Organic Cotton

YAMATO is not simply trying to turn the culture of kimono into a sustainable industry.
We are also deeply committed to making our surrounding environment, society and economy sustainable.
To this end, we strive to create products using environmentally friendly organic cotton.

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What is Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton refers to cotton grown on farmland that has been free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers for over three years. Additionally, it is produced with consideration for the safety of the farmers and the protection of their working conditions, including the prevention of child labor.
At Yamato Co., Ltd., we use organic cotton sourced from suppliers who adhere to contract farming practices. This ensures the protection of cotton producers and supports sustainable production.
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Definition of Organic Cotton

The definition of organic cotton encompasses a variety of regulations, including agricultural practices during cultivation,
as well as manufacturing and distribution processes for the finished products.

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Organic cotton must be grown on farmland certified by third-party certification bodies,
following over three years of compliance with organic agricultural practices.

Currently, organic cotton is cultivated on approximately 0.02% of the world’s arable land. It is produced in 21 countries globally, with 98% of the production concentrated in eight countries: India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Tajikistan, the United States, Tanzania and others.
On the 2020/21 harvest year, global cotton production reached 24.38 million tons, of which organic cotton accounted for only 340,000 tons, representing about 1.4% of total production.
（Source: TE Organic Cotton Market Report2022）

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Organic cotton must be grown in compliance with strict standards for pesticides and fertilizers.

Organic cotton farmers prepare the soil using approved organic fertilizers as stipulated by the guidelines, refrain from using prohibited pesticides, and are only allowed to cultivate organic cotton after receiving certification from a third-party certification body.

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Organic cotton must be grown using Non-genetically modified (non-GMO) seeds.

Genetic modification refers to a technique in which genes extracted from the cells of other organisms are introduced into crops, endowing them with new characteristics. Globally, approximately 76% of the total 32.9 million hectares of cotton cultivation consists of genetically modified crops.
In Japan, nearly all cotton is imported, with a total import volume of 103,000 tons. Of this, 92% is genetically modified cotton.
(Data from 2018, COUNCIL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION JAPAN)

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Traceability must be ensured.

Traceability refers to a system that records the entire journey of cotton—from production to distribution, storage, and sales—allowing it to be traced back to its origin.
By making information such as “when, where, and by whom the cotton was produced, and how it was distributed” transparent, consumers can feel assured, and the credibility of organic cotton is significantly enhanced.
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The Background of Yamato’s Work with Organic Cotton

In 2018, upon reviewing the global state of cotton production, we decided to switch the materials for our original products to organic cotton. This decision was made to ensure that our production process avoids issues such as soil contamination from pesticide use and child labor.
As a concrete step toward this commitment, since April 2019, Yamato has gradually transitioned the production of its original cotton kimonos and yukatas to using organic cotton yarn, which is gentle on both people and the environment.
As of October 2022, approximately 90% of our products are made using organic cotton yarn.
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