Why Buy British Seaweed?

February 24, 2021

Investing in UK brands allows you to do your part to boost the British economy

In recent years, there has been a big push to seek out products and services located a little closer to home. According to Statista, there are currently around 5.9 million private businesses in operation in the UK,[1] and we’re seeing more and more interest in supporting these homegrown brands as opposed to overseas alternatives.

Movements like Support British Farming have gained a huge amount of interest and backing over the last few years, with a Government survey revealing that 77% of the population agree that it’s important to support British farmers, while more than half (56%) of shoppers say they try to buy British food whenever they can.[2]

But why is it so important to buy into UK brands, and when it comes to seaweed, what is the best option?

Why is it important to invest in British produce?

There are many reasons to opt for British brands, from quality to cost to the environment. Choosing British produce means enjoying the diverse products that the varied British countryside and seasonal climate has to offer. It allows you to celebrate produce that’s grown and sourced on your doorstep, adding to a long and rich natural heritage.

Many people choose to support British brands for environmental reasons, as British produce travels far less from its natural habitat to store, and so has a smaller carbon footprint than most important foods. It also means there’s no need to factor air miles into the price. According to a survey from GlobalData, four out of 10 UK consumers now keep environmental issues in mind when purchasing, which has led to an increased interest in buying British.[3]

But the reasons to buy British are as much economical as they are environmental. Buying British produce means supporting the UK economy, as well as the people who work with the produce at every stage: from farmers and harvesters to sellers and shops. The UK’s food and drink industry alone contributes more than £28 billion to the economy and employs more than 430,000 people across the country.[4]

When it comes to seaweed, British is best

So what does all this have to do with seaweed? We’ve talked a lot about the health benefits of adding seaweed to your diet and daily routine, but it’s important to stipulate that not all seaweed is created equal. Some seaweed has more to offer, and the very best options are grown right here on British shores.

The nutritional properties of seaweed change depending on the species and its location of origin, and there are more than 12,000 species of seaweed located all over the world.[5] Many seaweed products for sale in the UK use species found as far away as Far East Asia. At Weed & Wonderful™, however, we harvest our seaweed right here in the United Kingdom.

We use the Organic Hebridean Ascophyllum Seaweed in all of our products, and this seaweed is sustainably wild harvested from the pristine waters of the Scottish Outer Hebrides. This ensures high quality from sea to store, and in fact independent analysis shows our seaweed is higher on key measures of quality when compared to other leading brands.

Nothing is added to, or taken away from, our seaweed. The natural properties mean that just one 500mg capsule of Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful™ organic seaweed contains as much iodine as three whole mackerel, as much potassium as eight grams of banana, as much calcium as 15ml of milk, and as much iron as 30g of spinach.