Cotton On is a brand that produces a variety of products, including body and hair care products. Here are some details about the ingredients and materials used in Cotton On products, as well as some positive and negative aspects:
Positive:
- Sustainably sourced cotton: Cotton On is committed to only sourcing cotton thats produced in a way thats kinder to the planet and improves the livelihoods of the people who produce it. They partner with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising the sustainability standard of cotton production globally. Better Cotton is grown in a way that uses water efficiently, cares for soil health and natural habitats, reduces the use of harmful chemicals, and improves the lives of farming communities.
- Recycled cotton: Cotton On uses recycled cotton made by turning discarded textiles into new cotton yarn, which helps divert textile waste and reduce their reliance on virgin cotton. Recycled cotton generally comes from two main sources: pre-consumer waste, such as scraps and leftovers created by yarn and fabric by-products, or post-consumer waste, such as discarded clothing.
- Organic cotton: Cotton On partners with suppliers who are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Organic Content Standard (OCS) to source organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown using natural processes that protect the health of the soil and the communities who grow it. It doesnt allow the use of toxic chemicals and fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMO) .
- Natural oils and extracts: Cotton Ons Nice One body and hair care products are made in Australia with natural oils and extracts.
Negative:
- Unsustainable materials: As a fast fashion brand, Cotton On produces huge quantities of cheaply made garments, most of which are made from unsustainable materials including conventional cotton, viscose, and polyester. Manufacturing these materials consumes vast amounts of energy and water, not to mention the use of hazardous chemicals.
- Lack of transparency: Cotton On doesnt publish sufficient relevant information about its environmental policies to achieve a high rating. There is no evidence that it reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, that it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, or that it minimizes textile waste.
- Animal welfare: Cotton On does not have a policy to minimize the suffering of animals or trace any animal product to the first stage of production. While the brand does not use fur, angora, down, exotic animal skin and hair, it still uses leather and wool. The welfare of leather workers and animals are unknown and therefore cannot be guaranteed.
In summary, Cotton On uses sustainably sourced cotton, recycled cotton, and organic cotton in some of its products, and its Nice One body and hair care products are made with natural oils and extracts. However, as a fast fashion brand, it produces a lot of garments made from unsustainable materials and lacks transparency about its environmental policies. Additionally, it does not have a policy to minimize animal suffering and still uses leather and wool.
