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75 years of soap and history
Our cosmic principles in action for over 75 years.
It was never just about the soap. When Emanuel Bronner founded Dr. Bronner's in 1948, his not-so-secret mission was to spread a message that would transcend divisions and unite the human race.
Seventy-five years later, CEO David Bronner, Emanuel's grandson, asks: "How has Dr. Bronner's served the world? What do we have to offer to the challenges of our time? We are compelled to honor our legacy and live our mission, supporting a myriad of movements toward social and environmental justice while manufacturing the finest products for home, health, and body care."
As we reflect on the past seventy-five years and look to the future, we invite you to join us in our mission to fight for what is right!
We have six Cosmic Principles that have guided us as soap makers and peacemakers since our creation:
1: Work hard! Grow!
First of the principles of Dr. Bronner's ABC Morals: Work hard! Thrive! Learn, grow, improve. Success is the engine that makes everything possible.
The Bronner family's soap-making tradition dates back to 1858 in Laupheim, Germany. In the 1920s, Emanuel Bronner received his Master Soapmaker certificate and emigrated to the USA after his strong ideals led him into conflict with his father and uncles. In the 1950s, Emanuel moved to Pershing Square and began his public lectures on the unity of the human race, distributing samples of his peppermint soap. After realizing that most people showed up for the soap and didn't listen to his message, he began printing his lectures on the soap bottle label. With the help of his sons Jim and Ralph, Dr. Bronner's soap grew in popularity and became iconic in the 1960s and 70s.
In the decades that followed, Dr. Bronner's promoted its philosophy of "Constructive Capitalism," sharing profits with employees, making charitable donations, engaging in activism, and establishing ethical supply chains. In 2015, Dr. Bronner's became a certified Benefit Corporation, which is a for-profit company that has a positive impact on society and the environment.
2: Be fair to customers.
First ingredient: love! Lead with your heart, slow down, give your best—serve your customers as if they were family.
Our products contain only organic and fair trade ingredients – no synthetic preservatives, fragrances, or thickening agents. Our independent certifications guarantee that we are meeting the highest standards of social and ecological sustainability. As many body and home products continue to use synthetic ingredients and ingredients from non-renewable sources, the integrity of the term "organic" has remained central to our principle of "Being fair to our customers."
3: Treat employees like family.
Be kind, reward generously, support a good and healthy life. Seek and encourage the best in everyone. What unites us is greater than what separates us!
As a family-owned company, we consider everyone who works for us to be family. Our progressive business practices have attracted the attention of Forbes and several industry leaders.
- 100% free healthcare for employees and their families
- A 5-to-1 ratio on executive salaries
Annual bonuses
Profit sharing
Financial support for childcare.
- 100% free healthcare for employees and their families
- A 5-to-1 ratio on executive salaries
Annual bonuses
Profit sharing
Financial support for childcare.
4: Be fair to suppliers.
Building relationships with farmers and organic producers to create fair supply chains. Paying fair prices to farmers, fair wages to employees, and excellent working conditions; investing in communities; respecting the land and the people!
We partner with fair trade projects around the world, including Ghana, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Kenya, Palestine, India, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Brazil. Building equitable supply chains, providing fair wages and good working conditions, and using regenerative agricultural techniques is fundamental to honoring Emanuel's legacy and ensuring that what's in the bottle reflects what's on the label.
Learn more about building equitable supply chains and our projects and partnerships.
5: Treat the Planet as our home
Use the earth's gifts humbly and consciously. Do not waste, do not harm the earth, people, or animals. What comes from the earth must return to it!
Soil is essential to life and our well-being. Pioneering the use of regenerative organic agriculture, a practice that improves soil health instead of depleting it, helps combat climate change and leads to a healthier planet.
See also our innovations in packaging and how we are reducing our environmental footprint.
6: Fund and fight for what is right!
To be an engine of positive change—to share the profits, to share the talent, to share the strength, to share the voice—to give & to give, to fund & to fight!
Activism has been as important to our cause as making soap. For decades we have dedicated ourselves to:
- Donations to charity
Drug policy reform
Animal rights advocacy
Fair pay and equal pay
How can you support our mission?
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