The benefits of organic food: Organic September

Organic September is a month-long campaign led by the Soil Association to raise awareness of the benefits of organic food and farming.

What does organic mean?

According to the Soil Association, an independent organic certification body, organic is “a system of farming and food production that aims to produce sufficient quantities of high-quality food . . . using methods that deliver a breadth of benefits across our whole food system, from people to planet, plant health to animal welfare.”

In order to grow food labelled as ‘organic’, farmers must work to a strict set of standards and regulations, as well as attain certification from an independent body. Here are some important aspects of organic farming:

• - Fewer pesticides than conventional farming

• - No artificial fertilisers

• - Higher animal welfare standards than conventional farming

• - No routine use of antibiotics

• - No generic modification

• - No artificial colours and preservatives 

Food and drink products labelled as 'organic' must contain at least 95% organically produced plants or animals.

• What are the benefits of choosing organic?

Organic food tends to be more expensive than conventional alternatives, but it comes with many advantages. Here are just some of the benefits, according to the Soil Association.

1. It's better for the planet

Organic farming uses methods that work with nature, not against it. It takes a balanced and holisitic approach to sustainability, aiming to minimise disrupton to the natural environment and enhance the health of soils, water, air, plants, and animals.

On average, organic farms tend to use less energy and store more carbon than non-organic farms. Organic farming also lowers the risk of environmental pollution and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by restricting the use of manufactured chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

2. It's better for wildlife

One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators - like bees - but over 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered. Intensive farming practices, in particular the use of pesticides, are the main cause of this decline.

Luckily, organic farms are havens for wildlife, providing homes for bees, birds, and butterflies. In fact, plant, insect, and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms than non-organic farms! And it's not only wildlife living on farmland that benefits from organic farming, fish and other acquatic life do too. This is because organic farming bans the use of manufactured nitrogen fertilisers, which are the main cause of 'ocean dead zones'.

3. It's better for people

While there’s debate over whether eating organic food is in itself healthier than conventional food, buying and growing organic food supports a holistic and sustainable way of farming that helps support our longterm collective health and the health of the planet.

Organic standards also prohibit the use of toxic and genetically modified ingredients, and additives are heavily restricted. Eating organic is one way you can limit your exposure to pesticides and herbicides as organic farming aims to control pests naturally.

Making organic swaps in the office and working from home

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• CPRESS Juice

Quench your thirst by ordering these cold-pressed juices from CPRESS to your office. Made with ethically sourced, organic fruits and vegetables, they’re the ideal energy boost for a busy day in the office. Even better? CPRESS juices are packaged in recyclable glass bottles!

You can even add on some 100% certified organic snacks to keep you fuelled until it’s time to clock off. Try the vanilla cashew cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth or choose the activated nuts for something more savoury.

CRU Kafe

Colleagues missing their regular office coffee breaks? Treat them to a box of ethically sourced, certified organic coffee capsules, beans, or grounds with a Pantry Package from CRU Kafe. Delivered directly to their homes contact-free!

Raw Press

Raw Press is a plant-based cafe in Chelsea offering energising organic cold-pressed juices and almond m!lks to offices around London. Opt for the green juice for a kale and cucumber fusion, or order the chocolate m!lk for something a little sweeter!

While not 100% organic, plenty of our vendor partners use delicious organic ingredients in their meals. So, here are some of our top recommendations to help you make small, but positive changes:

Chelsea Creperie

Made with organic flour, these sweet and savoury pancakes from Chelsea Creperie are the perfect lunchtime treat. In fact, they’re flippin’ delicious! There are vegan and no-gluten options too, so the whole office can enjoy.

Healthy Artisan Meals

Healthy Artisan Meals specialises in creating delicious food for offices around London. The menu offers a range of tasty lunches to suit a wide range of dietary needs and tastes. Try out the vegan doner shawarma, complete with 10-spice organic tofu made in-house!

Leon

Didn’t think you could find organic ingredients at popular chain restaurants? Think again! Leon offers porridge made with organic cashew milk for a tasty kick-start to the day and cookies made with organic coconut sugar to snack on later!

Lovely Buns

Send a sweet treat to your remote teams to show them you care! Lovely Buns creates mouth-watering plant-based cookies, cakes, and buns using only the finest ingredients: organic English flour, fairtrade chocolate, organic palm oil-free fats, responsibly sourced vanilla, and organic fruits and nuts.

Looking for even more choice? Search for the best restaurants and caterers near you, delivering delicious meals to your office with Just Eat for Business.