[photo credit: Grund ]
Just like choosing organic food, natural bedding materials are key to our long-term health.
Good quality sheets are an investment, but not only for you but for the environment. Conventional cotton farming uses more pesticides than any other area of agricultural production. Water run-off from cotton fields to rivers and lakes is common and the pesticides have a direct toxic effect upon wildlife.
Moreover, cotton sheets labeled “Wrinkle-Free”, “Easy Care” and “Permanent Press” indicate the fabric has been treated with formaldehyde resin, one of the most toxic chemical fabric finishes that is designed NOT to wash out.
If you decide to invest in sustainably made sheets these are a few of the certifications to look for:
Oeko-Tex® certification - The Oeko-Tex® Association is a global testing program that screens more than 300 harmful substances in consumer textiles, including toxins and irritants.
GOTS logo – Gots stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. Both certify textiles to be free of harmful chemicals, but GOTS takes it a step further and certifies that no harmful chemicals were used from harvest through manufacture, waste was disposed responsibly, and fair labor practices are enforced.
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) - BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
Fair Trade Cotton -Fairtrade-certified cotton guarantees farmers a fair price for their crop and is produced without using the harmful pesticides, child labor or forced labor.
In terms of brands, if you make a google search there are plenty to choose from, but I gathered a few below with different budgets, styles and décor in mind:
[photo credit: Left: Plover // Right: Delilah Home ]
Coyuchi - Organic, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified. Crib sets available as well.
Ettitude - Made from 100% organic bamboo which is softer, cooler and more sustainable than cotton.
Delilah Home – Member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) offers organic cotton and hemp and partners with local and national charities.
Sol Organic - 100% raw organic cotton, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified.
Pact - Organic cotton and Fair Trade Certified.
Plover - Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, Oeko-Tex's Standard 100 certified, and donates and partners with Save the Children.
West Elm - Organic, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS Certified, also available in tencel and linen.
Natural Mat - Unbleached and undyed organic cotton, GOTS certified and the Soil Association certified bedding for babies and kids.
Green Fibres - GOTS certified organic cotton, made under fair and safe working conditions for the whole family.
Grund – Luxury brand Oeko-Tex's Standard 100 certified and FSC .