The world is currently facing some pretty pressing issues — amongst the most important: the dramatic decline of insects. On a global marketplace, it’s never been more important for all industries to actively work towards a sustainable future. It’s the same companies positioning themselves to lead us (hopefully into this new age of sustainability) that must address these global challenges. This is no different for the beauty & self-care industry.

“If all the insects were to disappear from the Earth, within fifty years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within fifty years all forms of life would flourish.” — Jonas Stalk, the researcher who developed the first polio vaccine

While seemingly insignificant (often seen as no more than an annoyance that has you grabbing for the insect spray) insects are rather busy — so busy, in fact, that our existence depends on their work.

These little champions pollinate up to 80% of our major food crops; ward off pests and weeds that endanger the harvest; decompose dung, decaying bodies and other waste from plants and animals. They are a food supply to birds, frogs and willingly (and often times unwillingly) to humans. They enrich the soil & the earth as a whole.

But the earth’s insects are dying off. The natural habitats of bees, butterflies and bugs are being dug up for agricultural changes that offer a bland and rather minimal nutritional diet for its visitors.  Bad news for the bugs… worse news for us.

Why organic farming is more than just a trend

There is one rule nature abides by — and that is diversity.

We see diversity in all areas of life: social, environmental, even in our day-to-day. It’s crucial to our well-being and it’s the same for all flora & fauna. But the change in modern agriculture has seen a consequential decline in diversity; we are seeing a downward slope for an otherwise thriving population of insects.

The array of wild flowers, herbs and other plants are being rapidly cut down and replaced with sweeping fields of mono-crops (a uniformed crop that are farmed in single-species plots) sprayed with pesticides, offering no diverse supplemental feeding grounds for our insects. And when farming practices don’t consider the health of nature’s critters, the art of farming starts defeating its own intrinsic purpose: sustainable growth.

We humans need to stick to the rule of “green thumb” — to the rule of nature. And the simplest way to support the drive & vigor of diversity is through organic farming. Plant, insect and bird life is on average much more abundant on organic farms. These farming methods make efforts towards sustainable practices: steering away from monocultures, promoting crop rotation, companion planting and investing in wildflower perimeters. These practices will better the soil as well as everything (and everyone) in the surrounding environment.

How does the beauty industry build a more sustainable future?

The turn towards the natural, botanical, & herbal — by using ingredients that are organic in our beauty and self-care products — means farming practices will be much more inclined to follow suit.  As an example, for the company Therapi, bees and their relationship with flowers are at the heart of everything they do. And you can find a shelf load more of brands like this that are a part of the movement on Amazingy.

The change in reversing the impact of environmentally damaging issues, really begins with us. Whenever we consume organic goods, or purchase products that support farming diversity, we are indicating the future we want. Our currency is, in essence, our vote.
And it’s the vote for a world you want to be a part of; it’s a vote for the future you want to help build. Hopefully, it’ll be a more diverse and sustainable one.