On Balance: Thoughts on Health, Sustainability, and What We Sell at Full Circle

This blog post was inspired by two comments we’ve received lately from customers.

The first was positive: The person said they trust the products we carry and appreciate not having to spend their time researching every farm or supplier we work with. They know we’ve done the research already.

The second expressed disappointment: The person was concerned about the health of sunflower oil and didn't like that we decided to carry it.  

Both of those comments reflect a truth we think about often and take very seriously: That many of you look to Full Circle to carry products that have been vetted. Products that achieve a high standard when it comes to sustainability and health.

We very much appreciate that assumption in certain ways. Our mission is to make sustainable, low-waste living easier—and one way we do that is by handling some of the legwork for you. That means physically bringing the products together as well as doing the mental work of researching the products we carry and suppliers we work with. We absolutely want you to feel good about the items you can find at Full Circle!

At the same time, high standards are a big responsibility, and we feel the weight of that responsibility in comments like these. Our customers include people with a wide variety of expectations, priorities, goals, and concerns. When it comes to sustainability, there are so many factors to balance. When it comes to health, there are so many philosophies and needs to weigh. We cannot possibility do that in a manner that will satisfy everyone, and we don’t want you to assume that we can.

Before deciding to carry hemp seed oil and sunflower seed oil, for example, we knew that some customers would have concerns about them. Seed oils have been the subject of some public criticism lately, so we took care to research these products—both in general and as produced by our local hemp and sunflower farmers.

Determining whether an oil is “healthy” is particularly hard because—in addition to the nutritional profile—you have to consider the source and processing method, how it was transported and stored, and how long it has been sitting on the shelf. We are not health experts . . . and even health experts disagree, particularly when it comes to oil! Adding in sustainability factors like packaging waste, the environmental cost of transportation, and the inputs required for production further complicate the equation. It’s a lot to balance.

It’s true that sunflower oil contains higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids than some other oils. That may be reason for concern. But due to its high smoke point, it may be better than other common oils when it comes to high-heat cooking. We like that the sunflower oil we carry is cold-processed and unrefined (produced without chemicals). Our oils travel a relatively short distance, meaning they are likely fresher than oil sold at the grocery store.

We seek to provide food that is sustainably produced and—for the most part—relatively healthy for individuals. But we know not all of our products will be the right choice for everyone. Some of our customers avoid meat, dairy, eggs, grains, honey, chocolate, coffee, etc., for reasons that include health and environmental factors. What we try to do is offer a version of these products that is the best balance of “healthy,” “sustainable,” and “local” that we can find . . . share what we know about them . . . then leave it to you to choose what to buy. 

We include information about the producers and products in our online listings and the Producers page on our website. We are working on improving signage at the shop to convey more of this information in person as well. 

We appreciate your trust, your confidence, and your honest feedback. We also appreciate your understanding that we're working to balance a lot—and that we trust you to make the decisions that best align with your standards, goals, needs, and values. 

-Justine

P.S. For additional thoughts on product sourcing, see this post from July 2023 on our decision to carry Q-Tips—another complex decision!

Image Credit: Freepik