Why cotton?  It’s a question we’re asked regularly – so we thought we’d provide more information about cotton, to help you understand why we chose to make tampons from this natural and versatile fibre (as opposed to other brands who make their tampons from a range of synthetic materials – not cotton).

Cotton is natural

Everyone knows cotton is a natural fibre produced by the cotton plant – don’t they?  But you might not know cotton plants are a leafy, green shrub and a member of the Hibiscus family.  They have cream and pink flowers for a short time only and once pollinated, the flowers are replaced by cotton bolls.  Once the bolls are harvested, the fibre can be processed into yarn and fabric.

Cotton’s fibre is incredibly versatile and can be woven or knitted into fabrics like velvet, corduroy, chambray, velour, jersey and flannel – as well as being used to make Cottons 100% natural cotton tampons (Cottons only use first grade cotton – the best!).

Cotton fabric – unbeatable

Cotton fabric has some fantastic properties, for example cotton is:

• Hypo-allergenic, since it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin or cause allergies.
• Cotton’s softness makes it a universally preferred fabric for underwear and other garments worn next to the skin.
• Cotton has a high absorbency rate and holds up to 27 times its own weight in water (one reason it’s great for tampons, liners and pads).
• Cotton actually becomes stronger when wet.
• Cotton breathes easily as a result of its unique fibre structure.  This helps make cotton more comfortable to wear than artificial fibres unable to provide similar ventilation.
• Unlike synthetic fibres, cotton is a natural product and contains no chemicals.
• And, of course Cottons 100% cotton tampons contain no synthetic materials, no chemicals and no dyes … what could be more natural?
  

Cotton – some interesting snippets

• The fibre from one 227 kg cotton bale can produce 215 pairs of jeans, 250 single bed sheets, 750 shirts, 1,200 t-shirts, 2,100 pairs of boxer shorts, 3,000 nappies, 4,300 pairs of socks or 680,000 cotton balls!
• Cotton keeps the body cool in summer and warm in winter because it is a good conductor of heat.
• Cotton first dates from at least 7,000 years ago, making it one of the world’s oldest known fibres.
• The word ‘cotton’ is derived from ‘qutun’ or ‘kutun’, an Arabic word used to describe any fine textile.

For more information about cotton visit www.cottonaustralia.org.au

Cottons Pty Ltd would like to acknowledge the assistance of Cotton Australia in providing some of the information above.