Many times the introduction to "organic" products come with food, and interest in their benefits increases when we have a baby. Typically the first organic items people buy are milk, infant formula, and baby food. Organic food is one of the biggest growing segment of agriculture.
But did you know that cotton can also be grown organically? Cotton is traditionally one of the most heavily chemically treated crops, which means those chemicals can persist into the final fabric.
Organic cotton is cotton that is grown with the least amount of impact to the environment. From seed to finishing, organic production ensures that the seeds use are non-GMO and soil maintains fertility and with the minimal use of pesticides. Harvesting and finishing of the cotton includes peroxide verse bleaching of fibers, use of low impact dyes that ensure a small amount of water use and no heavy metals in the dyes. The completed fabrics are then typically certified by the GOTS or OEKO-Tex standards (third party organizations that verify the organic process was applied).
The health of the environment and cotton farmers are not the only ones that benefit. Babies and children are particularly susceptible to what is placed in and on their bodies, as well as their environment in compared to adults. Although no official statement has come out from any regulatory body on the benefits of organic versus conventional, the World Health Organization has cited 20,000 deaths related to pesticide use worldwide and about 10,000 US farmers die of chemical exposure related cancers yearly.
Bourgeois Baby wants to help bring more organic products into your and your baby’s life. All of our bibs have an organic cotton and bamboo blend terry cloth backing. Our Organic baby bibs and burp cloths contain 3 layers of organic fabrics. We have found that organic fabric options are limited but we attempt to bring the most stylish designs to our bibs. Make sure to visit our Organic Baby Bib and Burp Cloth section for new styles.
Sources: WHO, GOTS, Green America