The demand for green products is forcing retailers like STLBeds to ask tough questions not only for themselves but ultimately their consumers who will buy their organic mattresses, sheets, and pillows.

“ What is more earth friendly organic cotton or organic bamboo?”

When produced for non-organic fabrics both are produced in chemical intensive processes that are very polluting in nature. The extensive use of solvents, bleach, chemical dyes, fertilizers and pesticides are major contributing factors to poor health and environmental pollution.

Both cotton and bamboo can be certified organic during the growing stages by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). There is however major issues with certified organic bamboo as discussed by Coral Rose of “Sustainable Life Media”. She says the certifications only cover the textiles as a grown crop and not as a finished product. The confusion comes in unbeknown to most buyers when chemicals are added which are required making a finished product. The needed chemicals to make a finished product are not taken into consideration.

Bamboo is an example of this and is actually a Rayon material made from bamboo pulp, and therefore stops being organic in the eyes of environmentalist. It is at this point it ceases to no longer be a natural fiber like cotton. The bamboo fiber is broken down by a very chemical intensive process / mechanical process which is much more eco friendly but much more costly and is seldom used.

Many people believe the major advantage of bamboo is it can be grown in areas where no other crop can grow like mountains sides for example. Bamboo is hearty and can thrive with an abundance of water or very little water. Cotton on the other hand requires intensive irrigation , although organic cotton uses less water than non-organic cotton due to more organic materials in the soil.

Some interesting points about bamboo and cotton

• Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world.
• Both bamboo and cotton are considered a sustainable resource. It is claimed that bamboo is 3 to 4 times as absorbent as cotton.
• Cotton does not shrink as bad as bamboo.
Many believe bamboo to be softer that cotton and a better fabric next to the skin such as in under garments, diapers etc.
• Bamboo is in great demand as towels and bathrobes.
• Some people feel bamboo can be made to feel softer than silk and have a natural sheen not available in cotton.

Conclusion which is more organic Cotton or Bamboo?

Organic cotton is truly an organic product. It is harvested from organic land grown in an organic manner and in the application of say organic sheets they are manufactured with no bleaches, no chemical dyes, or finishing applications. Sometimes natural dyes are used which helps organic manufacturers stay true to the eco friendly process. Although the growth process can be easier on the environment when growing bamboo the chemicals required to convert organic bamboo into a yarn is not very eco friendly with a resulting fabric that is much more synthetic than organic.

Organic Mattresses may be a better choice than organic food.

Recently I read a headline on yahoo’s homepage and later found it on the BBC which said that researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases released the results of their study claiming organic food has no health or nutritional benefit over ordinary food. The article went on to say that the same results were found  in 162 other studies over 50 year span.  I don’t know about most people but personally I will keep planting my organic garden and eating my organic food where I know there is virtually no chemicals introduced. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing where my food comes from. A little know fact is that many organic foods are not only grown locally but also consumed locally which is great for local economies and means smaller carbon footprints.

Although one of the most popular choices today organic and healthy foods are just one aspect of healthy living. Only in recent years has it been brought to our attention that our homes are one of the most toxic environments we are exposed to.  Even less know is that the mattresses we cuddle up to for an average 8 hours and the bedding we wrap ourselves into may pose the most risk from long term exposure.

So what’s in that mattress anyway?

The majority of  mattresses built today consist of spun polyester fiber, chemically laden cotton, or processed wool. As many a known 60 chemicals can gas off and be inhaled from a mattress. Dangerous PBDE’s or Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and phthalate plasticizers, are common in mattresses and can be inhaled causing numerous illnesses and diseases. Non-organic cotton often touted as safe is loaded with dangerous herbicides and pesticides and to make things worse mattresses today are  chemically treated with even more chemicals in the form of fire retardant chemicals to meet Federal Fire Code 1633, required as of July 2007 and mandated by the CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission. Interestingly organic mattresses, which are naturally fire resistant and pass the federal burn requirements, have no chemically laden fire retardants.

Today natural latex rubber mattresses often use organic cotton and compressed wool in order to comply with the federal standards. Certified organic cotton and certified organic wool are also nearly free of  dangerous chemicals and natural latex is one of the most chemical free mattress products built today. This is especially true when compared to conventional mattresses made of synthetic materials like polyurethane foam. Unfortunately many people think that if a bed or bedding was bad for us, the government would not allow us to sleep in it but that is just not the case. Lets face it have you ever seen a report that said formaldehyde or or phthalates often found in mattresses were good for you?

Can an organic mattress make a difference?

Don’t take our word for the next time you buy a mattress or bed linens do you homework and consider alternatives like organic mattresses and bedding. You may find a significant improvement in your health.  People have often praised these products telling of  fewer migraine headaches, cleared up rashes, and improved breathing due too less asthma symptoms.
We all spend 1/3 of your life in our bed so don’t take it lightly. Give it as much consideration or more as the organic foods you choose.

So what’s the difference between organically grown cotton and regular conventional cotton? Today’s blog on cotton will show you the differences in farming methods including seed preparation, soil and water management, weed control, insects, and a few other cotton farming tidbits you may find helpful in your search for chemical free non toxic cotton.

A couple little tidbits on seed preparation for both conventional and organic cotton:

In the preparation of everyday conventional cotton that you and I are most familiar with and have grown-up with is farmed with cottonseeds that are treated using insecticides and fungicides in addition to that 70 percent of all the cotton grown in the United States uses GMO {Genetically Modified Organisms}.

Alternatively organic cotton never uses {GMO} and their seeds are untreated with the potentially harmful insecticides and fungicides.

Soil and water tidbits:

The conventional method of growing cotton puts down synthetic fertilizers where as organic cotton builds strong soil through well-monitored crop rotation.

There is a predominate loss of soil due to mono-crop culture and necessitates exhaustive irrigation. Organic cotton methods preserve, retain, and maintain water more efficiently thanks to additional organic matter within the soil.

More tidbits on weed control:

In conventional methods of farming cotton the farmer is able to reduce weed germination by using herbicides that are applied to the soil. Repeated follow up applications are used to kill weeds that zap the soil of nutrients and moisture.

Weeds are removed physically rather than by application of chemicals. Additional weed control comes from hoeing by hand and cultivation.

Tidbits about pest control:

Around 25 Percent of the worlds insecticide consumption comes by way of cotton.
9 highly toxic pesticides, 5 of which are known Carcinogens are commonly used in growing cotton.
Drift from aerial spraying contaminates farm workers, neighboring wildlife, and entire communities.

An organic method of pest control utilizes a healthy maintained balance between pests and their natural predators. This is done through healthy soil. The use of helpful insects can be beneficial, in addition to cultural, and biological practices to control pests. Organic farmers sometimes use a trap crop which is planted to lure harmful insects away from their otherwise unprotected cotton.

Informational tidbits on harvesting:

Lastly the harvesting of conventional cotton uses toxic chemicals to defoliate the cotton plants. Organic farming methods of defoliation relies on the seasonal freeze or can also be defoliated through water management.

STL Beds used only certified organic cotton in the production of their organic mattresses. Sleeping on a mattress that uses synthetic fibers or non-organically grown cotton could potentially expose you or your family to toxic chemical anywhere from 6-9 hours a night through inhalation or absorption.