There are so many ways to look after the environment. We are always fascinated with the different ways that other countries approach sustainability. We noticed that in the UK, it’s Organic September, the annual celebration of all things organic. The month-long campaign is designed to raise awareness of organic practices and products as well as spotlighting key topics for all environmentally minded citizens to support and promote. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Organic September?

Organic September was originally launched by the Soil Association to increase awareness of organic foods, and it’s now a broader celebration of everything the organic sector does for climate, nature, and health.

Why is Organic September important?

2023 marked 50 years since the Soil Association launched its organic certification but still less than 2% of the world’s agricultural land is farmed organically. In fashion, just 1.36% of all cotton is organic. So, there’s still a long way to go but it’s worth persevering because if organic farming were embraced on a wider scale, the positive impacts could be huge. For instance, the Soil Association estimates that if the whole of Europe switched to an organic food and farming system it would result in a 40% drop in emissions.

What does organic mean?

Organic is a method of farming which is designed to sustain the health of the soil, natural ecosystems, animals, and people. In practice, organic farming means using fewer pesticides (and then only natural pesticides can be used under very specific circumstances), using no artificial fertilisers, and no genetic modification.

Using these methods to grow food and other crops like cotton means that there is no chemical pollution negatively affecting the environment or communities, and the soil is much healthier and can therefore theoretically store more carbon, helping to combat climate breakdown.

What’s the theme this September?

This Organic September, the Soil Association wants to ‘fix fertiliser’. Emissions from fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertilisers which are used in intensive farming are, the organisation says, contributing to the climate emergency.

In the short term, these fertilisers may artificially promote faster and more abundant crop growth but in the long term there is a huge cost for nature. Industrial farming methods, including the use of such fertilisers, damage soil’s natural structure and fertility, creating a vicious cycle whereby the more you use chemical fertilisers, the more you need to use chemical fertilisers. But many of the chemical nutrients (as much as half) never actually reach the plants, instead polluting our air and water.

The manufacture of the fertilisers is reliant on natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel resource, and the fertiliser industry is estimated to be responsible for 5% of global heat-trapping emissions, which means carbon alongside others such as nitrous oxide and methane. Of the 40% drop in emissions we mentioned earlier, half would occur just from cutting the use of fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertiliser.

How can I get involved?

Everyone is invited to sign the petition to cut the use of damaging fertilisers, and there are plenty more ways to get involved in Organic September too via the ‘pledge for our planet’. Small changes all add up to make a big difference, so by pledging to take personal action, collectively we can have a mighty impact.

Pledges you can choose from include:

• Planting one bee-friendly herb or flower
• Buying an organic certified item of clothing
• Taking a reusable coffee cup to your local coffee shop
• Upcycling a piece of clothing
• Giving a zero-waste gift

Two for one: Zero Waste Week

The last pledge on the list is particularly timely because Zero Waste Week just happens to fall in September too, from the 2nd to until the 6th. We very much believe that all environmental efforts are closely interconnected so if you can find a way to celebrate and support both, you’re taking a much-needed holistic approach to citizen action.

To find out more about Organic September, head to the website, and to learn about how we embrace organic at Untouched World, read all about the cotton we use in our collections and why it’s good for the planet.