Versatile, soft, and breathable, it’s easy to see why cotton has been proclaimed as the king of the global textiles industry. It’s the natural fibre that’s used most widely, it’s inexpensive, and it comes from plants rather than animals. There’s a lot to love about cotton, and even more to like about Australian cotton.
The natural fibre is grown on around 1,500 farms in eighteen different regions down under, with the main spots being in Queensland and New South Wales. Amazingly, these farms produce enough cotton to clothes around 500 million people every year and bring around three billion dollars into the Australian economy every year. So, you can see that Australia is a major player in the cotton growing industry. But what makes it different? Read on to find out.
Minimal environmental impact
Australia is taking a leading role in making the global cotton farming industry more sustainable. One of the major tasks that the country has set itself is reducing the amount of water that is used up in the production of cotton. This is one of the main ways that cotton farming affects the environment. However, Australia has been very successful at reducing this. Producing one bale of cotton in 2021 took less than half of the water that would have been needed 25 years earlier.
Other steps being taken involve reducing the use of pesticides in cotton production and striving to lower carbon emissions.
Biodegradable and recyclable
Because it comes from a plant, cotton is 100% biodegradable. This makes it different from synthetic fibres based on petrochemicals which are used to produce around 65% of textiles around the world today. These can even release microplastic fibres into waterways when washed. Cotton does not and will eventually decompose.
In the meantime, it can also be recycled, even after it has been made into consumer goods like a T-shirt or beach towel.
Efficient land use
Australian cotton accounts for about 30-60% of the value of agricultural production in the regions where it is grown, even though it only takes up around 10% of the total farming area. This indicates that the land is being used efficiently, with farmers leaving plenty of room for other plants and wildlife to grow naturally.
Many farmers also aim to increase soil health by strategically rotating cotton with other crops.
Supply chain transparency
While cotton as a material has many positive qualities, the cotton industry has not always been good. Even to this day many clothing brands remain ignorant, sometimes willfully, of supply chains that involve forced or child labour. However, this is not an issue in Australia where the journey from field to textile fibre is more easily tracked.
Around 90% of Australia’s cotton farms are family owned and have been that way for generations. The average one employs only around six people to handle its cotton farming.
Conclusion
Australian cotton is not just of great quality, but it’s also very ethical. Water and land efficiency means that the impact on the environment is lessened – a trend which should continue aided by new technologies in the future – and the transparent supply chain helps ensure that ethical labour practices are followed.