The difference between Organic and Natural – and why it matters.
As the world turns more and more “eco – conscious” it seems that more products are being labeled “organic” or “natural” – but what do these labels mean? What are you actually buying into?
The main difference between the two comes down to the regulations.
If a product is “certified organic” that means it has been heavily regulated by the USDA. In order to use the term, the product’s ingredients must contain NO toxic pesticides, chemical NPK fertilizers, or synthetic herbicides, antibiotics, or growth hormones. Many of them contain labels like this.
If a product is labeled “natural” or even “ALL natural” in a lot of cases that just means it has a plant derivative in there somewhere. There are almost no regulations on this term and in most cases are highly processed with words like “soothing aloe” “chamomile” or “natural cotton” accentuated to make you think you’re buying into something that’s great for you. – Natural products CAN be great, but because of the lack of regulations many companies out there are taking advantage of the more eco-friendly ideals and loosely labeling.
When you should pay attention and why it matters.
Food –
Many foods labeled natural are still processed, contain preservatives, and if you’re on dietary restrictions… these products may cause damage to the cause.
Skincare/ Beauty Products –
Products labeled “natural” but have high chemical ingredient counts can be harmful to sensitive skin or damaging to hair.
Textiles (clothing & bedding) –
If you have allergies, or you’re looking for vegan products… Organic is going to be a safer bet for you.
What to take away from this.
CHECK LABELS. Regardless of if it says Natural, All Natural, or Organic – Don’t always trust the biggest font, read the ingredients, and do your research if you don’t know what an ingredient is.
TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT. There are many companies out there who are doing the “All Natural” community proud with great NATURAL products and in many cases they just didn’t meet one or two of the USDA regulations with use of preservatives or blended with synthetics. This doesn’t mean these are “bad” companies or products. Do your research and trust your findings.
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