Once thought of as being a passing fad, using organic products is becoming more and more commonplace. The real benefits of using organic items are just beginning to be realized, and it will be some time before the long-term advantages can be fully appreciated. Health Concerns One of the biggest reasons for switching to organic products is for improved health. More people than ever are becoming aware of the dangers posed by chemicals that are sometimes found in cleaning or personal care products. A harmful chemical in shampoo is propylene glycol, which is a primary ingredient in antifreeze. This chemical can cause skin rashes and irritations among other things. Petroleum dissilates and formaldehyde are present in cleaners, and both of these ingredients increase the risk of cancer. Rather than use these items, many consumers are electing to use cleaners made from vegetable oil, vinegar or lemon juice and personal care items with plant-based ingredients. Environmentally-friendly More people are becoming aware of the environmental hazards associated with chemicals in many common household items and are turning to organic products to replace them. When chemicals are used to manufacture products, there is an increased risk of air or water pollution if waste is not disposed of properly. Special precautions must also be taken when storing, transporting or disposing of these items in order to prevent damage to the environment. Organic products do not require special handling, so they are safer for everyone who comes in contact with them. More Readily Available Even though many people were previously aware of the benefits of organic products, they did not purchase them because these products were not readily available. That’s changed a great deal over the past few years, as even some of the discount retail chains have now starting offering organic items to their customers. There are also numerous websites that have organic products for sale, and they can also be found at flea markets, health food stores and grocery chains. Some people are even electing to make these products at home. This means that more people have access to organic products and are therefore able to incorporate them into their lifestyle when they were unable to do so before. More Cost-Effective Even if organic products were available in the past, they were often extremely expensive when compared to traditional ones. For that reason, many people did not make the switch to organic because it was not within their budget to do so. Since organic goods have become more popular, they can now be produced in larger quantities, which brings the cost of them down substantially. This means that more people than ever are willing to buy them since they now cost about the same or only slightly more than the products many consumers are accustomed to purchasing. Many factors have contributed to the rise in popularity of organic products. Only time will tell if these products will eventually become more commonly used than traditional products. Image Source: Flickr/Roberto Verzo