Green Ingredients

Green ingredient selection in relation to a Global Produce Model: natural – organic / high yielding / sustainable/ fit for purpose

Orientation: Selection - how green, and mindful of our planet’s total resources, are the constituents of the product?

Context statement: Maximising the planet’s carry capacity in order to produce enough for everyone requires thought, and the planning of a Global Produce Model, to produce Green Ingredients in ratios that mindfully utilise our planets resources.

Guiding Question: Do the constituents of the product meet the criteria for being ‘green ingredients’? That is, are they naturally occurring in nature, high yielding for economy of use and are they managed in a sustainable way for generations to come. Alternatively do they have a high ‘fit for purpose’ value? Do the Green ingredients ratios fit within the planning and greater context of a long term Global Produce Model?

 

Natural

(includes all plants, animals, microbes and minerals)

To what extent are the ingredients or raw materials used to provide a service derived from a natural source?

- Originate from nature and are part of the planet’s ecosystem

- Grown without  the use of chemical, fertilizers and pesticides

- Free of additives such as chemical preservatives and petroleum based products

- Naturally extracted using simple methods or as the result of naturally occurring biological processes

- Does not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMO)

-  Has underdone little or no  processing

Orientation: The use of vegetable based inks for printing purposes has significantly reduced the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) otherwise produced when using petroleum based inks. Soaps and skin care products can be made using pure coconut oil. The oil is not only naturally beneficial to the skin and body, but it  can be obtained from the coconut using simple, pollution free methods of extraction. Another skin tonic, Tamanu oil, is harvested naturally and the oil extracted using natural processes which neither pollute the environment or damage the oil.

 

Organic

Are the ingredients sourced or grown free from the use of toxic chemicals or harmful commercial farming or harvesting practices?

- Ingredients are free from the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, genetically engineered materials or irradiation

- Animals have been raised in a free range environment

- No use of toxic, synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

Orientation: Chemically based pesticides and fertilizers contaminate soils and add to pollution through run off. Natural fertilizers in the form of organically made compost or collected animal waste are an excellent alternative to commercial fertilizers. Pest control may be achieved through simple planting protocols in which different plant species are grown together resulting in symbiotic relationships whereby insects are either drawn to or repelled by neighbouring plants in a way that is beneficial to all life forms. Heritage seed stores are being preserved to ensure the protection of species variety and the availability of non genetically modified plants and crops.

 

High yielding

Does the availability of the raw material surpass the energy required to produce it for the product or service?

- Grows or regenerates in a prolific manner that exceeds the quantity of nutrients required to sustain it

- The material rows with little or no man made assistance

- Able to withstand challenging environmental conditions (such as drought or flood) which otherwise reduce crop yield

- Benefits other plants, animals or organisms by its presence

Orientation: Bamboo is an extremely high yielding raw material with significant environmental benefits and is commonly used for food, clothing, building materials and house hold items. By selecting bamboo as a key ingredient, a manufacturer allows more product to be produced with less demand on inputs to grow it.

 

Sustainable

Is there knowledge and are protocols used in practice to secure the continuation of supply?

-The amount that can be harvested in particular period of time is less than the total biomass that can be harvested, leaving a residual amount  that can grow into the same volume of biomass for the following year’s harvest

- Harvest occurs  to the level of optimal sustainable harvest (allowing for natural factors such as predators and disease)

- Wild harvest ensures the protection and continuation of biodiversity and mono crops are carefully contained and managed to ensure that they do not negatively impact on the eco system by reducing species habitat and food supply.

Orientation: Sustainable forestry protocols ensure the health of our forests and the wildlife and eco systems that they house, while providing raw materials such as timber and wood pulp. Likewise, sustainable fishing practices ensure the preservation of species and the continuing supply of this valuable food source.

 

Fit for purpose

Is there an exceptional fit for purpose value inherent in an ingredient being synthetic?

-The use of non toxic, non GMO synthetic ingredients enable greater Biospherically Correct standards of functionality for a product or service

- The synthetic ingredient performs a function not able to be executed using natural ingredients

- End of life deconstruction is part of a carefully designed process of reintegration

- Reduces overall energy consumption inherent in the manufacture and use of the product

Orientation: Any synthesised materials used must provide benefits to the product or service (such as greater durability) and interlock with eco processes such as design for deconstruction and re-integration, and offer greater efficiency through less embodied energy and or reduced long term energy consumption.

 

 Development initiative required : Global Produce Model.