Mar
When it comes to organic products, integrity and transparency are paramount. At the heart of this movement is a commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and making healthy, high-quality products accessible. That’s why we stand firm in our decision not to pay an additional fee to the relevant organic associations for their certification on our products.
The Problem with Double Certification
Our suppliers are already certified organic by reputable authorities. They’ve gone through the necessary steps to meet strict organic standards, covering everything from crop cultivation to soil health and sustainability practices. This certification process ensures that the products we source align with the values and principles of the organic movement.
Here’s the issue. The organic associations, which are certification bodies that endorses organic products, requires companies like ours to pay an additional fee to display their stamp on products. This is the case even though the supply chain has already paid for primary organic certification. This demand for an additional payment doesn’t add value to the product, nor does it support organic farming; it merely duplicates efforts.
We believe this undermines the very essence of the organic movement. The goal of the movement is to promote ethical practices, sustainability, and accessibility, not to create financial hurdles for businesses nor increase costs for consumers.
Is This About Certification or Profit?
Demanding fees for secondary licenses on products that are already certified feels less about further ensuring organic standards and more about generating profit. This creates an unfair system that penalises companies striving to make organic products more accessible.
Organic certification itself is not cheap. Farmers and suppliers must meet rigorous requirements, pay for inspections, and demonstrate compliance. These costs are already reflected in the price of organic products. Adding another layer of fees only serves to inflate costs further—with no clear benefit to consumers or farmers.
The Consumer Cost of Over-Certification
What does this mean for customers? If we were to pursue this additional certification through the relevant organic associations, it would significantly increase the cost of our products. Higher costs on the supply side inevitably trickle down to the consumer.
For families or individuals aiming to make healthy, sustainable choices, inflated organic prices are a deterrent. The organic movement should strive to remove barriers, not create more. By refusing this unnecessary surcharge, we’re taking a stand to keep organic products affordable and within reach of the average household.
Making Organic Mainstream
Our ultimate mission is to promote organic products for the mainstream. We’re passionate about encouraging more people to choose organic for their health and for the planet. However, for organic to truly go mainstream, products need to be accessible—not just in availability but also in price.
Unnecessary costs, like duplicative certification fees, hinder progress in making organic foods and products viable for a broader audience. By challenging systems that increase costs without adding tangible value, we aim to protect not just our customers but the integrity of the organic movement as a whole.
Standing by Our Principles
We understand the role certifications play in helping consumers identify trustworthy organic products. That’s why we ensure our supply chain complies with all necessary organic standards. What we won’t do, however, is participate in practices that we believe are counterproductive.
Our decision not to pay for the relevant organic associations additional certification isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about standing up for what the organic movement represents. By questioning unnecessary costs, we’re advocating for a fairer, more accessible organic industry.
The Bigger Picture
This is more than just a business decision. It’s a statement about the kind of industry we want to be part of and the values we uphold. Affordability, transparency, and sustainability are the cornerstones of our approach, and we believe this aligns more closely with the original mission of the organic movement.
At the end of the day, our focus is on delivering high-quality, ethically sourced organic products to our customers without inflating prices. We hope this encourages open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in the organic space. After all, the ultimate goal should be to create a system that benefits everyone—from farmers to families.
