There are plenty of reasons to buy organic food: to avoid eating pesticides, GMO ingredients, antibiotics and artificial hormones, for example.

But did you know that going organic is also a great way to help preserve and protect the earth?

In fact, if every person in the U.S. made 10% of their purchases organic for one year, here’s what would happen:

Pretty incredible, right?!

With Earth Day coming up tomorrow, I wanted to share with you a few specific ways that buying organic food helps to save our precious planet.

5 Ways Buying Organic Helps Save The Earth

1. Organic farming keeps toxic, persistent pesticides out of our environment.

Toxic, persistent pesticides create huge, long-term issues like groundwater pollution, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and human health problems. In 2014 alone, Earthbound Farm’s organic farming operations will keep about 16.5 million pounds of synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides out of the environment.

2. Organic fields absorb carbon dioxide.

At an estimated rate of 3,670 pounds per acre per year, organic fields actually absorb carbon dioxide. For Earthbound Farm’s acreage alone, that’s the equivalent of taking more than 11,200 cars off the road annually!

3. Organically raised animals have a lower carbon footprint than conventionally raised animals.

When animals graze on pasture and eat what they were born to eat, they are healthier and have a smaller impact on air quality and their environment. Pasture-raised animals also eat less or no corn, which is fossil-fuel intensive and usually grown with chemical fertilizers.

4. Organic companies strive for sustainability.

Many organic companies look to more sustainable practices when it comes to packaging, energy use and planet protection, since this is part of what organic is all about. For example, Earthbound Farm uses 100% post-consumer recycled plastic for their clamshell salad packages, which requires less energy and water to produce, generates fewer greenhouse gases than virgin plastic and removes countless soda & water bottles from the waste stream. Earthbound also has some awesome ideas for how to repurpose their containers after purchase!

5. Organic farming works with nature instead of against it.

All farmers need to nourish their crops and protect their plants from diseases and pests. Organic farmers do this by building healthy soil, bringing in barrier plants & “good” pests that keep the bad ones away and making sure their land stays healthy. Though these methods are more labor-intensive and often more costly, they help nourish and protect our whole eco-system.

This post is brought to you by Earthbound Farm. Thank you for supporting Eating Made Easy, organic food and a healthier planet!