When Clearspring was first founded in 1993 by our CEO Christopher Dawson, he had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve. This can be summed up most succinctly by the Clearspring 3 Ps:
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Provide for future generations
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Protect the environment and the eco-system
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Promote traditional and sustainable foods with integrity
Whilst these 3 Ps can seem like extremely ambitious targets for a single individual, Christopher knew that if he wanted to make any headway towards a sustainable future, Organic agriculture had to be a central component.
Organic agriculture offers a multitude of solutions to many of the problems we are facing today which include tackling ill-health, addressing a growing climate emergency, and reversing the decline in wildlife species and damage to our ecosystems. The Organic movement's solution to this is: Nature has the answer!
What is Organic?
Put simply, Organic food and drink are produced using very rigorous standards. Those standards are put in place to ensure that when food is produced, every part of the process is carefully managed to ensure that the soil is nourished, the eco-system is preserved, and people are protected. This includes measures such as:
- Fewer pesticides – if any are used, they should be natural
- No use of artificial fertilisers
- The food grown is non-GMO
- No artificial colours or preservatives
Cleaner, healthier and more nourished soils mean cleaner water (reducing the risk of contamination from pesticides and chemicals), cleaner air (healthy soil can better absorb carbon) and ultimately, delicious, nutrient-rich produce.
Whilst a lot of the obvious benefits of Organic farming is cleaner, more natural food, it is also much better for nature. Since 1970, it is estimated that 41% of Britain’s wildlife species have declined and this has a lot to do with intensive farming and the use of pesticides. Organic farming offers a much better, nature-friendly solution.
Organic farms encourage wildlife and a natural eco-system including homes for bees, birds, and butterflies. On average it is estimated that plant, insect, and birdlife is 50% more abundant on organic farms, and there are around 75% more wild bees on organic farms.
The organic approach is a holistic approach to a sustainable future. It offers a glimpse of what can be achieved if more of us supported Organic agriculture to make it the ‘norm’ rather than something exclusive. The recent outbreak of Covid-19 globally has brought some of the issues we are all facing into stark focus. More and more people are collectively and individually making choices that are working towards a sustainable future for all. Going organic, making even a single swap from conventional to Organic can help make a difference.
As an Organic business, we are certified by the Soil Association, the UK’s biggest Organic certifier. For a Clearspring product to make it onto a shopkeeper’s shelf, we have already gone through a robust assessment process, to ensure that we comply with these Organic standards. This includes an annual audit and individual product approvals to ensure we are consistently meeting the very high standards set.
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