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Have you ever heard of Organic September? It is a campaign run by The Soil Association with the aim to raise awareness of organic products and the benefits they can have for people and the environment. We may be near the end of September now but it’s not too late to acknowledge Organic September and learn more about the benefits of all things organic. Plus, it’s certainly never too late to make some switches and introduce more organic products into your lifestyle.
What does organic actually mean?
Organic is a buzzword that we’ve all heard, but what does it actually mean? The Soil Association defines organic as “…a system of farming and food production. Organic farmers aim to produce high-quality food, using methods that benefit our whole food system, from people to planet, plant health to animal welfare.” In practice, this means avoiding the use of pesticides, artificial fertiliser, and artificial additives, among other things. In order for a product to be labelled as organic, it legally has to contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
The benefits of organic products
Organic farming and organic products have far-reaching benefits, including:
- Being more sustainable
- Better for wildlife
- Healthier for people
You can read more detail about these benefits on the Soil Association website.
5 Switches To Make For Organic September
Organic food
When you hear the word organic, food is probably the first thing you think of. Indeed, this is probably the biggest category of organic produce. Look out for the Soil Association organic symbol which appears on over 70% of organic food and drink products in the UK.
Organic fruit and vegetables can be tastier than non-organic, and they are far less likely to have been sprayed with harmful pesticides. One thing to watch out for is that they can sometimes have bugs on them (due to the lack of pesticides), especially leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. This means you will need to wash them more carefully. It may be unappealing to have bugs on your food, but from a health perspective it’s better to have bugs than chemical pesticides!
Organic gifts
When you are buying gifts for your friends and family, you probably don’t think about shopping for something organic. However, it’s a good switch to make for your loved ones with autumn birthdays, or when starting your Christmas shopping. Get familiar with some organic brands that make good presents, and make them your staple brands for gift buying. I’ll get you started with one of my favourite organic brands – Montezumas.
If you haven’t heard of Montezuma’s before, they are a UK-based chocolate company founded in 2000 by Helen and Simon Pattinson. Montezumas have a fantastic range of organic chocolate which is ethically sourced and 100% palm oil free.
I was kindly gifted 4 bags of their Organic Dark 74% Chocolate Giant Buttons which are vegan and gluten-free. I can tell you from experience that once you start eating these, it’s hard to stop! They are so smooth, rich and chocolatey. These would make a fantastic birthday or Christmas gift because who doesn’t love chocolate buttons? I highly recommend checking out Montezuma’s organic range. As well as chocolate buttons, they also do organic dark chocolate bars in various flavours.
Organic clothes
The term organic doesn’t just apply to food. The clothing industry is at present very problematic for the environment so it’s an area where organic farming can make a huge difference. Organic clothing is made from organically grown cotton, hemp, linen or other textiles.
I’m not saying you should go out and buy a whole new wardrobe of organic clothes. It’s always more sustainable to use what you already own, not to mention better for your wallet. However, if you do need any new clothing items, look into organic brands or stores such as Finsu, People Tree or Lucy & Yak.
Ethical brands can be expensive, so if you need a more budget option, some fast fashion brands such as New Look offer an organic cotton range. This is still not ideal from an ethical standpoint, but it’s still a step up from buying non-organic.
Related post: How To Refresh Your Wardrobe The Cheap and Sustainable Way
Organic cosmetics
Like food, cosmetics are considered organic if at least 95% of their ingredients are organically produced. Organic cosmetics are free from GM ingredients, parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances and dyes, so it goes without saying that they are better for your health than non-organic alternatives. So look out for the Soil Association organic symbol next time you are shopping for health and beauty products.
Organic garden products
You can do your share of organic ‘farming’ yourself by opting for organic fertilisers and other products for your garden. You can also avoid chemical pesticides. This way, you will avoid putting harmful chemicals onto your little patch of the Earth, and you’ll attract more wildlife to your garden. You can opt to use organic feeds for your houseplants too.
Will you make any switches for Organic September?
Of course, there are only a few days left in September, but I hope this post has got you thinking about possible switches you could make this Autumn to live a more organic lifestyle. Do you already buy some organic food, clothing and cosmetics? What are your favourite organic brands?
I’d like to give a final shout-out to Montezuma’s. Make sure to go and check out their organic chocolate and maybe pick up a few treats for yourself or your loved ones.
I’ve not heard of Organic September before but I really like the idea (thanks for sharing this information); I will have to have give this a try this month instead and see where I can make some switches!
I only just discovered Organic September too! I’m glad you liked this post, thanks for reading!