Whether organic dabbler or devotee, you might be surprised at the benefits of an organic lifestyle. While there are many reasons for eating an organic diet, today we’re looking beyond food.  From make-up to curtains, organic non-food items are everywhere (hooray!). But when managing a budget, knowing what to prioritise buying organic can be tricky. And for organic newbies, the choice might feel overwhelming.  In this article, we’ll consider our top three everyday organic products worth the switch.  What are Organic Lifestyle Products? By ‘organic lifestyle products’, we mean non ..read more

Biona: Our Organic Story Nowadays, organic food and farming are familiar to most of us. In fact, more than thirty percent of shoppers in the UK prefer to feed their family organic*. We even have Organic September, a celebration raising the profile of this wonderful way of eating each harvest-time since 1994. The days when organic was a little-known concept – with just a few followers – have truly passed. But how did we get from those days to now? In part, it’s down to some of those early followers. Keen to spread the benefits of organically grown food, they found ways to make it available to a ..read more

Plastic Free July may have finished for this year, but that needn’t mean we lose energy for reducing plastic pollution. For those that missed the challenge or want to adopt some more lasting planet-friendly habits, this one’s for you!   What is Plastic Free July and the Plastic Free Movement?     Since mass-production of the material took off in the early 20th century, Earth has had a big plastic problem. The Plastic Free movement grew from the desire to do something about it, starting with Plastic Free July – begun in Australia in 2011. Shocked by the volume of plastic at a loc ..read more

You might already know about the benefits of choosing organic (ahem, it’s not the first time we’ve talked about the subject!).  At Biona, we know a thing or two about organic food and yes, we like to shout about it. And why wouldn’t we? Going organic is great for you and for the planet.   For many people, when they think organic they think free from synthetic chemicals. While that’s part of the story, there’s actually much more to organic food and agriculture. Organic agriculture is a holistic system of farming that adheres to strict legal standards. It prioritises soil health and a ..read more

Environmental awareness is – quite rightly – on the rise (*cheers*). For those taking steps towards living more sustainably, there’s no better place to start than in the kitchen. We know that going green can seem daunting, so here are 5 simple tips to make your kitchen more sustainable. Buy Organic Choosing organic foods wherever possible instantly boosts your sustainability credentials. As well as preserving biodiversity of plants, animals and micro-organisms, organic farming creates less greenhouse gas and other pollution (1).    Organic food isn’t sprayed with harmful chemicals, s ..read more

This week we’re turning the spotlight on one of the UK’s fastest growing organic retailers, Grape Tree. About Grape Tree Grape Tree’s Roots: Launched in 2012, Grape Tree was born from a concept: ‘feel-good foods’. The founders describe these as products people love for their taste, emotional value, healthfulness and value for money. Grape Tree was created as a means of providing nutritious, natural foods to the masses, and has gone from strength to strength doing so: this year has seen the opening of the 125th Grape Tree shop in the UK! Organic Advocates: At Grape Tree, organic and ‘feel-good ..read more

Our Biona Roots series makes a stop in Surrey to showcase our very own local wholefood and wellness chain, Food For Thought. About Food For Thought Food For Thought’s Roots:  Food For Thought originally opened in 1984 but began life in its current iteration in 2008, when it was bought by Alan Martin and Rob Steidle.  The new owners took the business to the next level, developing it as a community hub and expanding the focus on food. The chain now consists of three stores and one coffee bar, all in Surrey. “It is just an amazing place to work and be involved in the community, hel ..read more

This week, we’re travelling a bit further from home, to introduce one of our favourite Irish independent grocers, Manna Organic. About Manna Organic Manna’s Roots: 2012 was a momentous year for Manna Organic owners, Claire and Thomas O’Connor. Not only did they buy the local wholefoods store; they also purchased 25 acres of land, without any experience in farming or running a shop.  It all worked out, and now the shop is a favourite amongst Co Kerry locals, who enjoy seasonal, fresh produce (from the farm!), confectionary, store cupboard essentials and even soap refills. For the Manna te ..read more

Next in our series of local independent stores, we introduce you to Brighton’s stalwart co-op, the eclectic Infinity Foods. About Infinity Foods Infinity’s Roots: This year, Infinity Foods celebrates its golden jubilee! Set up as a small shop in 1971, it was the project of a group of passionate foodies. When the founders moved on to other things, the staff formalised the Workers’ Co-operative in 1979.   “There are so many good things about working at Infinity. One of the main ones being that we are a Workers’ Co-op with no hierarchy. We’re united under our core beliefs of vegetarian ..read more

Continuing our month of celebrating local independent stores; next in the line-up is North London favourite, Earth Natural Foods. About Earth Natural Foods   Earth Natural Food’s Roots: Formerly Bumblebee Natural Foods, Earth Natural Foods has been serving Kentish Town locals since the 1980s. They’re now based on the high street, with a clientele that reflects London’s diverse population. The ENF team say they love meeting the different needs of their shoppers, whether as a reliable source of plant-based foods for their vegan customers; or a great place to pick up loose foods for those re ..read more