Dr. Bronner’s To Celebrate World Fair Trade Day In The UK And More Than 10 Other Countries Around The World On May 12
“My brother and I view our family company as a social engine that does business so we can do good,” says Michael Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s. “Sourcing fair trade ingredients allows us to maximize our positive impact, since the production of the coconut, palm, and olive oils we put in our soap helps to improve the livelihoods of the farmers, workers, and communities that produce them. As a global brand sold throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, we are excited to demonstrate our worldwide commitment to fair trade. This will be the first time our global sales and marketing network will mobilise and activate around one cause on the same day. For over 24 hours, around the world, we will demonstrate the power of global community and global business in support of fair trade.”
Fair trade is a movement that empowers farmers to organize and earn a livelihood within the highly competitive global marketplace. Started by the World Fair Trade Organization, World Fair Trade Day began in 2001 to showcase the small-scale producers and farmers at the heart of the global fair trade movement and the contributions they make to healthy, sustainable communities around the world. World Fair Trade Day is now celebrated by millions of people across every continent (except Antarctica), and is led by the World Fair Trade Organization and other fair trade movement partners. For the last seven years, Dr. Bronner’s has partnered with the organization Fair World Project to organize successful campaigns in retail stores in the United States to connect dedicated fair trade brands with consumers.
“Consumer actions play a significant role in the big picture of trade,” says Dana Geffner, Executive Director of Fair World Project. “More and more consumers are saying that it’s important to them to shop with their values, they just don’t necessarily know which brands to trust. Dr. Bronner’s models what it means to be a dedicated fair trade brand. Part of the importance of celebrating World Fair Trade Day is to help grocery retailers meet consumer need, while highlighting and supporting companies who are doing good work in their supply chains.”
World Fair Trade Day retail campaigns have helped to distinguish brands in the U.S. like Dr. Bronner’s from brands who use fair trade ingredients in some products but do not have a dedicated fair trade supply chain. In an era where major corporations are taking stances on global politics and social issues, fair trade is a business model where action to support small-scale farmer movements and fair supply chains results in rewarding returns and job creation. Participating brands in Fair World Project’s program have reported sales growth of nearly 200 percent each year, demonstrating the increasing consumer demand for ethical products and fair trade brands.
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honouring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. Dr. Bronner’s commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability and progressive business practices is part of the company’s mission to put into practice the principles that inform the philosophy printed on the company’s iconic soap labels written by founder Emanuel Bronner. The company is the top-selling natural soap maker in North America and a major brand worldwide. Based on 2015 sales, a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap was sold, on average, every three seconds throughout the year.