Natural vs Organic. What’s the difference?
Have you found yourself looking at the ingredients in your favourite food items, shampoos, conditioner or even claims made by your favourite fashion brand stating they use ‘Organic’ or ‘Natural’ ingredients and want to know what this really means?
Well I am here today – or whenever you discover this article, to tell you all about it! To tell you the meanings, differences, myths, legends and everything I possibly can about this topic. Why? Because like me, you deserve to know. So hang tight and prepare yourself for a new knowledge adventure.
What does Organic mean?
In essence, an organic substance is believed to be sourced exclusively from a living organism. It was only in the 19th century when Friedrich Wöhler synthesized urea, an organic compound, from inorganic materials. Chemically, organic compounds are made from primarily oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen.
The discovery by Friedrich Wöhler led to an advancement in organic chemistry beyond natural products to include synthetic molecules, leading to significant advancements in medicine, materials science, and various industries.
Pros:
- Organic substances often originate from natural sources, making them more environmentally friendly
- They are typically more biodegradable than synthetic alternatives, reducing pollution
- They are far safer and easier for human use, especially in human / animal care and food products
- Organic farming promotes agricultural biodiversity
Cons:
- They are usually more expensive than their counterparts due to higher costs and lower yields
- They usually have a shorter shelf life or will need special storage conditions
- In some cases, they may be less effective than synthetic counterparts – such as organic vs chemical pesticides. But are pesticides good for the environment?
- Organic farming is very resource intensive and has the potential to be more laborious, using higher amounts of water, and more land.
Does this mean that organic is better? We’ll find this out in a minute, but first, lets explore what it means to be a natural product…
What does Natural mean?
A natural substance is any material which has been derived from a natural source without any synthetic altercation. These substances include minerals, plants, animals and their by-products. Natural substances are ever present in the foodstuff, cosmetic, medicine industries with many more to follow. Again, natural substances are always obtained from nature, instead of being produced in a lab.
Pros:
- Natural substances do not undergo the extent of chemical processing as synthetic substances – thus reducing their environmental impact
- Like organic substances, they are biodegradable to a greater extent and have more perceived health benefits due to a lack of harsh chemicals found in their synthetic counterparts
- While they are not regulated on farming as harshly as organic products, they also promote sustainable practices and the conservation of natural resources
- Production and farming may help to reduce greenhouse gasses or offset the ones initially produces by humans
Cons:
- Natural ingredients are very similar to organic materials due to the way they are more difficult to source, more labour intensive, have higher costs, lower typical yields and use more water to source
- They may have variable compositions, leading to inconsistencies in performance (bear in mind this doesn’t just mean they may perform worse, some compositions may in fact have better performance properties – making it a pure luck of the draw)
- Some natural substances may be limited in availability, making them less accessible or they may eventually run out (Think fossil fuels)
So what is the difference?
Both natural and organic substances are derived from natural sources and are sourced from or by-products of living organisms. The main difference is the fact that while a natural resource can be anything given to us by nature, and organic one specifically contains carbon. In addition to this, the term ‘organic’ is governed by certain bodies such as ‘The Soil Society’ or ‘NOP’ (National Organic Program). The certificates set out guidelines that typically restrict synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) and other artificial chemicals. While natural resources are not so tightly governed, they still aim to promote organic agriculture, sustainability and reducing the uses for synthetic materials where un-needed.
Common examples of each include;
Natural: Wild-caught fish, unrefined sea salt, essential oils extracted from plants without further altercation
Organic: Fruits and vegetables grown without synthetic pesticides, organic milk from cows which are not treated with synthetic hormones and organic cotton not treated with synthetic fertilizers
The Verdict?
Both Natural and Organic substances commonly found in the food, cosmetic, medical and fashion industry are going to do a world of good more than synthetic counterparts, so where possible, if you care about your own health and that of the environment, I would encourage you to use more of both.
If you thought I would tell you whether Synthetic or Organic materials are better, you were wrong, I would like to leave that for you to decide for now. But check out my articles and the answers may find you…
Here at Staerk London we try our best to use Natural and Organic materials and ingredients wherever we can, not only to give you the best experience and health benefits, but to also do our part in giving back to the environment and promoting some commonly overlooked industries which are the backbone to our economy, such as agriculture. Please take a minute to look over at our shop, where we produce high quality clothing and cosmetic products made for you! (We pledge to donation a portion of our profits to: removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, men’s mental health charities and much more.)
Thanks for reading,
Woody Strongman.
References
Chemistry LibreTexts. (n.d.). History of Organic Chemistry.
American Chemical Society. (n.d.). What is Organic Chemistry?.
Rodale Institute. (n.d.). Benefits of Organic.
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Biodegradability of Organic Substances.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (n.d.). Safety of Organic Products.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Agriculture.
Organic Trade Association. (n.d.). Organic Farming Cost.
Penn State Extension. (n.d.). Organic Food Shelf Life.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (n.d.). Effectiveness of Organic Pesticides.
World Resources Institute. (n.d.). Resource Use in Organic Farming.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Toxicity of Natural Compounds.
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Nutrition of Organic vs Conventional Foods.
United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Organic Farming and Pesticides.
Environmental Working Group. (n.d.). Sustainability and Organic Certification.
Science History Institute. (n.d.). Friedrich Wöhler and the Synthesis of Urea.
