I sat down with a tea over the weekend and estimated how much of the food I eat and the beauty I use is organic. Roughly it’s 95% for food (I live off an organic box delivery and some (still usually organic) extras from the supermarket, although supermarkets are places I find myself avoiding more and more.
There’s something plasticky, synthetic, dull and less vibrant about non-organic fruit and veg – the same qualities mirrored in “bad” skincare.
But I’ve bought non-organic coffee, tea and dark chocolate one too many times (gulp) and those items are my permanent go-organic upgrades this Organic September and forever more into the future. (Writing this I can’t quite believe I ‘have’ bought non-organic tea and coffee and that is changing rapidamente – as of tonight.)
Buying organic isn’t only about nutrition, taste and health(y) skin though, is it?
The backdrop to organic production, living and farming – and the healthy ecosystem that heavily relies on them – is key, with a capital K.
Soil regeneration, no pesticides, no chemicals, no hormones, no GMO malarkey or “tampering with nature” – a healthier ecology, and a healthier environment for all (just for starters).
Happier wildlife and farm animals.
More bees and butterflies.
A collective healthier “us” (less strain on global health systems, fewer days lost at work, stronger children, better “old age” à la Blue Zones et al…the list goes on!)
But according to Statista (disappointing):
“In 2019, organic food sales made up 5.8 percent of total food sales in the United States”
I find this mindblowing, although the figures probably fluctuate a bit wildly from state to state (yoga teacher in California v cattle rancher in the midwest?)
Still, this is encouraging – and due in part to “the virus”:
25 May 2021 — WASHINGTON — Organic food sales in the United States increased by a record 12.8% in 2020 to a new high of $56.4 billion…
And more good news from the UK (click to download The SA’s report):
The Soil Association “Organic Market Report 2021”
“Our 2021 Organic Market Report reveals the highest year-on-year growth in 15 years for the organic market, at +12.6% with the market now worth £2.79B”
DID YOU KNOW…
– For every 10% increase in bee-friendly habitats, like that found on organic farms, bee numbers and diversity increases by over a third
– 41% of Britain’s wildlife species have declined since 1970, and more than 1 in 10 are currently facing extinction
– The nitrogen fertilisers used in conventional farming can create ‘ocean dead zones’ which deprive life below water of vital oxygen. This can kill fish and other aquatic life.
– Soils on organic farms store up to twice as much water, helping to protect against flooding, and performing better during drought
– On average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms
– And to end on another happy note, there are around 75% more wild bees on organic farms
3 WAYS “CHOOSING ORGANIC” POSITIVELY AFFECTS THE ECOSYSTEM
As for organic beauty and wellbeing products, the upbeat news continues.
According to the Soil Association’s report on this specific sector, sales rose 13% in 2020:
“The Soil Association report details the 10th consecutive year of growth for this market, with +13% growth in 2020 of Soil Association certified organic and natural products meaning this market is now worth £120m”.
I quite frequently hear from people who used to buy high street pharmacy-style or department store type brands (usually the heavily advertised ones we “grew up with” – those of us who remember the Cindy Crawford & Linda Evangelista supermodel days).
But they’ve started switching to “cleaner” (controversial term for some!) beauty for xyz reason (sometimes it’s an organic brand sold on a supermarket shelf or somewhere more pro-organic, like Planet Organic, Whole Foods, H&B or the village health store.
And after the “swap” there’s no going back to the old brand (because when you find a big new love, everything else pales by comparison)…
HAPPY ORGANIC BEAUTY & WELLBEING WEEK
6th to 12th SEPTEMBER
To find out more, click HERE
