Comparative Sustainability Assessment of Organic Versus Conventional Cotton Production

Abstract

The global textile and clothing fabric industry is one of the top polluters annually, underscoring the need for sustainable production innovations (Bonou-zin et al., 2019). Traditional cotton cultivation frequently entails extensive water use and synthetic pesticide and fertilizer applications, leading to water pollution, soil erosion, biodiversity decline, and lasting impacts on ecosystems and human health (Bonou-zin et al., 2019). Despite growing consumer awareness of textile sustainability and advancements promoting organic cotton, its adoption remains notably lower than conventional cotton (Delate et al., 2021). Organic cotton, championing environmental, social, and economic sustainability, markedly reduces the environmental challenges linked with traditional methods (Delate et al., 2021). This review provides a comprehensive assessment of organic cotton, highlighting its advantages over conventional cotton across economic, environmental, and social sustainability dimensions, and anticipates future growth trends.