AnvilOrganic FAQs
| Step |
Organic |
| Seed Preparation |
- Uses untreated seeds
- Never uses GMO seeds
|
| Soil & Water |
- Builds strong soil through crop rotation
- Retains water more efficiently because of increased organic matter in the soil
|
| Weed Control |
- Physical removal rather than chemical destruction
- Controls weeds through cultivation and hand hoeing
|
| Pest Control |
- Maintains a balance between "pests" and their natural predators through healthy soil
- Uses beneficial insects, biological and cultural practices to control pests
- May use trap crops, planted to lure insects away from the cotton
|
| Harvesting |
- Relies mostly on the seasonal freeze for defoliation
- May stimulate defoliation through water management
|
| Organic Cotton Certification |
- USDA approved agent issues Organic cotton certification
- Anvil uses organic cotton which is certified through a number of different government approved agents. Among the certifiers are the TDA (Texas Department of Agriculture)
|
| Gin, Spinning, Knitting & Weaving |
- Machinery is cleaned before use to avoid any contamination
|
| Dyeing & Finishing |
- Only chemicals and materials that meet organic processing standards are used.
- Anvil uses products which conform to ETAD agreement standards and are free of environmentally unfriendly products. ETAD (Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigment Manufactures)
|
| Cutting & Sewing |
- Organic fabric is kept separate, clearly identified and tracked throughout the cutting and sewing process.
- Anvil is committed to leadership in socially responsible manufacturing practices.
- Our Organic Cotton sewing facility is certified by and maintains full compliance with global WRAP production principles. "WRAP" (Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production)
|
Why are organic products more costly?
They are more costly to manufacture because:
- Limited availability of 100% organic cotton
- Higher cost to grow & harvest (more labor intensive)
- Smaller quantities being processed into yarn (ginning, spinning)
- Increased manufacturing costs of line shut downs and cleaning, plus the costs of tracking the products throughout the manufacturing process and the documentation required for certification of the 100% organic claim
Resources:
Organic Trade Association: A not-for-profit group that promotes/protects the overall organic trade, focuses on food and other organic products. www.ota.com
- The OTA is one of the four members of GOTS (International working group on Global Organic Textile Standards); the other members are the Soil Association (England), International Association Natural Textile Industry (INV) (Germany), and Japan Organic Cotton Association (JOCA). http://www.global-standard.org/
- GOTS has approved the first international certification body for organic cotton: the Institute for Marketecology (IMO), located in Switzerland. www.imo.ch
Organic Exchange: A not-for-profit group that promotes organic agriculture, with specific focus on fibers such as cotton www.organicexchange.org
AnvilOrganic T-Shirts