top of page

Excellent

Material Deep Dive

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton scores strongly for pollution and biodegradability, and shows lower carbon than conventional cotton in the cited LCA.

Plant

Virgin

End of Life

4 months

100/100
Chemical Use

Low

80/100
Pollution

Very Low

95/100
Water Usage

5,400 L/kg

75/100
Carbon Footprint

2.3 kg CO₂/kg

85/100
Considerations

Still uses significant water, especially in irrigated regions

Lower yields mean more land needed per kilogram of fibre

Certification and transition costs can be challenging for farmers

Processing and dyeing still use water and chemicals unless certified organic throughout

Strengths

Grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides—much better for soil and wildlife

Fully biodegradable with no microplastic shedding

Lower toxic runoff than conventional cotton farming

Supports healthier farming communities

Look for GOTS certification for the highest standards

Carbon Footprint Analysis

85/100

Organic Cotton produces approximately 2.3 kg CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of fiber.

The Data

Carbon Footprint

2.3 kg CO₂/kg

FSI Carbon Score

85/100

Sources: Higg Materials Sustainability Index, Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber Report

Sustainability Breakdown

Microplastic risk

None

Care level

Easy

Available certifications

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS), IFOAM Family of Standards

Key properties

breathable, soft, absorbent, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, durable, chemical-free, sustainable, fair-trade eligible, no synthetic residues

Common uses

t-shirts, apparel, denim, bedding, home textiles, activewear, underwear, socks, towels, casual wear, uniforms

Also known as

certified organic cotton, organic fiber, GOTS-certified cotton, pesticide-free cotton, eco-cotton

Organic Cotton quick guide

Last updated: December 2025

How we scoreScore your garment now
bottom of page