If you operate in the cosmetics, perfume, or food and beverage businesses, you may want to give some thought to switching to organic alcohol as the base for your products. The organic market is expanding as people become more health- and eco-conscious in purchasing decisions. This trend is not going away anytime soon.
The fact that grains, sugarcane, and fruit are used in the production of alcohol doesn’t constitute an “organic product” under the USDA’s definition. If you want your alcohol to be labeled as organic, you’ll need to execute specific new processes. This article will tell you everything you need to know about acquiring and utilizing organic ethanol in your goods.
What exactly is an Organic Product?
There is not a single international organization that manages organic certification on a worldwide scale. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sometimes responsible for its management (United States Department of Agriculture). In other circumstances, the task is carried out by independent organizations, such as the Soil Association in the United Kingdom.
Products are considered organic if they were grown, harvested, packaged, and stored without the use of any synthetic chemicals, including but not limited to pesticides, antibiotics, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms. While specific regulations vary slightly between organizations, this is generally accepted as the definition.
Organic Ethanol Explained
Organic ethanol comes from crops that have been grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, including pesticides, fertilizers, and sewage sludge, and have not been subjected to ionizing radiation (which prolongs the shelf life of food) or food additives during the production process.
The use of natural pesticides derived from plant materials and the promotion of natural predators are two examples of alternatives and approaches that can be put into practice rather than depending on artificial chemicals to combat pests and diseases.
The subject of whether or not organic alcohol is superior is one of the most frequently asked. There is, alas, no easy solution to this problem. It’s relative to one’s definition of “better.” Regarding adverse effects on the environment, organic is preferable. Discussions about flavor introduce an element of subjectivity. However, there is little price premium associated with choosing organic choices over their conventional counterparts.
Various Types of Organic Ethanol and its Applications
- Organic wheat alcohol: Also known as Ethanol 96 is an ingredient fundamental in the production of vodka, gin, and cosmetics
- Organic grape alcohol: Used in the production of fortified wines (sherry), grappa, and other alcohols derived from grapes
- Organic cane alcohol: Cane sugar is the primary component in organic rum (including light, dark, and gold rum), cane-based liquors, and cosmetics.
- Organic grain alcohol: It is derived from rye and used in the production of gin and gin-based liqueurs is quite popular. Important to note, in order for a product like gin to be considered organic, both the ethanol and the botanicals that are utilized in its production must have the organic certification label attached to them.
All of the organic choices that have been presented so far can also be utilized in the production of organic food items such as organic vinegar and organic flavor extracts such as organic vanilla extract.