Karin Bornett
“Organic alone is not enough. Organic with conventional structures will not make the world any better. It's about ecological thinking and acting. To see the big picture. That is what defines our actions and aspirations right from the start. We are eco. Eco since 1979. “That is the perspective of the German food producer Bohlsener Mühle. This could answer the question quite simply: organic is not enough. But what does organic actually mean? And what are the alternatives? Will bio soon be out of date?
Different guidelines apply to "organic". The minimum standards for Organic food specifies the EU seal of approval. The products bearing the European organic label must not be genetically modified and are grown without the use of chemical-synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge. Animal products come from animals that are kept in a species-appropriate manner in accordance with the EC Organic Regulation and were generally not treated with antibiotics and growth hormones.
However, according to the EU regulation, organic products with the EU organic seal may contain five percent non-organic ingredients. Various interest groups have therefore developed their own organic seals. Associations such as Bioland, Demeter, Bio Austria and Co. all work according to stricter guidelines. “For example, our animals have more space than prescribed and are allowed to go out to pasture. In addition, we were the first organic association to make a binding decision that all male brothers would be raised by organic laying hens. In total, we voluntarily go beyond the legal requirements in over 160 areas, ”explains Markus Leithner, spokesman for Bio Austria the seal of the association.
What "organic" cannot do
What the organic seals have in common is that they say nothing about the working conditions during manufacture. "Bio" has nothing to do with whether the products are manufactured under fair conditions. The Fairtrade seal is used here. However, this in turn says nothing about the biological origin of the products. If you want both, you have to make sure that the product bears both seals. "Organic and fair trade are a very sensible combination because they guarantee comprehensive sustainability in all dimensions," says Leithner.
However, the ecological footprint is not taken into account in both seals. A shortcoming of pure organic products is, for example, the topic of packaging. Because many organic products are still packaged in plastic or aluminum. Although organic is inside, the products are not really sustainable either.
Time for a new seal?
So maybe it's time for a more comprehensive description of sustainable products? Do we need a new seal? “Ethically produced” would be an approach that could include all aspects of sustainability. “In general, the idea of a shared seal is always nice, but implementation makes it difficult, also because of the diversity. Because where there is a seal, there is always a reduction in order to find the common denominator, ”says Saskia Lackner, spokeswoman for Bohlsener Mühle GmbH & Co. KG, a little skeptical.
A new seal is also not the solution for Markus Leithner: “Additional seals would probably not improve the situation. We are an association for the highest possible transparency in the field of agriculture and food production, both in terms of origin and environmental impact as well as social aspects. With regard to attributions, such as 'ethically produced', one has to take care, especially with regard to the range of possible interpretations, that in the end it is not an empty phrase without concrete, standardized and verifiable specifications. ”
Instead of new seals, the Bohlsener Mühle relies on consumer information on the packaging and on personal responsibility - and you stick to the rediscovery of the ecological term - after all, the ecological movement was already active in the 1980s. Lackner: “Enterprises like the Bohlsen mill can change something. And not if they are only 'organic'. It's also about organic farming, yes, but much more about the ideas behind it: to manage sustainably and create healthy cycles. And this thinking and acting - that is not organic, that is ecological! ”Organic, on the other hand, is at least“ a good start ”.
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