Pollutant-free eco flooring?
At a time when organic products from the supermarket shelves have long been part of everyday life, a key question arises: are our soils really as pure as the green label promises? The answer is: not always. Even in organic farming, toxic residues can accumulate - and this has consequences for plants, animals and ultimately us consumers.
Where do the pollutants come from?
Contaminated sites are particularly treacherous: previously used industrial or agricultural land can contain residues of heavy metals (such as cadmium or lead) and persistent chemicals (such as dioxins or PCBs). But modern inputs also play a role: wind carries pesticides from neighbouring conventional fields onto organic fields, and contaminated compost can contain microplastics, drug residues or heavy metals.
Another path is recycling products such as fermentation residues and sewage sludge, which - despite being banned - occasionally end up in circulation. And even the animal feed on organic farms is not always free of pollutants: Contaminated feed transfers heavy metals directly into the manure that ends up on the field.
| Cause | Description of the |
| Contaminated sites / previous use | Soils from former conventional farms or industrial areas often contain residues (e.g. heavy metals, dioxins, pesticides). |
| Air and water transmission | emissions from industry, traffic or conventional neighbouring farming (e.g. glyphosate drift). |
| Composts & fermentation residues | Biogenic fertilisers can contain microplastics, heavy metals or pharmaceutical residues. |
| Organic waste utilisation | Contaminated input materials in composting plants (e.g. plastic bags, medicines). |
| Sewage sludge (prohibited, but available) | In some countries, contaminated sewage sludge is used (illegally or indirectly). |
| Animal feed / animal husbandry | Contaminated feed leads to contaminated manure - even in the organic sector (e.g. cadmium in phosphate feed). |
Which pollutants are particularly in focus?
Organic farming is based on the renunciation of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, mineral fertilisers and genetically modified organisms. It strives for a closed nutrient cycle and natural soil fertility. Nevertheless, "organic" means not automatically pollutant-free - especially if external entries are not controlled or if there is structural contamination.
| Substance class | Typical representatives | Dangers |
| Heavy metals | Cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, nickel | Accumulation in soil, toxicity to plants and humans |
| Organic pollutants | PCBs, dioxins, PAHs, pesticide residues | Persistence, bioaccumulation |
| Microplastics | Fragmented plastic | Influence on soil biology, pollutant carriers |
| Drug residues | Antibiotics, hormones, painkillers | Formation of resistance, change in the soil microbiome |
| Nitrates & Phosphates | (rare in organic) | Groundwater pollution, eutrophication |
What are the consequences?
- Soil life under stress. Pollutants disturb the tiny helpers in the soil: microbes and fungi that supply plants with nutrients or protect them from diseases.
- Less healthy plants. Polluted soil reduces growth and makes vegetables and fruit more susceptible.
- Danger for consumers. Residues can end up in our food and have a long-term negative impact on our health.
- Loss of confidence. If organic products are contaminated, the image of entire brands and the willingness to pay more for organic products suffers.
What can be done?
- Floor checks: Regular analyses for heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics and pharmaceutical residues provide clarity on the status quo.
- Clean composts: Only tested input materials and strict positive lists prevent contamination.
- Intelligent area selection: Historical utilisation data and test drillings reveal contaminated sites at an early stage.
- Innovative refurbishment: Plants such as sunflowers or special fungi absorb pollutants - a natural cleaning trick for contaminated soils.
Our appeal to you
In the future, TSHN will identify products, methods and strategies that effectively reduce soil pollution and minimise the risk of contamination. Be part of this important initiative:
👉Share your experiences, practical tips or success stories from organic farming on our platform. Together, we can ensure that the organic label is not only a symbol for sustainable production methods, but also for truly clean soils.
👉As a member, read the scientific background in the science section of our library!
