Every 9TEE8 tee is made from 100% organic cotton. But what does "organic" actually change? Is it better for the planet, does it feel different, and is it worth paying a bit more for? Here's an honest look at organic cotton vs regular cotton, without the greenwashing.
Figures from Textile Exchange's life cycle assessment of organic cotton fibre (2014) and Materials Market Report 2025. Sources at the bottom.
What makes cotton "organic"?
Cotton is the same plant either way. The difference is how it's grown. Organic cotton is farmed:
- without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. Farmers use natural methods like crop rotation, compost and beneficial insects instead.
- without genetically modified seeds.
- with healthier soil in mind. Rotating crops and building organic matter helps the soil hold water, which is a big part of why organic cotton needs less irrigation.
Regular (conventional) cotton is usually grown with synthetic chemicals and often on heavily irrigated land. It's one of the most chemical-intensive crops in agriculture.
How do you know it's really organic?
Anyone can write "organic" on a label, so look for certification. Two standards matter for t-shirts:
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) covers the whole journey from field to finished fabric. It sets rules on which chemicals and dyes can be used in processing, and includes social criteria for the people doing the work.
- OCS (Organic Content Standard) tracks and verifies how much organic fibre is in the final product.
The cotton in our tees, the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0, is certified under both GOTS and OCS, and the fabric is also tested to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 for harmful substances. More about our blank here.
The environmental difference
The most quoted numbers come from a life cycle assessment by Textile Exchange, which compared organic and conventional cotton fibre using data from the main organic-growing countries (India, China, Turkey, Tanzania and the US). Compared with conventional cotton, organic cotton had:
| Impact | Organic vs conventional | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Blue water use | 91% less | Less water taken from rivers and groundwater for irrigation |
| Global warming potential | 46% lower | Fewer greenhouse gas emissions, largely from skipping synthetic fertiliser |
| Primary energy demand | 62% less | Less energy used to grow the fibre |
| Acidification potential | 70% less | Less acidifying pollution in soil and water |
| Eutrophication potential | 26% less | Less fertiliser run-off into rivers and lakes |
The honest caveats. These are averages, and results vary a lot by farm and region. Organic cotton often has lower yields, so it can need more land for the same amount of fibre. And a lot of the water figure comes down to the fact that much organic cotton is rain-fed rather than irrigated. Organic isn't a magic fix, but on most measures it's clearly the lighter option.
A small slice of the pie
Organic cotton is still rare. In 2023/24 it made up only around 2.9% of all the cotton grown in the world, according to Textile Exchange. Most t-shirts you'll find in shops are made from conventional cotton.
Does organic cotton feel different?
Not because it's organic. Softness mostly comes down to fibre length and how the yarn is made. Our tees use combed, ring-spun organic cotton: combing removes the short, scratchy fibres and ring-spinning twists the rest into a smoother, stronger yarn. You'd notice that difference in any cotton tee, organic or not.
What organic does mean is fewer harsh chemicals used along the way, which some people with sensitive skin appreciate.
Why does it cost more?
Organic farming takes more work per kilo of cotton, yields are often lower, and certification costs money at every step of the supply chain. A certified organic tee will usually cost a bit more than a basic conventional one. In return you get a shirt that's better for the people who grow it and the land it comes from, and a good one should last you years.
At a glance
| Organic cotton | Regular cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Pesticides & fertilisers | No synthetic ones | Usually synthetic |
| Seeds | Non-GMO | Often GMO |
| Water | Mostly rain-fed, much less irrigation | Often heavily irrigated |
| Certification | GOTS, OCS | None needed |
| Feel | Depends on yarn quality | Depends on yarn quality |
| Share of world cotton | ~2.9% | ~97% |
So, is it worth it?
We think so, which is why every tee we sell is organic, from our basics to our slogan tees. And because every tee is printed on demand, we don't make shirts nobody ordered either. Look after it well (here's how) and it will last.
Find your organic tee