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The Whole Cotton Plant Is A Useful Treasure

2022/10/26 11:37:00 0

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　　 October 7 this year is the world cotton day officially established by the United Nations. Cotton, a simple plant and fiber that not only brings fabric to the world, but also provides jobs for millions of people around the world, its role in sustainable and inclusive economic development, and its many secondary uses are increasingly recognized.

　　 Cotton is naturally woven or knitted into a variety of fabrics, such as velvet, corduroy, knitwear and flannel. However, the United Nations definition of world cotton day does not simply focus on the role of cotton in fashion and household products, but aims to improve the market recognition of cotton and enhance people's understanding of its role in international trade and poverty alleviation. The organization points out that cotton is a drought tolerant crop that is resistant to climate change, which means it can be grown in dry and arid areas.

　　 "Cotton accounts for only 2.1 per cent of the world's arable land, but it meets 27 per cent of the world's textile needs. There is little waste in the whole plant," the United Nations said Cotton is not just a source of fiber; its seeds are used as a high-quality feed for cows. Seeds can also be pressed into cottonseed oil for cooking, cosmetics, soap and chips, salad dressing and other foods. Lint, the pile left after the ginning process, also has numerous industrial uses. Shorter fibers are usually used in medical supplies, while shorter fibers are used in gunpowder, cotton balls, and even X-ray films. The byproducts of cotton are everywhere, from ice cream to wallpaper, from hot dog casings to baseball, not to mention the many things we use at home, such as cotton swabs, wipes, and disposable diapers.

　　 The food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been working with developing countries to increase productivity and create more jobs through initiatives such as the + Cotton project, which is working with a Brazilian enterprise to help Latin American cotton producers introduce innovative farming methods+ Cotton projects promote sustainable and inclusive production and encourage rural development. The idea is that the government, extension workers, researchers, scholars, farmers' unions and textile departments work together to promote cotton production, promote technological innovation, and expand the marketing of fiber and its products. The ultimate goals include promoting food security, eliminating rural poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality and women farmers' autonomy, economic growth, and responsible production and consumption.

　　 The United States plays an important role in the global cotton market because it is the world's third largest cotton producer and a major cotton exporter. In recent years, American cotton exports account for about 35% of global cotton exports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that farmers produced nearly 20 million bales of cotton in the sales year from August 2019 to July 2020, with a total value of about $7 billion. A packet of cotton - about 480 pounds of lint - can produce more than 200 pairs of jeans or 1200 T-shirts. The yield of Upland Cotton accounts for the majority.

　　 In addition to clothing, upland cotton is also used in curtains, bedding and indoor soft clothing, hospital and medical supplies, female hygiene products and cleaning wipes and other household goods.

　　 Upland cotton can also be used for natural, unbleached cotton products. Cotton fibers are mechanically cleaned without consuming water, chemicals or heat. It has high water absorption and low surfactant content. Consumers prefer soft, comfortable and hypoallergenic cotton products. For example, natural, unbleached cotton can be an economical choice for a variety of wipes. Consumers have shown great importance to cotton as a whole. They think that the wet cloth made of cotton is better than that made of synthetic fiber. This has become one of the driving factors for consumers to buy cotton products. In particular, they noted the sustainability of cotton. According to the cotton INCORPORATED Global wipes survey 2022, most consumers believe that cotton wipes will perform better because they are made of natural materials (54%), environmentally friendly (53%), compostable or biodegradable (49%).

　　 This preference for cotton is also found in women's products and baby products. According to the cotton incorporated 2018 global baby care survey, most consumers (66%) once again said they preferred cotton baby diapers and wipes. Most consumers (71%) were "very interested" in diapers containing cotton, and 68% were "very fond" of wipes containing cotton. In addition, according to the cotton incorporated 2020 global women's hygiene products survey, most consumers believe that cotton is the most suitable fiber for their female health products, because it is "the safest for my body" (61%), non-toxic (60%) and "hypoallergenic" (60%).

　　 Of course, according to the 2022 Cotton Incorporated lifestyle survey, cotton is used in almost all clothing categories. Clothing has always been the first choice for holiday gifts, and about half of holiday gift buyers plan to give clothes as gifts. Most of the givers of clothing gifts will look for clothing gifts rich in cotton this season.

　　 This is good news for cotton farmers all over the country. As the United Nations pointed out on world cotton day, cotton cultivation is important for developed countries, and it is one of the basic agriculture in least developed and developing countries.