Allelopathy is the phenomenon of plants producing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. Allelopathy helps suppress weeds, pests, and diseases by creating unfavorable conditions for them
Accreditation body is an organization that accredits certification bodies that verify the compliance of organic farmers and processors with the standards of organic production and handling. Accreditation body helps ensure the competence, impartiality, and credibility of the certification bodies..
Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) is a soil bacterium that produces toxins that kill certain insects. Bt is used as a biological insecticide to control pests such as caterpillars, beetles, or flies that can damage crops.
Biofertilizer is a fertilizer that contains living microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or algae that enhance the availability or uptake of nutrients by plants. Biofertilizer helps improve soil fertility, crop productivity, and environmental quality by reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.Biological control is the use of natural enemies such as predators, parasites, or pathogens to reduce or regulate the population of pests. Biological control helps minimize the use of pesticides, preserve natural balance, and enhance biodiversity.
Biological control is the use of natural enemies such as predators, parasites, or pathogens to reduce or regulate the population of pests. Biological control helps minimize the use of pesticides, preserve natural balance, and enhance biodiversity.
Bioplastic is a plastic that is derived from renewable biological sources such as starch, cellulose, or vegetable oils. Bioplastic can be biodegradable or compostable under certain conditions. Bioplastic helps reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and plastic waste.
Botanical pesticide is a pesticide that is derived from plant extracts such as neem oil, pyrethrum, or rotenone. Botanical pesticide helps control pests with minimal environmental impact and human health risk.
Buffer zone is a strip of land between an organic farm and a conventional farm or a source of contamination. Buffer zone helps prevent cross-contamination, chemical drift, or gene flow from affecting the organic farm by creating a physical barrier or a distance gap.
Certification body is an organization that verifies that organic farmers and processors meet the standards of organic production and handling. Certification body helps ensure the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the organic certification process.
Chain of custody is the process of tracking and documenting the movement of materials or products along the supply chain from the source to the final destination. Chain of custody helps verify the origin, identity, and content of the materials or products.
Companion planting is the practice of planting crops that benefit each other in terms of growth, yield, or pest control. Companion planting helps improve crop performance, diversity, and resilience by creating synergies among crops.
Compost is a mixture of decomposed organic matter such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, manure, or worm castings. Compost helps improve soil structure, fertility, water retention, and microbial activity.
Conventional cotton is cotton that is grown using synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, or fungicides. Conventional cotton harms the environment and human health by polluting the soil, water, and air with toxic substances.
Cover cropping is the practice of growing crops that are not harvested but are used to cover the soil surface. Cover cropping helps protect the soil from erosion, weed invasion, water loss, and nutrient leaching, and also adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different types of crops in a planned sequence on the same piece of land over time. Crop rotation helps break pest cycles, reduce soil-borne diseases, improve soil fertility, and diversify income sources.
Drip irrigation is a method of irrigation that delivers water directly to the root zone of the plants through pipes, tubes, or emitters. Drip irrigation helps conserve water resources, reduce water loss, and improve water efficiency by avoiding evaporation, runoff, or leaching.
Fair trade is a social movement and a market-based approach that aims to promote fair prices , decent working conditions , environmental sustainability , and community development for producers and workers in developing countries. Fair trade products are certified by organizations such as Fairtrade International , Fair Trade USA , or Fair for Life.
Flame weeding is a method of weeding that involves using a propane torch or a flamethrower to burn the weeds. Flame weeding helps reduce weed competition, improve crop growth, and avoid herbicide use.
Fungicide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of fungi. Fungicides are used to prevent or treat fungal diseases that can affect crops.
Genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using biotechnology techniques such as gene splicing or transgenesis. GMOs are used to create traits such as pest resistance or herbicide tolerance in crops.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a leading standard setter that defines world-wide recognized requirements for organic textiles, from the harvesting of the raw materials to the labelling of the final products.
Green manure is a crop that is grown and plowed into the soil before planting the main crop. Green manure helps fix nitrogen, add organic matter, suppress weeds, and prevent soil erosion.
Herbicide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of plants. Herbicides are used to control weeds that can compete with crops for resources such as water, nutrients, or light.
Insecticide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of insects. Insecticides are used to control pests that can damage crops by feeding on them or transmitting diseases.
In-conversion cotton is cotton that is grown by farmers who are in the process of converting their land from conventional to organic farming. In-conversion cotton follows the same standards and practices as organic cotton , but has not yet completed the required period of time (usually three years ) to be certified as organic. In-conversion cotton helps support farmers who are committed to organic farming by providing them with a market incentive and a recognition for their efforts.
Integrated crop management (ICM) is a system of agriculture that combines different methods and practices to optimize crop production and quality while minimizing environmental impact and resource use. ICM includes practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, biological control, and organic fertilization.
Integrated nutrient management (INM) is a system of agriculture that combines different sources and methods of nutrient supply to crops such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, or mineral fertilizers. INM aims to maintain soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing environmental pollution and resource depletion.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a system of agriculture that combines different methods and practices to prevent and control pests such as cultural, biological, physical, or chemical methods. IPM aims to reduce pest damage and pesticide use while preserving natural enemies and biodiversity.
Internal control system (ICS) is a system of procedures and documentation that ensures the compliance of a group of farmers or processors with the standards of organic production and handling. ICS helps reduce the cost and complexity of certification for small-scale producers or processors.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) is a global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement that promotes and supports the adoption of ecologically sound systems of food production.
Irrigation is the supply of water to crops using natural or artificial sources such as rainwater, groundwater, or surface water. Irrigation helps increase crop yield and quality by providing adequate water for plant growth and development.
Lyocell is a type of man-made cellulosic fiber that is derived from wood pulp or other plant sources. Lyocell is produced using an environmentally friendly solvent-spinning process that recovers and reuses most of the solvent. Lyocell fabrics are soft , smooth , absorbent , and biodegradable.
Manual weeding is the removal of weeds by hand or using simple tools such as hoes, knives, or sickles. Manual weeding helps reduce weed competition, improve crop growth, and avoid herbicide use.
Mechanical weeding is the removal of weeds by using machines such as cultivators, mowers, or harrows. Mechanical weeding helps reduce weed competition, improve crop growth, and avoid herbicide use.
Modal is a type of man-made cellulosic fiber that is derived from wood pulp or other plant sources. Modal is produced using a modified viscose process that improves the properties of the fiber. Modal fabrics are soft , smooth , shiny , absorbent , and drapable.
Mulch is a layer of material such as straw, grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, or bark that is spread over the soil surface. Mulch helps conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and add organic matter to the soil.
National Organic Program (NOP) is a federal regulatory program within the USDA that develops and enforces national standards for organically produced agricultural products in the United States.
Organic Content Standard (OCS) is a standard that verifies and tracks the amount of organically grown material in a final product.
Organic cotton is cotton that is grown organically in subtropical countries such as India, Turkey, China, and parts of the USA from non-genetically modified plants, and without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides aside from the ones allowed by the certified organic labeling.
Organic farming is a system of agriculture that relies on natural methods and materials to enhance soil fertility, pest control, crop quality, and biodiversity, while avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals, GMOs, irradiation, or sewage sludge.
Organic fertilizer is a fertilizer that is derived from natural sources such as animal manure, compost, green manure, or rock phosphate, and does not contain any synthetic chemicals or additives.
Organic pesticide is a pesticide that is derived from natural sources such as plant extracts, minerals, bacteria, fungi, or viruses, and does not contain any synthetic chemicals or additives.
Organic seed is a seed that is produced from organically grown plants, without the use of GMOs or chemical treatments, and meets the standards of organic certification.
Organic solarization is a method of soil sterilization that involves covering the soil with a clear plastic sheet and exposing it to the sun for several weeks. Organic solarization helps kill weeds, pests, and diseases by heating up the soil.
Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based organization that represents the interests and promotes the growth of the organic industry in North America.
Pesticide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of pests such as insects, weeds, fungi, or rodents. Pesticides are used to protect crops from damage or loss caused by pests.
Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater from roofs, gutters, tanks, ponds, or wells for irrigation purposes. Rainwater harvesting helps conserve water resources, reduce water bills, and improve water availability by utilizing the natural water cycle.
Recycled cotton is cotton that is made from reclaimed or recovered cotton fibers from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. Recycled cotton helps reduce textile waste, save natural resources, and lower environmental impact by reusing existing materials.
Soil erosion is the loss of topsoil due to wind or water action. Soil erosion reduces soil fertility, productivity, and quality by removing organic matter and nutrients from the soil.
Soil fertility is the ability of soil to provide nutrients and water to plants for their growth and development. Soil fertility depends on factors such as soil texture, structure, organic matter content, pH level, microbial activity, and nutrient availability.
Soil improvement is the enhancement of soil quality and health by adding organic matter and nutrients or improving soil structure and drainage. Soil improvement helps increase soil fertility and productivity and reduce soil erosion and pollution.
Solarization: See Organic solarization.
Sprinkler irrigation: A method of irrigation that involves spraying water over the plants through nozzles sprinklers or misters. Sprinkler irrigation helps conserve water resources
TENCEL™ is Lenzing AG’s registered brand name for lyocell and modal fibers. Lyocell and modal are types of man-made cellulosic fibers that are derived from wood pulp. TENCEL™ fibers are produced using environmentally responsible processes that use less water, energy, and chemicals than conventional methods. TENCEL™ fabrics are soft, smooth, breathable, absorbent, and biodegradable.
Textile Exchange is a global non-profit organization that works to create a more sustainable textile industry by promoting the use of preferred fibers and materials, developing standards and certifications, providing industry reports and data, and facilitating collaboration and learning among stakeholders. Textile Exchange also hosts an annual conference that brings together leaders and experts from the textile sector to share best practices, innovations, and solutions.
Traceability is the ability to track and document the origin, identity, content, and movement of materials or products along the supply chain from the source to the final destination. Traceability helps ensure the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the claims and labels associated with organic cotton products. Traceability also helps identify and address any issues or risks that may arise in the production or distribution of organic cotton products.
Transitional cotton is cotton that is grown by farmers who are in the process of converting their land from conventional to organic farming. Transitional cotton follows the same standards and practices as organic cotton, but has not yet completed the required period of time (usually three years) to be certified as organic. Transitional cotton helps support farmers who are committed to organic farming by providing them with a market incentive and a recognition for their efforts.
USDA Organic is a label that indicates that a product meets the standards of organic production and handling set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Organic products must contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients, excluding water and salt. USDA Organic products must also comply with regulations regarding soil quality, animal welfare, pest control, GMOs, additives, processing, packaging, and labeling.
Vegan is a term that describes a lifestyle or a philosophy that rejects the use or exploitation of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegan products are those that do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or materials such as leather, wool, silk, down, or honey.
Viscose is a type of man-made cellulosic fiber that is derived from wood pulp or other plant sources. Viscose is also known as rayon or artificial silk. Viscose fabrics are soft, smooth, shiny, absorbent, and drapable. However, viscose production can involve harmful chemicals and environmental pollution if not done responsibly.
Wool is a natural fiber that is obtained from the fleece of sheep or other animals such as goats, alpacas, or camels. Wool fabrics are warm, cozy, durable, elastic, flame-resistant, and biodegradable. However, wool production can involve animal welfare issues such as mulesing or live plucking if not done ethically.
ZQ Merino is a certification program that ensures high standards of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility for merino wool production. ZQ Merino farmers follow best practices such as non-mulesing, free-range grazing, land management, and traceability. ZQ Merino wool is soft, fine, and comfortable to wear.