Soil Association

We believe that choosing organic is best for both people and planet. Organic farming methods work with natural eco-systems, rather than trying to dominate them, recognising that our world relies on a complex, delicate balance.

Organic farming severely restricts the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides. This reduces the volume of pollutants released into the environment. Organic farmers rely on developing a healthy, fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops. They also create a diverse habitat to encourage beneficial wildlife. Animals are reared without the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers common in intensive livestock farming.

Intensive farming on the other hand relies heavily on synthetic pesticides and fertilisers which a) rely on fossil fuels for their manufacture and b) have been responsible for the devastation of many valuable habitats and damage to our soil, water and air.

By encouraging wildlife biodiversity to act as a natural pest control, and by building up the nutrients in the soil to grow strong healthy crops, organic farming avoids the use of damaging synthetic chemicals and polluting pesticides. 

The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health. Its founders were particularly concerned about the intensive farming practices introduced after the Second World War, especially the introduction of pesticides such as DTT. Since that time the Soil Association has an illustrious history of campaigning for the responsible, sustainable and ethical management of our resources.

Today the Soil Association is the UK’s leading organic organisation, with over 200 staff based in Bristol and Edinburgh and working as certification inspectors across the country. The Soil Association’s director is organic pig farmer Helen Browning. Its president is TV presenter Monty Don, one of the UK’s most well known gardeners and a long-time advocate of organic food and growing.

With a reputation for upholding the ‘gold standard’ of certification, and representing 80% of organic goods sold in the UK, the Soil Association’s strict criteria applies standards over and above the minimum legal requirements. It is considered the most stringent of organic certification bodies anywhere in the world.

The demand for organic food is increasing every year. About three quarters of organic food is currently sold through supermarkets. However over the last few years the amount of organic food sold through box schemes, farmers’ markets and independent shops has been growing quickly as more people become concerned about freshness and food miles.

The demand for other organic products, including toiletries, is also rising. At NYR we have a long commitment to using organic in our natural remedies and our skincare products. We fully support the work of the Soil Association in helping to raise awareness of the importance of organic farming for people and planet.