care is taken to ensure that the raw materials come from Europe and transport routes are kept as short as possible.
Organic cotton bed linens are free from harmful substances
Conventional cotton not only consumes a lot of water, but also damages the soil in which it is grown. Cotton grows very slowly compared to other raw materials and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are often used to speed up production. Pesticides are used to keep pests such as the cotton boll beetle away. These pesticides and fertilizers often end up in the surrounding groundwater, thereby contaminating it.
Only natural and organic fertilizers are used to grow organic cotton. For example, green manure or dung is used. To keep pests away, instead of using pesticides, better-tasting plants are placed between the cotton plants. The bugs prefer the taste of these plants to that of the cotton, so they leave the cotton alone.
In addition, conventional cotton is treated with defoliants (herbicides) so that the cotton can be harvested faster. Organic cotton is harvested by hand, so herbicides are not necessary.
Bed linen made of organic cotton is 100% natural
Cotton is a natural fibre and is obtained from the seed hairs of the cotton plant. The fibres are harvested and spun into thin threads which are then used to make fabrics or bed linens.
The ovary of the cotton plant becomes a capsule after flowering. During the ripening process, this capsule pops open and seed hairs swell out. These seeds are taken to the spinning mill where they are pressed into bales. In the spinning mill the bales are combed, cleaned and spun into threads. The threads are then further processed.
Organic cotton bed linens are breathable
During the night a person releases up to half a litre of sweat. On hot summer nights or when one sweats more than normal, the body can release even more than a litre. When choosing bed linens, it is therefore important to ensure that they can regulate moisture and are breathable.
When it comes to the breathability of the bed linens, the most important thing to consider is what happens to the sweat your body releases at night. If the sweat remains on your skin, this leads to heat accumulating between your body and the bed linens. However, sweat on the skin can also cool the body down to an unpleasant degree, which results in your feeling too cold and running the risk of catching a cold.
Breathable fabrics are woven in such a way that they allow water vapour to pass through them and escape to the outside. Cotton can absorb moisture very well and furthermore, it does not stick to the skin. This is why bed linen made of organic cotton is ideal for warm summer nights!
Organic cotton bed linens are hypoallergenic
Finding the right bed linens for allergy sufferers is not always easy. Allergies have a negative influence on our sleep and can reduce our sleep quality. So it is all the more important to choose the right bed linen so that the allergy does not get worse while we sleep, so we can start the day refreshed and energized!
The most common type of allergy we suffer from, especially in the bedroom, is the house dust allergy. The house dust allergy is not due to the body's reaction to dust, but the mites dust contains, or more precisely their defecation. Mites like to nest in damp, dark and warm areas. This is why pillows, blankets and mattresses are the ideal place for mites. Dust mite allergies can cause symptoms such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, asthma and skin reactions such as hives or rashes.
For allergy sufferers, there are special encasings that you can stretch over your pillow, mattress and blanket. The encasings are so tightly woven that mites have difficulty getting through, so they don’t come into direct contact with your skin. You should choose duvet covers made from natural fibres because they are better at regulating moisture than synthetic fabrics. Bed linen made from organic cotton is hypoallergenic and does not cause any allergic reactions or skin sensitivities. This is why it can be used by allergy sufferers.
Organic cotton bed linens are incredibly versatile
Not all cotton is the same. Cotton fibres can be used to make countless types of bed linen, depending on how they are woven and processed. The most common types are:
Percale bed linen: Percale is a densely woven and particularly fine-threaded cotton fabric that is produced with the plain weave. Percale can have a cooling effect on the skin in summer and is perfect for people with allergies.
Cotton lawn bedding: lawn bedding is made from 100% cotton and has a smooth surface. It is therefore very popular in summer as it has a cooling effect on the skin.
Satin bed linen: Satin is made by means of the elaborate satin weave; its surface is particularly shiny. Satin feels incredibly soft on the skin and is an excellent fabric for bed linen.
Renforcé bed linen: Renforcé is a fine-threaded fabric and is also obtained through the simple weave. Compared to percale, Renforce is medium-fine woven and very hard-wearing.
Organic cotton bed linen at Zizzz
Of course, we also offer bed linen made from pure organic cotton at Zizzz. Our organic cotton bed linen has been awarded the GOTS seal, which means that our cotton has been organically grown and our workers fairly paid.
Besides pure organic cotton bed linen, we also offer pillows, duvets and fitted sheets made from percale and satin. Percale and satin feel extremely soft on the skin and the fabrics are very durable. Whether summer or winter, our bed linens are suitable for every season.
In addition to ensuring that our organic cotton bed linens are produced fairly, we also try to shorten our transport routes. That is why the raw materials used to make our bed linens come from Europe. To be awarded the GOTS seal, the working conditions must also be fair. Our bed linens are therefore not only sustainable, hypoallergenic, breathable, versatile, 100% organic, free of harmful substances, but also ethically sourced.