Cotton uses about 23% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, miticides, herbicides, defoliants, dessicants, and growth regulators). In the United States, it takes about one third of a pound of chemicals to grow enough cotton for a T-shirt.
In 1994, at least 50 million pounds of pesticides and over one billion pounds of fertilizers were used in six major cotton growing states (about 74% of the United States cotton crop).
Cotton Fact Sheet, produced by the Sustainable Cotton Project, 6167 Old Olive Hwy, Oroville, CA 95966.
