Besides your sweetie, what do you want closest to you when you turn in for the night?
Those nice, comfortable cotton sheets, of course.
But what kind of cotton sheets are they? Are they made from what some folks term “conventional” cotton, the stuff you commonly see growing in fields in America?
Then you might want to think again about what is next to your skin for eight hours a night. The growers that produce that conventional cotton use 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers, according to the Organic Trade Association. Those growers also use 25 percent of the world’s insecticides, about 84 million pounds of pesticides.
If you think all those pesticides and insecticides go away consider this: those chemicals are in the cottonseed fodder that dairy and beef cattle munch on. Cottonseed oil is in many snack items…and in coffee creamer.
Enjoy that cup of coffee…
There is an alternative: organic linens. These are made from non genetically altered cotton plants raised here and in Turkey and China that have been grown without using harmful chemicals. In fact, many organic linens (organic bedding sheets, organic blankets, organic mattresses, organic beds and organic cribs) are made using GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) regulations. The linens and covers and mattress covers are grown and processed without heavy metals or harsh chemicals and the workforce is protected: no child labor, no discrimination, safe and hygienic working conditions, no inhumane treatment and employment is chosen freely.
There are two label grades for GOTS approval for organic linens: Grade 1, with at least 95 percent certified organic fibers, and Grade 2, with at least 70 percent certified organic fibers. Only organic linens produced and certified using GOTS standards can use the labels.
In the United States, the National Organic Program, from the US Department of Agriculture, has its own regulations for pest control, growing fertilizing and handling of organic crops for organic linens.
Obviously, a lot of care has gone into the making of organic linens. In return, organic linens repay you with a soft, deep sleep and comfort through the night.