Five reasons to choose organic Products
Organic
products are good for you and your planet, is kind to
animals and wildlife and allows us make a big difference - simply through the
way we shop. With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why organic products
deliver such good value for money.
1. Better for your planet
A large amount of greenhouse gas emissions come from food and farming
today. Nitrogen
fertiliser manufacturing is the worst offender. To produce just one tonne takes
one tonne of oil, seven tonnes of greenhouse gasses and one hundred tonnes of
water. Organic farmers work with nature to feed the soil and control pests. By
choosing organic products, local and seasonal - we can significantly reduce our
carbon footprint.
2. Great for You
No food has
higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins than
organic food. Organic food avoids pesticides and all controversial additives
including aspartame, tartrazine, MSG and hydrogenated
fats. Organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and minerals like
calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants
and Omega 3. Organic milk for example, is on average 68% higher in Omega 3
essential fatty acids.
3. Kind to animals
Animal
welfare is at the heart of organic systems. Organic standards for meat and
animal products rigorously protect all aspects of animal wellbeing - from
rearing, feeding and shelter, to transportation and slaughter. Organic animals
are free to pursue natural behaviour because they have plenty of outside space
to thrive and grow, and are not routinely drugged with antibiotics. Organic standards prohibit cruelty
and guarantee truly free-range lives for farm animals.
Yes, that’s right.
Many shoppers don’t realise that organic products are also free range. Eggs and
meat with organic certifications have been reared to the highest level of
free-range standards. Birds are looked after in smaller flocks, spend more of
their lives roaming outside on fresh grass and have more space in their houses.
4. Encourages wildlife
Plant,
insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms. Organic farming
relies on wildlife to help control natural pests, so wide field edges are left
uncultivated for bugs, birds and bees to flourish. They are also not sprayed
away by the fertilisers, chemicals and pesticides routinely used on non-organic
farms.
5. GM free
Genetically modified (GM) crops and
ingredients are banned under organic standards. Shoppers wanting to avoid GM
products may be surprised to know that over a million tonnes of GM crops are
imported each year to feed non-organic livestock, which in turn supply our
supermarkets with pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products.