September is the month of all things organic, and this year is no different. Once again the Soil Association is running their nationwide campaign Organic September, so make sure you get involved! It’s all based on the slogan ‘Small Changes, Big Difference’ to show the impact we can make by switching just one household item to organic.

The campaign is running throughout the entire month to celebrate all things organic, and is encouraging everyone to make one small change to their shopping habits in order to make a big difference to sustainable food, animal welfare and the environment. One small change could be switching to organic milk, eggs, eating one piece of organic fruit per day or even choosing an organic moisturiser.

Rob Sexton, Chief Executive of Soil Association Certification said: “If everyone makes a small change like switching to organic milk or choosing an organic moisturiser we can make a huge difference to our planet. Organic farms support 50% more wildlife, with 30% more species -that’s morebirds, bees, butterflies, beetles, bats and wildflowers. A small change can make a surprisingly large difference – the average family eats enough bread in a year that if just twelve families make the small change to swap their bread to organic, an area of organic land a quarter of the size of the Wembley Stadium football pitch would be a haven for wildlife.

“A small change will also make a big difference to the lives of farm animals. No other system of farming has higher animal welfare standards. Organic is free-range and encourages the animals’ natural behaviour. If twenty families switched to organic milk, another cow will be free to range on clover rich organic pastures; if two families switched to organic bacon, one more pig will keep its curly tail and stay with its mother for much longer; and if one family switched to organic eggs, a hen would have access to grassland and not be at risk of painful beak trimming.”

Why go organic?
Here are the Soil Association’s top five reasons as to why you should go organic for September:

1 Reduce your exposure to potentially harmful pesticides
Over 320 pesticides can be routinely used in non-organic farming and these are often present in non-organic food.

2 It’s naturally different
How we farm really does affect the quality of the food we eat. Research published in the British journal of Nutrition found significant nutritional differences between organic and non-organic farming.

3 Better for the planet
If all UK farmland was converted to organic farming, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year – the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road.

4 Help protect our wildlife
75% of UK wildlife is in decline. Organic farming use fewer pesticides and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies – there is up to 50% more wildlife!

5 Higher standards of animal welfare
Organic animals are truly free range. This means healthy, happy animals, that are reared without the routine use of antibiotics which is common in intensive livestock farming.

For more information, visit: www.soilassociation.org/organicseptember