When FashionUnited speculated on December 27, 2024, that cotton might soon be banned in the EU, I initially assumed it was an overly early April Fool’s joke. But I was quickly proven wrong. The consumer portal chip.de, alongside with various newspapers, radio stations, and news platforms, eagerly jumped on the report about the impending end of cotton and spread the alarming news unfiltered. No surprise there: bad news always sells better than good news!
False Reports About Cotton Are Nothing New
Unfortunately, the news about the so-called #cottonban is not the first-time misinformation about this natural fiber has made the rounds in the media. For years, a myth has been circulating that producing one kilogram of cotton can require up to 20,000 liters of water. As incorrect as this claim is, it continues to be blindly repeated. This figure is especially popular when it comes to highlighting the “unique ecological benefits” of synthetic fibers, particularly polyester, which is widely used in sportswear. Anyone with a critical mind might suspect an ulterior motive here!
There is no doubt that cotton plants need water to grow. However, the actual amount depends on many factors, such as the growing region, weather conditions, cotton variety, irrigation methods, and monitoring systems. Those who want to learn more can turn to the Bremen Cotton Exchange (baumwollboerse.de) or attend the biennial Cotton Conference in Bremen (cotton-conference-bremen.de).
Cotton Remains Indispensable Despite EU Textile Strategy
It is also undeniable that the European Commission, through its strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, aims to contribute to the EU’s decarbonization. To achieve this – supposedly for the benefit of its citizens’ insatiable appetite for clothing – it is intervening in the market with a heavy hand. The magic formula for responsible textiles consists of a circular textile ecosystem with innovative fiber-to-fiber recycling and mandatory minimum amounts of recycled fibers in textiles. This requirement also applies to cotton. However, so far, recycled fibers are not yet available in the necessary quantity, or the quality needed for durable products, and it remains unclear whether the circular landscapes predicted by the EU will truly flourish by 2030. What is certain, on the other hand, is that cotton is irreplaceable – in children’s clothing and sleepwear, in underwear and socks, in towels and bed linens, in gauze bandages and wound dressings. It is also essential for workwear, geotextiles, and much more.
Swept Up in the Sensation
The original report from the fashion news portal triggered an avalanche. While the editorial team initially discussed the impact of the EU textile strategy on cotton, the story soon spiraled into a full-blown panic-inducing headline – with no trace of background research. As a freelance journalist, I am appalled by this lemming-style journalism.
Incidentally, the European Commission responded shortly after the media frenzy. A correction has been published widely. And several articles on a cotton-ban were deleted from online forums.
(This text would be translated by AI)
