Why there is a liking for organic products

With the greater awareness about the health hazards and the intensity of damage chemical products could cause to the body, consumers got a little push towards the organic products. The transformation of adopting organic products started around the 90’s as more and more people became health conscious and product aware. Shyam Arya, Cosmetic Scientist & Chairman, Indus Cosmeceuticals wrote about the industry and the path ahead.

With the coming of a few brands the prices for the products were further driven down to help it fit in the pocket of a few more consumers and that led to an upwards trend for organic products gradually from early 2002.

Why organic?

It was never a hidden fact that the chemicals glutted products we apply on our body harm us in the long run, but the intensity was never known by the consumers until lately. Additionally, the lack of alternatives, their availability in the market and economic viability helped boost their market share too.

Growth trend

The surge in interest for organic products was a boost to an industry where growth has been moderated in recent years as household penetration increases. From 2010 to 2016, the average growth rate of the category was 10 per cent, but settled into mid-single digits since then. Although sales have continued to grow annually, by 2018, organics were struggling to gain market share despite topping $50 billion for the first time.

Factors leading to this growth

The organic industry has come a long way with a drastic change in the consumption of organic products in the last decade. On the consumer side, the infusion of a much-needed boost to product awareness, has helped realise the importance of inculcation of organic products in the consumers’ lives. From food to beauty, consumers have been strongly drawn to organically curated products owing to their health cautious behaviour. The internet, dieticians, dermatologists and various other branches of science with the increased amount of research and study, have played their fair role in bringing about this change. Additionally, a surge in the purchasing power of customers had also added to the chain. It is seen that the millennials are more strongly attached to the use of organic products. Their constant pervasion is also a factor behind their families accepting organic into their lives.

The producers too have become well aware of the exact customers’ usages. The increased research and development in the making of the products, bolstered by the better infrastructure and technology availability has helped the organic industry jump forward a few steps. Variations that are being brought in by the brands, help them cover a larger customer base.

Consumer behaviour towards organic products

The recent hit by Virus has got everyone concentrating on the maintenance of their health. As consumers prioritise their overall wellness during the pandemic, supplement sales are expected to grow 12 per cent. With the pandemic, people have started opting for healthier alternatives wherever available. They have been distancing themselves from the chemical-based, health deteriorating, easily available products. This combined effect helped organic products’ demand pick up. The sales for the products rose more than 20 per cent in the spring of 2020. The pandemic has got people to understand the importance of organic and natural products in their lives. The disease-induced awareness has helped people learn about the basic requirements of their bodies and health. People are looking for natural substitutes to their everyday use commodities. Trend suggests that people are even shifting to vegan products.

Is there any roadblock?

After coming this far the organic industry still faces a few hurdles. But the biggest challenge is the lack of organic resources and land for developing the products. This forces brands to import ingredients. These lead to driving up the price of the product.

Additionally, segregation of genuinely natural brands from those claiming to be one, also called as greenwashing, hampers the growth of the unfeigned product.

Also, consumers have been using chemical-based products for a long time now. The inherient quality of instant results from the chemical products makes people impatient with the preparation and application time of organic products. This impatience is a major roadblock for the organic industry.

How does the future look like?

While the organic market is growing steadily, it is still far from becoming a mass product. Currently, the organic market is also not consumer-driven and only for people who can afford or willing to pay the premium price, which leads to a small percentage of the consumer base. High price mark-ups for organic products than conventional products are also one of the major factors affecting the sale of organic products. While the high price is because of the cost associated with the product like procuring in bulk, the logistic cost involved in the procurement of organic products from certified organic farms and the distribution within the city increases the cost of the product. Hence, the organic industry needs to travel a long road for the development of better infrastructure and technology, to help cover a larger customer base.

Sustainable Living with Smart Home Technology

With global warming on the rise and increasing concerns about our carbon footprint, it is time that we start adopting sustainable means of living. Although we have made leaps in waste management, we are yet to address the inefficient energy consumption due to our daily lifestyle. With Smart Home Technology, we can not only monitor this excessive use of energy but also reduce it significantly.

By Divyateja Kondeti, Co-founder and CEO, SmartDEN

Energy & Cost saving

Smart Home Technology can significantly reduce your expenses and help increase your saving as devices consume less electricity and monitor energy consumption. Homeowners can save anywhere between 20% to 30% on their electricity bills by embracing this technology. Here are some of the devices that can help you do the same:

Smart Thermostats 

Your home cooling & heating systems account for almost half of your electricity bill. Installing a smart thermostat can save about 10% every year by tweaking the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air condition) system while not at home. Homeowners can schedule it to their daily routine, control it remotely, and get information via sensors and the weather forecast. Advanced smart thermostats have additional occupancy and temperature sensors that are installed throughout the home to know when you are away. Homeowners can also pair their thermostat with connected shades and fans to save even more money. 

Even though it is not a viable option for residential apartment owners, smart thermostats are the most popular energy-saving device amongst villa and independent homeowners.

 – Smart Lights & Switches

Lights being left switched on for no reason at all is a common occurrence. This negligence is a major drain on your electricity bill, as lighting takes up almost 20% of your monthly utility costs. Installing smart lights and switches can ensure that the lights are not being left on unnecessarily.

– Energy Monitoring

Energy monitoring allows you to monitor the energy consumption of all your smart devices and give you a detailed report of your consumption habits. The first step to adopting a better lifestyle is to understand what you are currently doing wrong. A smart home monitor is a device that will provide the reality check you need as homeowners will not only receive the complete data on their phone but the device will also give them suggestions to reduce their energy consumption.

– Smart Plugs

Most of our modern devices such as TVs, Gaming Consoles & Computers enter standby mode and continue to draw power even when not in use, instead of powering down completely. Although this allows them to communicate with other devices, get updates and perform faster, it is a complete waste of energy, when no one is around to use them. This is called “Vampire Draw” and it accounts for almost 20% of energy consumption in every Indian household. Using Smart Plugs, homeowners can completely cut the power, ensuring energy is not unnecessarily wasted.

Smart Home Technology is becoming more widely accepted as homeowners can understand that a smart home can be easily installed, is easy to use and can also be secure. Justified with complete remote control and its numerous cost-saving features, the initial investment of Smart Home Technology is no longer a barrier for homeowners, as all modern homes seem to be making the inevitable shift to Smart Homes.

Efficient & Environment Friendly

Think about it, how many times have you returned from work only to see your fans running & bathroom lights on. Leaving on the geyser and the oven are very common panic attack when at work. Most of us brush it off as carelessness, as we might just have to pay a higher electricity bill. What we do not realize, is that it is a hefty price for the environment.

According to research conducted by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) in 2015 states that around 37% of carbon dioxide emissions are from electricity production just in the US and similar in India according to CEA (Central Electricity Authority).

This is a major concern, as the rate of Global Warming is at an all-time high and all of us must be socially responsible to reduce our carbon footprints. One way is to switch off appliances by using smart switches which will intelligently understand your usage patterns. By switching to smart ways, you are not only being a responsible citizen, but you will also own a home that contributes to your efficient lifestyle and a drop in your electricity bills.

Upgraded Lifestyle & Evolving with Technology

Going wireless might not be a necessity but it makes life much easy & efficient. Most of us no longer use landlines as smartphones are much more portable and can store all our contacts within the device – this means no more books to write down contacts. Also, think about the last time you paid an exorbitant amount for an STD or an ISD call. Smartphone apps allow you to communicate with your friends and relatives using your Wi-Fi for free and you can even see them on video. Remember the frustration of waiting in long lines to withdraw money. Cashless payment apps are more convenient and require minimal physical contact, which is the need of the hour. 

Evolving with and adopting technology has made our lives so much better than we could have once imagined. This is the same reason we should all adopt smart home technology. 

Smart Homes are the future of modern living and will soon be a part of every household. Do not be late to the party – Transform your home into a smart home and enjoy its limitless features.