The Difference Between
'Natural' and 'Organic'

Does “natural” and “organic” mean the same thing? I am so confused by all of the “green” labeling out there, it makes me want to give up.

I feel your frustration. In this age of greenwashing (the popular term for the oh-so-trendy eco-marketing claims based on no real science or proof of statement), labels can be extremely misleading. My mom recently came home with a new shower curtain that touted its eco-glory because it contained no chlorine. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the fact that it was still made of phthalate containing PVC, in this case a medley of seven chemicals: toluene, ethylbenzene, phenol, methyl isobutyl ketone, xylene, acetophenone, and cumene. These chemicals have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous air pollutants.

So, no – organic and natural are not interchangeable. Nor, unfortunately, does usage of these terms, or any other eco-sounding descriptive, necessarily mean much at all. In the strictest sense of the words, organic simply means that the botanical product was grown in a chemical-free environment. Natural, on the other hand, means that the final product has been made solely from botanical resources without any use of additives or preservatives.

However, the FDA does not regulate use of such words in labeling, and as companies have realized that using green in the names of their products can lead to more green in their pockets, the maze of confusion continues to grow. The situation is even worse with non-food items because there is no governing body that insists on the listing of all ingredients. A product can claim to be all natural and insinuate being organic by listing a few delish sounding ingredients like “locally grown organic papaya,” while omitting all the scary-sounding chemicals that you can’t pronounce and certainly don’t want on your skin (the largest organ of your body). Another misleading phrase is “contains organic ingredients.” Wonderful, I always think, but just what are the other ingredients?

But take heart. By arming yourself with just a wee bit of knowledge and an understanding of the labels you can trust, you’ll find navigating the overgrown green forest a lot easier and feel confident in your decisions. Additionally, your shopping choices will help to support companies that really are walking their talk.

Here are a few good labels to depend on:

FSC Certified – Forest Stewardship Council certification applies to wood and wood products that have been made from sustainably grown and harvested trees.

Fair Trade – Establishes and promotes social equity for workers around the globe and meets strict sustainability standards. This is especially important for coffee, which comes second only to oil in terms of worldwide trade dollars.

USDA/Certified Organic – Third party certification that utilizes uniform standards and requires complete transparency. (Of note: You know those little oval stickers on produce with 4- or 5-digit numbers? If the code starts with 9, it means it’s organic!)

Marine Stewardship Council – Not quite perfect but working toward a good system of education for sustainably harvested seafood, both wild and farmed.

Even though it sometimes takes a bit more work to make sure you’re getting what the labels say you’re getting, your diligence will pay off in a healthier you, a healthier family, and a healthier planet.