Organic cotton is by far the most popular choice for sustainable materials for sheets. Why do so many people love organic cotton, though, and are there any downsides? As part of the Leaf Score Guide to Non-Toxic Bedding we take a look at the pros and cons of organic cotton sheets.
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Pros and Cons of Organic Cotton Sheets – A Quick Overview
- Can be woven to be crisp and cool or soft and cozy
- Usually easy to care for
- Durable
- Affordable
- Readily available
- Easy to repurpose or recycle
- Biodegradable at end of life
- Cotton can shrink the first few times you wash it
- Cotton absorbs moisture, with no water resistance
- Cotton can feel cold when wet
- Not as strong or durable as linen and hemp
- Some weaves are prone to wrinkling
- Some weaves can feel sweaty in hot and humid summers
Already know you love organic cotton? Check out our top choices for cotton sheets here.
We strongly suggest avoiding conventionally grown cotton, but organic cotton is a fantastic choice for bed sheets. These sheets are easy to find, affordable, available in a wide variety of sizes, patterns, and colors, and are suitable across all seasons.
That said, you’ll want to carefully consider thread count and weave if buying cotton sheets. These can make a big difference, especially if you sleep hot or live somewhere especially hot and humid (or cold!).
Organic cotton sustainability
Organic cotton requires far less water than conventional cotton and is also grown without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. This makes it much more sustainable and planet-friendly than its conventional counterpart.
Cotton is still a thirstier crop than hemp or linen, though, and is often grown on land that could otherwise be used to grow food. Cotton farming is also notorious for diverting much needed water away from food farmers’ fields and from community water sources.
While organic cotton is more sustainable than synthetic fibers and conventional cotton, it’s good to check where and how the cotton is grown and processed. Checking for Fair Trade certifications or similar can give some assurance that local communities are supported by cotton farming, rather than being exploited by it.
Most organic cotton sheets are made using cotton grown outside the U.S., even if the sheets themselves are made in America. We strongly suggest choosing sheets made in the U.S. with U.S.-grown organic cotton and with GOTS certification. This way, there’s far less potential for fraudulent organic certification.
Final thoughts on organic cotton sheets – pros and cons
Organic cotton sheets can be an investment and it’s easy to brush off environmental concerns and think, “how much harm can conventional cotton really do?” The answer is… a lot of harm.
In fact, the World Wildlife Fund explicitly states that: “current cotton production methods are environmentally unsustainable—ultimately undermining the industry’s ability to maintain future production.”
Basically, if you want cotton sheets when you’re older, invest in organic cotton now.
If budget is a key driver in your decision making for bedding, I’d strongly suggest saving up for organic cotton sheets rather than buying cheap conventional cotton. Look out for sales and you may be able to get much better quality organic cotton sheets for the same price or less than conventional cotton sheets.
To keep your new organic cotton sheets in great shape, check out our top tips for sheet care and maintenance.