The most environmentally friendly product. Eco-friendly products: what is it? Benefit for health

Products (Chapter written by Victoria Zelyuk) Let's start with the points common to all products. But first, let’s clearly define the difference between a raw foodist and a raw monofoodist. The first mixes foods at one meal, the second does not mix. The second way of eating is considered the most

Therapeutic nutrition in environmentally disadvantaged areas Currently in Russia there are more than 40 cities with air pollution levels several times higher than permissible hygienic standards. The ecology of large

Chapter 1. Environmentally friendly products Numerous and very serious scientific studies constantly prove to us that immune “combat readiness” directly depends on what we think about, what and how we feel, what foods we eat. Now a new one has been created

Frozen foods and instant foods Nutritionists and nutritionists agree on one thing: freezing is one of the most gentle nutritional and organoleptic (taste and smell) properties of products and a method of storing them. Foods frozen using this method

While in the West citizens were concerned about their health, in Russia they only shrugged their shoulders and laughed at the eccentricities of foreigners. Unfortunately, food stuffed with “chemicals” has now filled our shelves, so much so that even ordinary potatoes no longer seem harmless.

We go to the supermarket and... read, carefully read the composition of the product on the packaging. And still, after adding the item to the cart, . There is reason for such suspicion. Even if the food you buy does not contain emulsifiers or preservatives, it may still be unsafe. And this is not paranoia, but simple knowledge of cause-and-effect relationships.

Land question

Everyone knows what is done in the fields to increase yields and control insects. And even if you stop treating the soil and crops with chemicals, the consequences of such activities will be felt for a long time. Sometimes the earth needs a significant period of time to get rid of harmful substances. Remember, for example, the highly toxic DDT, commonly referred to as dust.

Its half-life in soil is about 20 years. In addition, the dust dissolves well and easily settles in the soil and at the bottom of reservoirs. When DDT enters the human or animal body, it accumulates in tissues and is not excreted. It poisons the body, increases the risk of cancer and, worst of all, is a threat to future offspring. But besides dust, many more chemicals have been invented. The conclusions are simple and sad.

Organic approach

More and more people are choosing bioorganic products for themselves and their families. What it is? The food is absolutely natural, from nature. Products labeled as organic or with the prefix "bio" or "eco" in their name are grown, processed, preserved and packaged according to specific, strict standards.

Manufacturers of bioorganic products have abandoned the use of synthetic chemicals, growth regulators, artificial food additives, GMOs and other harmful substances. This applies to various areas of organic agriculture: crop production, horticulture, livestock and poultry farming.

The soil and water on organic farms are maintained in an environmentally friendly condition, and animals grow and eat in healthy conditions. The fields are located away from highways, weeds are removed in early spring using a harrow, and the soil is fertilized with manure. To combat pests, for example, their natural enemies are used - birds and ladybugs, as well as ultrasound, various traps and the like, methods that do not affect the naturalness of the product. Animal food does not contain preservatives, appetite stimulants or growth stimulants. In addition, veterinarians on such farms do not use antibiotics. Mineralization and refining, and even more so any artificial additives, are prohibited in the production of products.

Bioorganic food contains 20-30% more nutrients than non-organic food. This affects not only the benefits of natural food, but also its taste. Compare at least “chemical” tomatoes with those grown in healthy conditions.

All this is especially important for children. As you know, a growing body copes worse with various chemicals, which are literally teeming with most modern products. But through proper nutrition, we provide the child with immunity and health for life. However, many adults have long been eating cereals and desserts made for children - it’s safer.

How much is pleasure?

Of course, bio-organic products are more expensive. But the point here is not at all the greed of producers. Firstly, maintaining an environmentally friendly farm is not so cheap and requires significant resources. In addition, eco-farms, for obvious reasons, are not so large-scale, and this, accordingly, affects their profits. And, given that the products do not contain preservatives, their shelf life and sale are limited. Caring for people’s health and nature really costs a pretty penny, but it’s all justified. The motto of companies producing eco-products could be described by the phrase “Clean food - clear conscience.”

Of course, you get to choose what to feed your family. You can justify that prices in stores are already high, but, perhaps, such an expense item as healthy eating should not be subject to savings.

Sign of purity

Nowadays, various commercial tricks are very often used, thanks to which many manufacturers are trying to prove that their products are natural and healthy. Alas, this is not always true. Even if the packaging says “bio”, “environmentally safe”, “no preservatives”, “fortified”, this does not mean that this is a bioorganic product. The same bio-yogurt has such a trusted prefix only because it contains beneficial lacto- and bifidobacteria. But this does not prevent manufacturers from adding dyes, flavors and preservatives to them, the use of which is strictly prohibited in organic products.

To distinguish a real eco-product from products masquerading as it, look for special markings on the labels.

True, there is still no single designation for organics in the world community. All countries celebrate the environmental friendliness of products differently.

Basically, products from the USA come with the organic label, and European ones with the bio label. There are also more original ones: ORGANIC - in England, BIOLOGISCH or OEKOLOGISCH - in Germany (they also put the BIO label there, as in Switzerland), ISSUE D'AGRICULTURE BIOLOGIQUE - in France, ECO - in the Netherlands, Australian Certified Organic - in Australia , USDA Organic - in the USA, and in Russia they write “organic”, “bio”, “eco”.

Getting the opportunity to put a special mark on products confirming its purity is not so easy. Need a certificate. Different countries have different organizations involved in such certification, and each has its own graphic designation. Therefore, we advise you to train your memory and remember the most common icons. Then you will be sure that you are holding an environmentally friendly product in your hands.

Every year there are more and more people who buy organic products. But dealing with organic labeling is not so easy. In addition, some manufacturers put eco-labels on every second jar of cucumbers. We will tell you which products are considered organic and why organic and farm tomatoes are not the same thing.

Some argue that the Bio, Eco and Organic labels are marketing duds, while others are sweeping all cans with green labels off store shelves. The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle.

What are organic products

We have already written, : they can only be produced in ecologically clean areas without the use of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones and GMOs. In general, the whole point of organic agriculture is to integrate into the ecosystem, and not subordinate it to humans.

Instead of mineral fertilizers, organic farms use manure and compost, pests are controlled using insects and birds, and weeds are removed by hand. Antibiotics, feed with hormones and genetic engineering are prohibited in animal husbandry.

Organic in the world

Organic certification cannot simply be purchased. Each manufacturer that claims this title is tested to ensure compliance with organic standards. A commission comes to the farm to examine the soil, check the living conditions of the animals, the quality of the seed and harvesting equipment. In addition, the inspector may randomly survey employees regarding their knowledge and understanding of organic standards. In laboratories, finished products are checked on hundreds of points - from tests for the absence of heavy metals to taste. Organic certification is only valid for one year, which means that the manufacturer must undergo this global audit every 12 months.

The standards for such certification can be either private or government. But so far only 87 countries have legislated standards for organic products. For example, in the markets of the USA and Canada the NOD (National Organic Program) standard applies, in the European Union - the EU standard, in the markets of Switzerland - BIOSUISSE ORGANIC, and in Japan - the JAS eco-standard.

USDA Organic Seal is an American organic program that tests products to meet NOD organic standards.

Euro Leaf- a sign of a unified certification system for food products produced in the European Union. To enter the European organic market, you need to fulfill the requirements of EU directives , 889/08 and only then receive this marking. Many Russian companies receive such a certificate in order to somehow confirm their status as a manufacturer of organic products.

Over 37 years of existence Bio Suisse From an association of Swiss farmers, it has grown into a large organization, with about 6,000 farms becoming members.

JAS- certification according to Japanese organic standards.

Bio-Siegel- This is another popular organic label in the EU. This mark was introduced in Germany in 2011, it means that the product is at least 95% organic.

Organic in Russia

In Russia, a law on the production of organic products will be adopted in the near future - it is already under consideration in the State Duma. Nevertheless, the absence of a law does not stop Russian farmers, and those who want to produce organic products officially undergo international certification. This is why you can see USDA, Euro Leaf and other marks on some Russian-made bioproducts. In addition, those who choose international certification systems can easily supply products to international markets.

Russia also has its own voluntary certification system, which was developed by “Life Leaf”. The certification system and the standards themselves are the same as in the EU, but the sanitary and epidemiological standards of Russia are also taken into account.

In addition, GOST standards have been in force in the country since the beginning of 2017 And . Both of these standards fully comply with the norms of European organic agriculture and the rules of IFOAMH (International Federation of Organic Agriculture). Compliance with these GOSTs indicates the integrity of the manufacturer.

What is greenwashing

In addition to organic labels, on Russian-made products you can find the inscriptions “farmed”, “natural” and “environmentally friendly”. These are perhaps the most popular forms of greenwashing, or “green marketing.”Greenwashing is one of the marketing options where a product or service is positioned as environmentally friendly.

Farm product

In fact, this inscription does not contain any information other than that this product was produced on the farm. And yet many fall for this trick - after all, it seems logical to use natural production methods on a tiny farm. But in nothing is said about how to grow and care for plants and livestock on a farm.

In reality, farms often use both mineral fertilizers and antibiotics on a scale comparable to large agricultural complexes. Farmers take this step in order to reduce costs and reduce risks.

Environmentally friendly product

All products that hit the supermarket shelves have been tested for environmental safety and are a priori environmentally friendly. According to It is prohibited to write “environmentally friendly product” on food products: all that such an inscription does is distract and mislead the consumer.

Natural product

This means that the product was grown in nature and not in a laboratory. But this does not exclude the use of chemicals, antibiotics and hormones.

General statements, non-existent labels, prefixes “bio”, “eco” and “organic” are also true signals of greenwashing. According to

Today, environmentally friendly products have become the most dynamic segment of the food market all over the world. According to experts, this segment is growing by 20% annually. What makes it so popular?

We, residents of megacities, forced to live in an aggressive environment, really want to do everything possible to improve and maintain our health. In order to drink clean water, we buy filters or already purified bottled water. To improve the air quality in our apartments and offices, we purchase ionizers, humidifiers, etc. But what to do with food? It turns out that the West has already answered this question. More than 30 years ago, eco-labels were created in Germany. It was called "Blue Angel".

The Blue Angel is the world's first and oldest environmental label for goods and services

The Blue Angel is the world's first and oldest environmental label for goods and services. It was created in 1977 on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, after which it was approved by the Ministry of the Environment at national and federal levels. The mark was viewed as an environmental policy instrument designed to promote the harmonious development of the market and create a positive image of products that have confirmed their compliance with the environmental criteria of the Blue Angel program. In essence, eco-labels highlighted environmentally friendly products on store shelves. With its help, the buyer could easily distinguish eco-products from others. In addition to the high quality of the product itself, the presence of eco-labeling also means that during the production of a particular product, its manufacturers tried to do everything possible to ensure that as little harmful substances as possible enter the atmosphere. And this is no less important than the composition and quality of the product itself.

But how do you find out about this? How to understand which production is cleaner and safer for the environment? For this purpose, they created such a simple and convenient sign as an environmental label. Its popularity is constantly growing. Thus, the “Blue Angel” in the first year of its existence was awarded to 6 types of products; after 30 years, their number exceeds 4 thousand, despite the fact that quite high requirements have been established, taking into account all stages of the production process, from assessing the rational use of resources to sale of finished products. In European countries, the absence of eco-labels on products leads to a reduction in prices by 20-30%. Manufacturers have to accept the fact that one sign sometimes speaks volumes than a thousand words. Many countries have benefited from Germany's successful experience. Just a year after the Blue Angel appeared, they created their own environmental labeling programs. Today there are more than 100 such signs in the world. Among them is the eco-label “White Swan” (Scandinavian countries), known today in Russia.

Among the eco-signs “White Swan” (Scandinavian countries) today is one of the most famous in Russia

There is such a sign in Russia (a system of voluntary certification of products, works and services according to their life cycle “Leaf of Life”). All international eco-labeling programs are based on a product life cycle analysis procedure. This means that not only the product itself is assessed, but also the raw materials from which it was obtained, its packaging, the methods of its delivery to the store and the features of disposal are considered. Only a comprehensive analysis of a product, from raw materials to packaging, can provide a complete picture of its impact on humans and the environment. The basic principles of voluntary environmental certification under this scheme are laid down in the international standards of the ISO 14020 and ISO 14040 series. In Russia, the market for eco-products is extremely small, despite the fact that the interest in such products is enormous. In 2005

The St. Petersburg Ecological Union, which is the developer of the “Leaf of Life” eco-label, has opened environmental departments in stores across the city. Nowadays, such a service as environmental certification is practically unclaimed among Russian manufacturers. Our legislation prohibits the labeling of “eco”, “bio”, “environmentally safe”, etc. on packaging without documentary evidence of this fact. But today there is no way to check the manufacturer himself, that is, his product, for environmental friendliness, since the law does not stipulate what environmentally friendly products must comply with. In Russia, there are no uniform criteria for the entire territory that distinguish ecological products from conventional products.

In this regard, a lot of self-declarations and a huge number of products have appeared on the market, the packaging of which is marked: “bio”, “eco”, “organic”, etc. But this information has no confirmation and, unfortunately, in most cases misleads the consumer. Which, of course, affected the buyer’s confidence in eco-products in general. In addition, the Russian manufacturer is not entirely clear what environmental labeling can give it. It was assumed that the creation of specialized departments would contribute to the development of environmentally friendly products in Russia. But that did not happen. The main assortment presented on eco-shelves consists of Western goods.

Indeed, eco-products have long been in demand and popular in Europe. A Western manufacturer does not question why it needs to undergo an environmental assessment and receive an eco-label. After all, these are additional chances to be recognized internationally, which undoubtedly creates a more favorable image of the enterprise and increases its competitiveness. In addition, the presence of an environmental certificate greatly facilitates Western companies’ interaction with market partners, consumers, government and public regulatory authorities.

Well, the main thing, of course, is that such products are in great demand abroad! So it turns out that on Russian shelves we mainly find Scandinavian, German and other European eco-labels. But the “Leaf of Life” eco-label is quite difficult to come across here. Russian manufacturers are so far ignoring this approach to promoting their products. But in vain! Since 2007, the “Leaf of Life” eco-label has joined the world network GEN - The Global Ecolabelling Network, which unites more than 30 countries, including all countries of the European Union. “Leaf of Life” is recognized by the international community as complying with the principles of the ISO 14024 standard and the world practice of voluntary environmental certification. The inclusion of domestic producers, their goods and services in the system of international environmental certification, standardization and examination will allow them to compete on equal terms in the international market of goods and services.

The voluntary environmental certification system “Leaf of Life” was developed by the St. Petersburg Ecological Union (SPbES) in 2001, as part of the “Ecology and People” program. Today SPbES is the first in Russia and so far the only organization to receive an international
recognition of the procedure for determining the environmental safety of products and having the right to issue an environmental certificate at an international level. The system is registered with the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (certificate RO СС RU. И457.04ЧГ00).

After two years of the existence of environmental departments in St. Petersburg, the Ecological Union was forced to suspend their work due to the need to modify the very form of the project, adapting it to Russian reality, since the Western model does not work for us. Why did this happen? After all, the Russian buyer says that he needs such products and is ready to buy them.

There are several reasons, in my opinion. Firstly, it is quite expensive to eat only organic products, given their cost. In the West, the cost of eco-products is 1.5-2 times higher, but in our country it is 6-8 times higher than conventional analogues. Such a strong increase in price occurs due to transportation and customs costs. That is, if Russian eco-products appeared on our market, their affordable price could be a real impetus for the development of this area in Russia.

An important reason is our poor awareness of what environmentally friendly products are, what they look like and where they can be purchased. At the moment, “eco-products” is an abstract concept, understood by each buyer in their own way. Until this topic is supported by the government or a group of environmentally responsible producers, buyers will not have a clear picture in their heads. But there are also positive experiences. In 2005, the eco-supermarket “Grunwald” opened in Moscow. It presents products from more than 40 leading European manufacturers of eco- and bioproducts from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other countries. The store has a biocafeteria where baked goods are baked, salads and semi-finished products are prepared.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the purchasing power of the population is growing. And along with it, the fashion for a healthy lifestyle is growing, an integral part of which is proper nutrition. Choosing the right positioning of eco-products and actively promoting them at points of sale will allow this category to take a strong position in the market. Most experts believe that this area has great prospects in Russia. It can give a significant impetus to the development of not only agriculture, but also many other domestic producers.