Every day we’re surrounded by potentially hazardous chemicals we can’t see. They’re in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the lotions we use and the air we breathe. But how do you start your journey the towards a chemical-free life?

Last week we ventured to Planet Organic to host a lively panel debate with Jess Punter (BALANCE Beauty Editor), Kate Arnell (zero-waste blogger) and Hania Opienski (Kinetic Enterprise’s Nutritionist) in which they revealed how you can make small changes that will make a big impact on your health.

READ THE LABELS

It’s 2018 and we’re all so worried about what we put in our body but what about what we put on it? How often do you scrutinize the ingredients of the food you are eating but not the ingredients of your moisturizer or cleanser?

As Jess, our Beauty Editor, admitted, reading the labels can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. One of the easiest ways to get around it is to know exactly what you’re looking for, such as The Soil Association Certification.

The Soil Association is just one of a number of governing bodies that exist to ensure that 95% off all ingredients in any product labeled organic are actually organic.

Not only that but if you see the Soil Association Certification, you can rest assured the product is cruelty-free, sustainably sourced and traceable, following green chemistry principles.

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A post shared by Kate Arnell (@kate_arnell) on Jul 6, 2018 at 6:43am PDT

SHOP ORGANIC AND ZERO-WASTE

Though organic is not synonymous with zero-waste, by choosing produce that is organic certified and unpackaged, you can not only reduce the chemicals that your body is exposed to but lessen your chemical footprint too.

Kate Arnell inspired us all when she revealed that she does her full weekly shop totally plastic-free by shopping at her local zero-waste supermarket. Unlike regular supermarkets, here you can bring your own containers to fill with everything from oats to grains, pasta to honey.

And, not only is much of the produce on sale totally organic but by buying it in bulk and using your own containers, you can save a substantial amount of money too.

As Jess, our Beauty Editor, said, ‘every pound you spend is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in’.

GROW YOUR OWN

For most Londoners, the only green space we enjoy is the nearest park. However, growing your own produce in the city isn’t as difficult as you might expect and means that you have control over how it is done. Plus, there are myriad nutritional benefits to picking and eating your produce straight away.

For direction on what, how and where to grow your own take a look at this and sleep easy knowing you’ve contributed to the elimination of 300,000KG of synthetic pesticides from UK farmland. Organic farming has also removed 40,000 tonnes of artificial nitrogen so next time, a figure not to be scoffed at.

To join us for our next panel at Planet Organic with Kinetic and Garden of Life on September 26th, reserve your ticket here.