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15 Jan 2020

In 2020, all table linen is made

with GOTS cotton

 

For years now, we have table linen woven of GOTS cotton in our collection. Hotels, recreational parks and restaurants have increasingly been choosing this organic table linen and are all enthusiastic about it. As of this year, we choose to weave all our table linen with GOTS cotton. This is yet another step to make our linen collection more sustainable.

 

2020: complete switch to cotton with GOTS hallmark

As Blycolin, we now offer two types of table linen: linen made with cotton that does not have a hallmark and table linen made with GOTS-certified cotton. In 2020, the cotton without GOTS hallmark will no longer be produced. Of course, we will use up the supplies that we still have in stock, but from now on, everything will be produced with GOTS-certified cotton.

Why we made this choice

Sustainability is one of Blycolin’s key spearheads. And we notice that it is becoming increasingly important to our customers, partners and guests in the hospitality branch. More and more people and companies consciously make organic, ecological, sustainable and responsible choices. Choices that have less impact on mankind and the environment. The step to switch to exclusively using GOTS-certified cotton fits within our sustainability policy and the market’s needs.

GOTS cotton versus regular cotton: the benefits

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It is an international hallmark that determines whether textile is produced in an environmentally-friendly and socially responsible way. GOTS cotton has ecological benefits because no pesticides or dangerous chemicals are used. It is also environmentally-friendly because less water and energy are used and less greenhouse gases are emitted. The hallmark is also critical about good working conditions, think of the right of trade union freedom and safe and healthy working conditions.

The cotton napkin: the hard (and yet soft) facts

As we like to substantiate these benefits with evidence, we have done research within our own chain: from spinning and weaving to laundry and transport. We made a comparison between regular cotton and GOTS cotton and measured the differences in the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI) between these two. The ECI is measured for various components, such as CO2 emission, the impact on fossil fuels, soil acidification and overfertilization. The result? According to the test, based on 40 washing cycles, the impact of an organic cotton napkin is 0.75 cents and the regular cotton napkin 0.99 cents. Conclusion: an organic cotton napkin is indeed better for the environment than a regular cotton one.

Organic cotton saves energy and water

In the research, we have also specifically looked at the usage of energy and water for various types of cotton. The test, again based on 40 laundry cycles, showed that the energy consumption for a regular cotton napkin is 0.95 MJ (Mega Joule) and for a GOTS cotton napkin 0.92 MJ.

When we looked into the water usage, it showed that regular cotton uses 4.84 liters and organic cotton used 2.87 liters. So in this regard, GOTS cotton is also the most sustainable choice.

Together we work on a sustainable chain

By switching to GOTS cotton exclusively, we make more environmentally-friendly table linen. Especially water usage, fertilizer and pesticides decrease significantly. Would you like to know more about our choice, our approach and the results of our research, or our possibilities for renting sustainable hotel linen? Please let us know, our advisors will gladly pay you a visit.