Part of the reason dyeing is an ordeal when applied to organic apparel is the dyes must also meet special standards and have minimal negative ecological impact. Just getting the raw cotton is more complicated if it is to meet USDA organic standards. For a product to be certified organic, it must be grown in a certain manner. The plants must come from non-genetically-modified seeds. Weed control must be done through mechanical means (tilling or plowing undesirable plants under the soil to kill them) as the first line of defense instead of using herbicides. Pest control must be performed in a similar manner, by cultivating natural predators or plants that pests tend to avoid in conjunction with the desired crop. Different crops must also be grown on a field in rotation, which replenishes soil nutrients without resorting to chemical fertilizers. Crop rotation also helps control soil erosion which can lead to unhealthy conditions in local rivers and streams.
Making Green with Green
ORGANIC APPAREL EXPLODES INTO PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS