Organic - The Real Meaning

Organic – The Real Meaning

Buying Organic is fashionable. Organic products are increasingly sold. Organic products are more expensive than other products whether essential oils, cotton clothing or food. But what is so good about Organic and why is it real?

The most often quoted reason is that Organic material is not produced by spraying it with pesticides and herbicides which although regulated still pose threats to human and other wildlife. This is true. Organic products are not grown or processed using harmful chemicals. Whilst Agribusiness argues that all the chemicals they use are safe, year after year, new evidence emerges that this is questionable if not untrue. So new replacement chemicals are found and the round begins again.

An example is glycophosphate (Roundup) weed killer ‘safe’ but now strongly implicated in the decline of honey bees through the chemicals passing through the food chain. The National Academy of Sciences reports that 90% of the chemicals applied to foods have not been tested for long-term health effects before being deemed "safe."

So, a good reason for buying organics is to safeguard health not only of humans but also wildlife and plant diversity especially in the wild.  Organic food is produced using more environmentally friendly and animal friendly farming methods meaning it’s better for people, animals and the planet.

Talking about farming, organic farming methods are less dependent on non-renewable, fossil fuel-based fertilisers and pesticides. Organic farming also stores higher levels of carbon in the soil. The farming methods of production restore the quality of soil by using natural methods, in particular the support of microbes, bacteria and fungi from compost to return nutrients to the soil. Organic farming supports eco-sustenance, or farming in harmony with nature. Preservation of the soil and crop rotation keep farmland healthy, and chemical abstinence preserves the ecosystem. Wildlife, insects, frogs, birds, and soil organisms can play their roles in the full tapestry of ecology.

Organic beauty ingredients are produced without the use of as many artificial fertilisers, pesticides, or other synthetic chemicals as conventional beauty ingredients. By using organic skincare, you make sure that the ingredients have not been treated with the same number of synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Organic materials are not available for every aspect of formulation so many good Natural brands use organic ingredients where possible plus other quality non-organic materials.

The same principles apply to Organic Beauty finished products which are also produced without the use of many artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Organic Skincare and Makeup have less or none at all doubtful synthetic chemicals as do conventional beauty products.  At FEI we favour organic beauty products and ingredients. One of the best sources of Organic agriculture in Europe is Poland and many of our brands come from there. Organic standards are sets of requirements that describe what practices can be considered organic. Typically, organic standards address various aspects of organic production, general farm production requirements, crop production requirements and requirements for the collection of wild products, animal welfare requirements and so on. There are strict requirements to obtain a certificate of meeting organic standards. Overall, organic operations must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances.

Fragrant Earth have always offered many organic Essential Oils and Vegetable or Carrier Oils but increasingly their range of Organic Colour Cosmetics or makeup from Lavera are proving popular. 

Type in Organic at the Fragrant Earth website to see a vast array on offer from Tampons to dental care, Skin care to Deodorants.