On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Lisa Bronner talks about the beginning of her blog “Going Green with a Bronner Mom,” which funnels Dr. Bronner’s customer questions, challenges, and praises into a voice for change. “Consumers make the biggest difference in movements,” says Bronner. “We can have policies and laws, but honestly, if consumers aren’t on board, those are going to fail. And even without those, consumers can drive change.”
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“The changes people make in their homes add up to massive social and cultural shifts. Regardless of what we’re talking about,” says Bronner. From limiting chemical use in homes to buying produce from farmers with best practices, consumers can become stewards in their own homes and have lasting results on the environment. And by taking their questions about Dr. Bronner’s and green home-living to “Going Green with a Bronner Mom,” consumers are also contributing to these cultural shifts by bringing information to the table—to be confirmed, debated, or dispelled.
Inspired by these conversations, Dr. Bronner’s takes the opportunity to provide consumer education—communicating about their supply chains and best practices in sourcing ingredients like palm oil. “There’s so much revealing information about how destructive palm oil production has been: how it is coming out of deforestation and habitat loss,” says Bronner. “There’s nothing wrong with the oil itself… but the way it’s been produced has been dreadful.” Dr. Bronner’s sources sustainably-harvested palm fruits in Ghana’s Eastern Region for their soaps, supporting small organic family farms. “People are right to be concerned to be looking into this ingredient and wondering about what [Dr. Bronner’s] is supporting by buying this oil,” says Bronner
Through better sourcing practices and transparent communication, Bronner says that the soap company not only participates in a wave of companies using their voice for good, but that Dr. Bronner’s lead this wave since its founding in 1948. “We’re active on many fronts, not just making products, but activism in all sorts of environmental and social justice realms. Some have to do with our soap but some have nothing to do with our soap. But we just feel it’s the right thing to be using our voice and our influence to support others,” says Bronner.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Bronner’s.
