MEDIA CONTACT
                                                                                                            Andrea Cohen
                                                                                                            (310) 202-8503
                                                                                                            andrea@purebeginnings.com

The awareness of the harmful effects of cotton farming is causing consumers, especially parents, to look to other alternatives. Environmental devastation, harm to people and wildlife near toxic agricultural areas, and the direct affects to end consumers wearing pesticide-laden fabrics, are all factors contributing to the new trend toward 100 percent organic fabrics.

The second most pesticide-saturated crop in the world after coffee, cotton represents only 2.4 percent of all cultivated land, but utilizes 25 percent of the planet’s pesticide and 10 percent of its herbicide production. Of the nine pesticides used on cotton in the U.S., all are classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as Category I and II - the most dangerous chemicals, and five of these (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite and trifluralin), are known cancer-causing agents. Cotton growers use many of the most hazardous pesticides on the market, including aldicarb, phorate, methamidophos, endosulfan, cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite and trifluralin, which cause harm to wildlife, humans and the environment.

Cotton plants are heavily sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides to protect the crops from insect infestation. After harvest, chlorine bleach, which produces dioxin, is usually applied to whiten fabric before dyeing and these chemical dyes are often set with metals such as chromium and copper. Formaldehyde is then applied to give the garments that “wrinkle-free” appearance.

Skin irritations such as eczema and allergic rashes have been occurring at higher percentages throughout the years, with the invention of polyester and chemically-treated fabrics. Chemically-treated cotton blocks the natural balance of the skin by trapping heat and preventing it from absorbing adequate moisture. Rashes and itching are not uncommon when consumers wear a new clothing item and it can take several washes to strip away the toxins.

Working with, not against, nature is the principle behind organic farming. Grown without pesticides and spun without chemicals, organic farmers rely on organic fertilizers, manual crop rotation and integrated pest management. Fields are naturally fertilized with animal manure, pest-eating insects are used to naturally control crop damage, and weeds are removed with hoes and tractors, as well as manually. Farms earn the organic label by using soil that has been free of synthetic pesticides for at least three consecutive years.

Organic farming methods include the use of sunflowers to encourage beneficial ants to feed on harmful insects, natural soil fertilization using cattle manure, natural insecticide sprays from chili, garlic and neem trees and planting strips of vegetation such as alfalfa near cotton fields as a refuge for beneficial insects.

“The concern over conventional cotton farming is causing more and more people to look to other alternatives. After coffee, cotton is the most pesticide-laden crop on the planet, which is something to be concerned about. And organic cotton feels softer, lasts longer, and you know you’re putting something natural on your baby,” says Andrea Cohen, founder of Pure Beginnings.

Pure Beginnings offers 100 percent certified organic cotton clothing, mattresses, bedding, and personal care products for babies. All products are made without the use of harmful pesticides or chemicals, for the safety of our babies and the environment. The babēcology skincare line is formulated with the most natural essential oils and botanical extracts for delicate baby skin. To purchase Pure Beginnings products or for more information, please call (866) PUR-BABY or log onto www.purebeginnings.com.

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