You asked, we answered: What are the greenhouse emissions at each stage of cotton production?
We care about your sustainable choices in textiles.
We show the carbon footprint of cotton—from farm to fiber—using the latest expert research.

🔍 Water Use · Carbon Emissions · Chemical Inputs · Recycling

Water Use in Cotton Production

Water use changes by region and farming style.
Water use links to energy use and emissions.

• Irrigation drives emissions.
 – Irrigation is the 2nd biggest source of GHG emissions in cotton.
 – It gives about 17% of total emissions on average (Better Cotton Initiative, 2021).

• Energy powers water.
 – Pumping and distributing water uses electricity or fuel.
 – This adds to emissions (Carbonfact, 2024).

• Regional differences matter.
 – Places like the U.S., China, and Brazil use heavy irrigation.
 – They show higher water-related emissions (Carbonfact).

Expert Tips:
• Optimize irrigation with drip systems or smart scheduling.
• Choose regions with rain-fed or natural water.
• Select cotton varieties bred for drought to cut water use.

🚩 Highlight:
Irrigation adds 17% of GHG emissions in cotton and varies by region. (Better Cotton Initiative, 2021)

Carbon Emissions at Each Production Stage

Cotton’s carbon footprint splits into many stages.

• Global averages show clear links.
 – About 0.9 kg CO2e per kg of cotton or 1.9 kg CO2e per kg of fiber (Yu & Yang, 2025, ScienceDirect).

• Fertilizer plays a major role.
 – Production of fertilizer causes 47–66% of emissions.
 – This comes from energy use and N2O gas from nitrogen fertilizer (Yu & Yang, 2025; Better Cotton Initiative, 2021).

• Fertilizer use also adds emissions.
 – Nitrous oxide comes during fertilizer application.
 – This step adds 12% of total emissions (Better Cotton Initiative, 2021).

• Ginning uses energy too.
 – Separating fibers uses power and adds about 11% of emissions.
 – Switching to renewables can lower these emissions (Carbonfact, 2024; Cotton Today, 2025).

• Regional impacts differ.
 – Conventional cotton in the U.S. and China has high footprints (~6–7.5 kg CO2eq/kg).
 – Organic cotton in Kyrgyzstan and Turkey can be as low as 1.15 kg CO2eq/kg (Carbonfact, 2024).

Expert Tips:
• Use precision agriculture to avoid too much nitrogen. (Cotton Today, 2025)
• Add organic fertilizers or manure to improve nitrogen use (Yu & Yang, 2025).
• Switch farm and ginning equipment to renewable energy.
• Support local sustainable cotton initiatives like Better Cotton.

🚩 Highlight:
Nitrogen fertilizer drives up to 66% of cotton’s emissions globally. (Yu & Yang, 2025)

Chemical Inputs: Fertilizers and Pesticides

Fertilizers and pesticides share a close link with environmental impact.

• Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers need energy to make.
 – They also release strong N2O gas when used.

• Pesticides affect soil and water.
 – Their carbon role is smaller but still matters.

• Organic farming avoids many synthetics.
 – But even organic fertilizers can release N2O when they break down (Better Cotton Initiative, 2021).

Expert Tips:
• Rotate crops and add cover crops for strong soil. (Cotton Today, 2025)
• Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to trim pesticide use.
• Support certification programs with strict chemical rules (like organic or Better Cotton).

🚩 Highlight:
Fertilizer production makes up nearly half of cotton’s GHG emissions, and its use releases much N2O. (Better Cotton Initiative, 2021)

Recycling & Circularity in Cotton

Recycling fibers cuts the need for new cotton and lowers emissions.

• Cotton is natural and breaks down over time.
 – It does not add microfibers like synthetic fibers do.

• Textile waste recycles in two ways.
 – It can be remade mechanically or chemically.
 – New methods and better systems can help it scale up.

• Composting cotton waste stores carbon and cuts landfill emissions (Cotton Today, 2025).

Expert Tips:
• Choose products made from recycled or certified cotton.
• Support textile take-back and recycling efforts.
• Use natural fiber blends for better biodegradability.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does organic cotton always have a lower carbon footprint than conventional cotton?
A: Not always.
Organic cotton avoids synthetic inputs, but some regions, like parts of India, show higher emissions.
Yield differences and data gaps play a role. More research is coming. (Carbonfact, 2024)

👉 Ready for more?

Dive deeper into cotton’s environmental impact and sustainable choices here:
https://designdelightstudio.myshopify.com/pages/environmental-impact-of-cotton-your-questions-answered

Sources:

• Zhuhong Yu & Yi Yang. (2025). Carbon footprint of global cotton production. Resources, Environment and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100214
• Laurent Vandepaer, Head of Science, Carbonfact. (2024). The Carbon Footprint of Cotton. https://carbonfact.com/blog/carbon-footprint-of-cotton
• Cotton Incorporated. (2025). Reducing Emissions in Cotton Production. Cotton Today. https://cottontoday.cottoninc.com
• Better Cotton Initiative. (2021). GHG Emissions Study. https://bettercotton.org

We hope this expert-backed analysis helps you choose sustainable textiles with clear insight into cotton’s carbon story!

Design Delight Studio is your trusted partner in sustainable textiles, committed to transparency and eco-innovation. Learn more at designdelightstudio.myshopify.com