The Environment is the Economy

The good news is, in places where pesticide laws are in place, retailers are able to thrive on sales of organic alternatives. The consumer is inclined to buy healthier, safer, more sustainable options when they are presented. Sales of organic personal care items reached $350 million last year, an increase of $68 million over 2005, according to the Organic Trade Association. That's an increase of 24 percent.

Organic consumables are in fact the fastest growing market sector, having experienced annual overall growth of 11.6 % from 1998 to 2003, compared to 3.6% annual growth of conventional consumables. Seventy-four percent of consumers said they would contemplate using organic products in the 2004 Environmental Lawn & Garden Survey.

Progress has already been made in transforming the lawn-care market in some areas where pesticides have been legislated. For example, in HRM since 2000:
 

• Halifax Seed reported increased use of sulfur products by 25%, product expansions of insecticide soaps up 25%, and a small increase in acid and nematode sales. Weed & Feeds (pesticide based) sales decreased 20%.
• Kent reports an increase in chemical-free gardening products of 10%, 15% in metro
• The number of landscaping companies has increased by more than 50 percent, as have the number of employees per company. Clearly the bylaw has not hurt this industry.

In Quebec, which has had provincial legislation in place since 2003:
 

• Six out of seven retailers surveyed by the Ecology Action Centre reported a positive overall experience with the overall effects of the legislation
• Overall sales in lawn-care products initially declined, then increased
• Sales of lawn-care equipment, accessories, organic alternatives, and soils all increased