Rawganic Skincare Kit: Your New Cleansing Regime

Cottoning on to the truth behind GM

There are currently no regular GM crops grown in the U.K., although there are no legal restrictions on applying to do so. The controversy that surrounds GM has kept these crops out of our back yards but, despite this, we still inadvertently purchase products which contain GM in our supermarkets. GM foods have to be labelled by law, but there is no such protocol for cotton, thus providing a loophole for GM importers.

The two varieties of GM cotton make up 43% of all cotton production. The first variety is herbicide tolerant. The farmer is able to indiscriminately spray herbicide onto his fields to destroy all weeds whilst protecting the cotton. The GM seeds and agrochemicals are bought in synergy, which are patented and controlled by a small number of multinationals. Over a period of 11 years, after GM crops were introduced in the U.S., there was a fifteen-fold increase in the use of herbicide in soy beans, maize and cotton. Such high levels have created concerns about the effects upon wildlife and soil quality. Because cotton is primarily a non-food crop, some of the most toxic chemicals are applied to the crops. The purpose of this is to make production less labour-intensive and therefore cheaper. It is a common misconception that GM crops produce higher yields. Figures from the Xinjiang province in China, for example, show the highest yields come from non-GM cotton.

The second variety is designed to be insect resistant. The cotton plants excrete their own toxin – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) - which specifically targets certain pests and reduces the need for pesticides. Although there have been short-term drops in pesticide use in certain areas, there have also been unintended consequences, such as an increase in the numbers of pests in Northern China. This suggests that research into the environmental effects of GM needs to be more rigorous.

The danger of both herbicide tolerant and insect resistant cotton crops is the increased likelihood of other species developing genetic resistance to them. The high exposure of weeds to herbicide or of insects to pesticide encourages advantageous characteristics to proliferate, creating “superweeds” and pesticide-immune insects. Stronger and more toxic chemicals will be needed to protect crops and will thus create worrying environmental consequences.

At Rawganic, we say no to GM. By using 100% organic cotton in our facial wipes, we are supporting a more sustainable way of farming, which is in harmony with the environment and uses no synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

12 New Year's Resolutions for 2012

Why not get January off to a good start and trying giving your skincare regime a reboot?

Here are 12 reasons to go organic in 2012:

1. Trust your products

Products approved by organic certifying bodies must have transparent supply chains, meet environmental standards and meet high safety standards – unlike their non-organic equivalents. These well-respected institutions, such as the Soil Association, can be your guiding light.

2. Feed your skin

Up to 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed. The natural ingredients in organic products – such as essential oils and nut butters – provide natural unadulterated goodness.

3. Go alternative

In contrast to synthetic ingredients, many of the natural ingredients have a rich history of holistic use. The natural properties of green tea to revitalise and rejuvenate, for example, have been purported through millennia, as well as the therapeutic properties of essential oils.

4. Care for sensitive skin

If your skin is eczema or psoriasis prone - or just sensitive - organic skincare is a good port of call. There are many known irritants that you’ll find across the cosmetics board, such as Sodium Laureth Sulphate, which you will not find in the organic corner.

5. Get more vitamins and minerals

On average, organic ingredients contain more vitamins and minerals than their non-organic counterparts.

6. Reduce pesticide use

Certified organic skincare does not allow the use of synthetic pesticides, which not only leave residues in the food we eat, but also in water systems and wildlife. This is thought to affect hormones and reproduction in both animals and humans.

7. Avoid petroleum-based ingredients

Going organic means reducing your reliance on petroleum, a non-renewable resource with an uncertain future.

8. If in doubt, leave it out

Certified organic skincare allows a small number of the safest plant-based preservatives in strictly controlled quantities. Researchers have suggested a link between parabens, the most commonly used preservative in non-organic cosmetics, and breast cancer.

9. Get good value for money

With organic skincare, less is more. Rich and high quality formulas means your lotions and potions go further.

10. Say no to GM

GM ingredients are common in non-food items. 43% of the world’s cotton is GM and does not have to be labelled as such. GM crops are banned in organic products, making organic certification a non-GM seal of approval.

11. Make a stand against animal testing

Certified organic cosmetics are not tested on animals.

12. Support sustainable farming

By choosing organic, you are supporting a sustainable farming system which promotes soil health and biodiversity.

Intensive farming: the potential risks to human health

As opposition to the proposed mega pig farm in Foston, Derbyshire is mounting, local MPs are pondering over whether to give the go ahead. The farm would house 2,500 sows and produce 52,000 pigs each year. Although plans have been rejected by South Derbyshire District Council, the verdict from Derbyshire County Council is yet to come. If the plans go through, it will set a precedent: a significant move towards the kind of large-scale farming found on the other side of the Atlantic. We have already highlighted the animal welfare issues surrounding intensive pig rearing. It is also worth remembering that there are potential risks to human health as well.

The main issue in intensive farming is the prevalence of disease. Because of the confined conditions which animals are kept in, disease spreads quickly through the group. Furthermore, animals in these cramped conditions tend to be less healthy than their free range counterparts, which makes them more susceptible to disease in the first place. There is often pressure to achieve very high yields and so routine antibiotic treatment is the norm. Low-level but continual antibiotic use is an ideal setting for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.

The problem of untreatable “superbugs” may seem to be an unrelated problem that begins and ends in hospitals. In fact, livestock association MRSA is an established source of the disease. This issue is therefore inextricably linked with our farming systems and the treatment of our animals.

There are concerns, therefore, about the proposed mega pig farm in Foston and subsequent ones increasing the risk of new strains of multi-resistant bacteria emerging. The brunt of antibiotic use in farming is for pigs, at around 60%. The likelihood of new strains of bacteria passing from pigs to humans is thought to have been underestimated in the past. At least one strain of C. difficile, a superbug found in hospitals, has been found in British pigs. In addition, a new form of salmonella which is highly resistant to antibiotics is thought to have developed in pigs and has been recently described as “epidemic” by the European Food Safety Authority.

The consequences of ineffective antibiotics would be incredibly severe. To remedy one source of antibiotic resistance would be to bring in much stricter controls of antibiotics in farming. However, modern farming methods do not lend themselves to this kind of change and whilst British farming continues to move towards intensification on a large scale, the liberal use of antibiotics will not be stemmed. The cost of cheap meat, therefore, now lies beyond animal welfare and at the very heart of human health.

Reducing Pesticide Use Through Organic Farming

Organic farming is becoming the most innovative form of agriculture across the world. It is a rejection of the notion that in order to have a high yield of produce, pesticides are needed. Farmers are not just going back to a traditional way of farming, using methods such as crop rotation which were utilised long before synthetic pesticides were even invented, but they also have to come up with innovative ways of dealing with pests and insects without pesticides or herbicides.

For many farmers, this is an empowering switch. The organic system allows the farmer more control, problem solving without chemicals. The benefits of the lack of chemicals are obvious; less exposure means fewer health risks. The high toxicity of the pesticides in use at the moment results in an estimated 18,000 deaths each year. Long term health effects of occupational pesticide exposure include respiratory disorders, cancer and neurological deficits.

However, it is not just health benefits that are an improvement; farming organically opens up new markets for farmers, giving them a new opportunity for business. The implementation of organic farming also improves the overall quality of the soil and allows for a more sustainable approach to their production.

0.9% of the total world farmland is now organic. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation describe organic agriculture as a ‘holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.’ Organic farming is often described as ineffective, losing much produce to weeds and insects. This is absolutely not the case. A number of studies attest organic farming methods can produce even higher yields than conventional methods. After a period of a few years, the opportunity with organic farming to increase food production levels is huge, the lack of pesticides means reversing the degradation of agricultural soils and increasing soil fertility and health. It is a sustainable system, which would increase food security, especially in developing countries where self-sufficiency is key. A reliance on petrochemicals is neither renewable nor sustainable. The switch to organic farming is a logical one.

Have you considered bamboo?

Rawganic will soon be making wipes from bamboo. Bamboo is an incredibly prolific plant which, through modern manufacturing processes, can be made into a very strong and soft fabric. The raw material has been used for centuries for housing, flooring, furniture and ornaments; we have only just begun to unlock its potential as a fabric. Bamboo is used in clothing as an environmental alternative; it is strong, durable, biodegradable and versatile – in short, an ideal fabric.

Good for the environment

Farming bamboo is very good news for the environment. Bamboo is a grass and so grows quickly and spreads rapidly; it reaches its maximum height in just three months. It requires barely any human intervention to thrive and produces very high yields. Not only this, but bamboo consumes much more carbon dioxide than other plants.

Pesticide free

Bamboo naturally contains an agent called “bamboo kun” which means it can be grown without pesticides or chemicals. This means no harmful chemicals can leech into the local ecosystem or waterways. The anti-microbial properties of the bamboo plant are actually retained in the bamboo fabric, meaning they are naturally bacteriostatic and so require fewer preservatives to maintain the quality of the wipe. The material is incredibly soft and 100% biodegradable.

Good for your skin

The result of this wonderful resource is an incredibly soft but strong wipe, which feels luxurious against your skin. The natural antimicrobial effect gives your skin a deep cleanse and helps prevent breakouts. On top of this, all our wipes are parabens, SLS and alcohol free. They never have been and never will be tested on animals.

Certified

Our bamboo wipes are certified bacteriostatic and carry the Oekotex certification.

Organic Ethical Fashion - More Than Organic Cotton

Often associated with being throwaway, cheap and frivolous, fashion is usually thought of as anything but sustainable. However, there is a growing market for ethical fashion, where solutions are being found for harmful synthetic materials and the unethical way certain materials are being produced. We talked previously about organic cotton, as cotton is a material that accounts for most of the world’s material needs. However, if you felt like spreading your wings further into the organic world of fashion, there are plenty more ethical materials to be found.

Bamboo clothing, like organic cotton, is better for the environment as it is 100% naturally grown without pesticides or herbicides and is 100% sustainable. It thrives naturally; being the fastest growing plant in the world, it spreads rapidly across large areas, improving soil quality in eroded and degraded areas of land. Because it is a grass, bamboo is cut, not uprooted, helping soil stability. It’s not just good for the environment, but good for you too. Bamboo clothing is perfect for those with sensitive or allergy prone skin. The smooth, round fibre produced without harsh chemicals makes it non-irritant, breathable and naturally soft.

Check out Bamboo Clothing for affordable, ethical clothes made from bamboo.

Hemp is another material that is organically grown and sustainable. Although banned for many years because of its association with marijuana, the hemp plant is used solely for textiles, and super soft ones at that. Organic hemp is hypoallergenic and non-irritating to skin. It actually nourishes the soil in which it is grown leaving nutrient rich farmland for pollution crops. Hemp cloth is much stronger and more versatile than other fabrics as its tensile strength actually increases with age. Hemp is becoming more and more fashionable, with brands such as Armani and Ralph Lauren using it in recent products.

For more affordable hemp products, as well as other ethically sourced materials, check out Brain Tree.

If you want to do more than simply buy organic clothes, take a look at the clean clothes campaign which is striving to improve working conditions in the global garment industry. Read about current campaigns and how you can make a difference. So next time you shop ‘til you drop, think about trying something more organic in your wardrobe.