Earth Focused

Green is good. That’s why kin+kind is proud to be a certified USDA organic manufacturer.

What is Certified USDA Organic?

In short: organic products are made under strict natural, environmentally friendly standards. The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) governs organic certification through its National Organic Program. It explains that certified USDA product must be

produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards.

Organic Products Are Better for Our Pets

Because they are made without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, organic products contain fewer detectable levels of pesticide residue. Repeated exposure to chemicals found in pesticides can be harmful, with some being linked to diseases like cancer, developmental delays, and ADHD. Illustrating the point, a recent study reported on by the New York Times found that frequent consumers of organic food had fewer cancers than those who didn’t.

Organic Products Are GMO Free

USDA organic product are certified free of genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”). GMOs are plants, animals, or micoorganisms that are genetically manipulated for a variety of reasons, including herbicide and pest resistance. While GMOs are often defended on the theory that modified crops reduce the need for chemical intervention, that has proven false. The environmental threat of GMOs include:

• Increased use of chemicals: GMO crops are made resistant to herbicides and pesticides to permit widespread chemical sprays.

• Superbugs and superweeds: Overuse of chemical intervention threatens the creation of pests that are more difficult to kill.

Organic Products Are Better for Our Planet

According to the USDA, organic farming practices conserve energy and soil health, increase biodiversity, and improve water quality. Other studies have shown that organic farming practices are generally more environmentally friendly per unit of land area, in terms of metrics like soil organic matter content, nutrient retention, and energy requirements.