How to shop sustainably – a guide to organic clothing

Over the past few years, there has been a growing focus on organic products and sustainability in Denmark. Most people assume that the organic products we buy in the supermarket are better and healthier than non-organic ones, so it goes without saying that this must also be the case when it comes to organic clothing. But is it really better than non-organic clothing, and what does it actually mean when a garment is labelled as organic? The fashion industry is starting to think more sustainably by producing organic clothing – but are you?

We can probably all agree that the word ‘organic’ immediately conjures up positive associations. We associate ‘organic’ with words such as ethical, healthy and environmentally friendly, and we think it sounds great to be able to say that we’ve bought organic clothing, but very few people actually realise what organic clothing is.

When we talk about clothes, we automatically talk about cotton too, as cotton is the most widely used material in the clothing industry. And it can certainly be a bit of a maze trying to understand how clothes are produced, both conventionally and organically, without having to reel off a whole host of daunting facts; but to put it simply: organic cotton is grown without the use of various pesticides.

It’s not something you think about on a day-to-day basis, and the purpose of this article isn’t to make you start doing so – your clothes may well contain various substances that could be allergenic, carcinogenic or harmful to your health when you receive the clothes straight from the manufacturer. It’s not something you need to worry about, as the quantities are so small that they’re unlikely to have any effect on you. You can always wash your clothes before wearing them, which will ensure you avoid these substances. However, it’s a really good idea to become more aware of where your clothes come from – both for your own sake and for the sake of the environment.

Green environmental and health labels

We’re constantly seeing green labels in the supermarket when we buy food, but they also often appear on your clothes – though very few people actually know what the different ones mean. In the vast majority of cases, people also associate these green labels with organic products, which isn’t actually always the case. We’ve chosen to highlight two of the green labels that you have particular reason to pay attention to when it comes to your clothes – one is 100 per cent organic and the other isn’t organic at all, but is still quite sustainable.

The OEKO-TEX certificate

The OEKO-TEX label on clothing guarantees that it contains no harmful substances or chemicals that may be allergenic, carcinogenic or harmful to health. The OEKO-TEX label is therefore not the same as ‘organic’, as many people tend to think, as it does not guarantee how the clothing was produced right back to when it was just a cotton plant in the field. During the production of the textiles, for example, a number of environmentally harmful substances may have been used – such as for pest control in the cotton fields – but these will not affect your health when you wear the clothes. When this is the case, the OEKO-TEX label is used.

The OEKO-TEX label is therefore not the same as an eco-label, but is designated as a health label that assures you that the clothes you wear will not contain any substances that could cause allergies or have any adverse effect on your health. Against this background, the clothing cannot be described as organic, as the actual production of the clothing has not taken place under organic conditions.

The GOTS certificate

The Global Organic Textile Standard certificate, or simply the GOTS certificate, guarantees that no chemicals harmful to health or the environment were used during the production of the clothing, and that it is therefore 100 per cent organic. In other words, this means that the cotton your organic T-shirt is made from has been grown in a field where no pesticides or artificial fertilisers have been used. The cotton was then transported to factories, where the production of your T-shirt began. No hazardous chemicals of any kind are used here, and all wastewater generated during production has been treated. When the T-shirt then reaches you – the consumer – you can be assured that, first and foremost, it does not currently contain any harmful substances, but also that it has never come into contact with substances harmful to health or the environment at any stage during production.

Look for the GOTS certificate if you want to ensure that your clothes have never been exposed to any kind of chemical substance during the production process, and that the cotton your T-shirt is made from comes from an organic field.

Read also: The perfect T-shirt?

Which is best? Conventionally or organically grown cotton?

There’s no denying that organic cotton is really good for the environment, particularly in cotton fields, where the use of various toxic substances on the cotton plants is avoided, thereby preventing them from seeping into the subsoil and causing pollution. But we must also bear in mind that there is a reason why we don’t simply convert all the cotton fields in the world to organic fields. Of course, organic cotton has a far more environmentally friendly footprint than conventional cotton, but there is still a long way to go before organic cotton production makes a significant impact on the global market.

The main challenge with organic cotton production is that the yield is 50 per cent lower than with conventional cotton production, where chemicals are used to control pests, plant diseases and weeds. In organic production, control is instead carried out using living organisms, which does not yield the same harvest at all. At the same time, organic cotton is also hand-picked, which means it requires more labour and cannot be harvested as quickly as with conventional production. Cotton requires a huge amount of water, and as cotton fields are often situated in areas where it does not rain very much – at least not as much as is required – irrigation is often used, which depletes water resources in the areas where organic cotton is grown, thereby placing a strain on the environment.

It is difficult to give a definitive answer as to whether it is best to buy organic clothing or clothing made from conventionally grown cotton, as there are advantages and disadvantages to both. But one thing is certain: it certainly doesn’t hurt to think more sustainably when it comes to the clothes in your wardrobe.

6 tips for being more sustainable when it comes to your clothes

Although there has been much greater focus on organic clothing in recent years, it is still difficult to have a wardrobe consisting entirely of 100 per cent organic clothing, as organic cotton farming accounts for less than 3 per cent of the world’s total cotton production. Organic clothing is therefore still produced in small quantities, and the range available on the market isn’t particularly wide.

It’s a really good idea to think sustainably, as we need to look after our planet – but Rome wasn’t built in a day, so raising awareness about this is a really good step in the right direction. This doesn’t mean you should rush home and throw out all your old clothes just because they weren’t produced under organic conditions – after all, that isn’t good for the environment either, and it doesn’t change the fact that the clothes have already been produced under conditions that weren’t organic! But you can start small, and a little is always better than nothing. You could, for example, compare it to the politicians’ idea of having one meat-free day a week, as this action goes some way towards easing the significant environmental impact of the meat industry. You can easily apply this idea to your clothing choices too. For example, you could choose to buy some of your clothes organically and some that aren’t organically produced, thereby helping to reduce the burden on the environment.

Remember that even a little goes a long way, so you can make a real difference with just a small effort. Below, we’ve put together six useful tips for being more sustainable when it comes to your clothing, helping a little but making a big difference at the same time.

Wash your new clothes before you wear them – this prevents various residues from the manufacturing process, including dyes, from coming into contact with your skin.

Don’t throw old clothes away – donate them to charity instead, so others can enjoy what you no longer need.

Buy high-quality clothes so they’ll last a long time.

Take care of the clothes you already own – follow the washing instructions carefully so your clothes retain their fit and colour for a long time. Your clothes wear out every time you put them in the washing machine, so only wash them when absolutely necessary – as a bonus, you’ll also reduce both water and electricity consumption.

Look for more sustainable materials when choosing your clothes – for example, the OEKO-TEX label, which ensures that the clothes contain no chemical or harmful substances, or the GOTS label, which guarantees that the clothing has been produced under 100 per cent organic conditions.

Buy organic clothes to add to your existing wardrobe – that’ll get you a good way down the road!

TEESHOPPEN Organic

The well-known high quality you’re used to from our clothes in the shop – all of which are OEKO-TEX certified – is now available in an even higher quality with our new collection: TEESHOPPEN Organic. With TEESHOPPEN Organic, you get essentials for your everyday wardrobe in a quality that immediately feels like it’s made from organic cotton – the fabric is lovely and soft and will feel absolutely fantastic to wear!

At TEESHOPPEN, we’re committed to supporting a more sustainable approach to fashion, which is why we’re launching our TEESHOPPEN Organic collection, featuring exclusively organic basics. Our organic products are labelled in accordance with OCS certification, which stands for the Organic Content Standard. OCS certification means that the exact percentage of organic material in the product is specified. The vast majority of our organic products are labelled with OCS 100 certification, which means that the product contains between 95% and 100% organic fibres. However, we also have a few products that have been awarded OCS Blended certification, which means that the product contains at least 5 per cent organically grown fibres. That said, our products with OCS Blended certification contain as much as 70–80 per cent organic fibres, so you can still feel confident that your jumper can be described as organic.

By choosing to buy some of your clothes organically, YOU can do your bit for a sustainable future, whilst also receiving an item with an absolutely irresistible feel that takes your comfort and wellbeing to the very top. Win-win!

Find your new organic basics here in the shop and support a sustainable future! You can view our full range of organic clothing here.

/TEESHOPPEN