Some
organic products are rising to an even higher level of social consciousness.
Founded in 2017, the
Regenerative Organic Certified initiative gives its stamp of approval to food, fiber and personal care ingredients that represent “the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world.” Today, more than 800 products bear the Regenerative Organic Certified label. The certification, overseen by the nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance, rests on three key pillars: soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.
Regenerative Organic Certified relies on the USDA Certified Organic standard as its baseline. “From there,” the alliance says, “it adds important criteria and benchmarks that incorporate the three major pillars of regenerative organic agriculture into one certification.”
Founders of the alliance are the
Dr. Bronner’s personal care brand, the organic-focused Rodale Institute and the Patagonia outdoor clothing and gear brand.
The alliance says that by introducing regenerative organic practices to more farms, humans can better tackle climate change, factory farming and “fractured” rural economies.
What does ‘regenerative organic’ mean?
Patagonia explains that
“regenerative organic” agriculture builds on organic farming by prioritizing soil health as a way to combat climate change. Favoring traditional farming methods, organic farming bans synthetic components, genetically modified organisms (
GMOs), antibiotics and growth hormones.
“A holistic system, regenerative organic sees the well-being of earth, humans and animals as interconnected. High standards for animal and worker welfare are critical,” says Patagonia.
How does a brand or product earn a Regenerative Organic Certified designation?
Farms, ranches, farmer cooperatives and growers’ groups can apply to become Regenerative Organic Certified for all or part of their operations. Meanwhile, companies that sell products making Regenerative Organic Certified claims can be
licensed by the alliance.
To become certified, an agricultural organization must:
- Fill out an online application
- Submit a Regenerative Organic Certified plan
- Work with an alliance-approved certifying body to earn Regenerative Organic Certified status
The average time from application to certification is anywhere from three to six months, the alliance says.
The process of
obtaining a Regenerative Organic Certified product license follows a similar path:
- Fill out an online application
- Obtain the license (if the application is approved)
- Start selling Regenerative Organic Certified products
- Go through an audit within three to six months of being licensed
The licensing process takes about two weeks.
Where can I find Regenerative Organic Certified brands and products?
Among the types of products you can find with a Regenerative Organic Certified label are:
- Almond milk
- Coffee
- Dairy milk
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sugar
- Supplements
- Wine
Well-known brands that have embraced the Regenerative Organic Certified movement include H&M, J.Crew and Patagonia. For a full list of brands and products that have earned the Regenerative Organic Certified designation,
visit the alliance’s website.
As of December 2023, more than 160 farms, nearly 810 products and almost 120 brands fell under the Regenerative Organic Certified umbrella.
The Regenerative Organic Certified initiative launched a
pilot program in 2019 with 19 farms and brands in the U.S., Argentina, Canada, India, Nicaragua and Sri Lanka. Participants included Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia. The full-fledged certification program debuted in 2020.
The Regenerative Organic Certified effort continues to pick up support. For instance, the
TAZO tea brand announced in 2022 that it was
working toward all of its products becoming Regenerative Organic Certified.
“TAZO’s dedication to invest in their supply chains and support farmers to implement practices to increase soil health and assure fairness to farm workers is completely in alignment with our mission: to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and eaters to create a better future through regenerative organic agriculture,” Elizabeth Whitlow, executive director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, said in a TAZO news release.
In early 2023, Recoup became the
first beverage brand to become Regenerative Organic Certified across its entire product lineup.
“The certification aligns with our values as a company to not only deliver high-quality products but ensure we are doing our part for our planet and our communities,” Susan Buckwalter Hartman, co-founder of Recoup, said in a news release.
“Studies show that conventional industrial agriculture contributes up to 25% of the emissions driving the climate crisis,” she added. “Furthermore, forecasts predict that global topsoil will deplete at our current rate in less than 60 years. With regenerative organic agriculture, we can rehabilitate soil, sequester carbon, protect pollinators and build healthier communities.”
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