Why we are in business

Our Purpose

Dr. Bronner’s was founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third-generation master soapmaker from a German-Jewish soapmaking family. He used the labels on his superb ecological soaps to spread his message that we must realize our unity across religious & ethnic divides or perish: “We are All-One or None!” Still family-owned and run, Dr. Bronner’s honors its founder’s vision by continuing to make socially & environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating our profits to help make a better world.

Emanuel Bronner believed that a company has a responsibility to “Share the profits with the workers and the earth from which you made it!” His son Ralph Bronner called this approach Constructive Capitalism and we practice it in every aspect of our business—from the products we make, throughout our supply chains, to our dedicated activism and charitable giving, to our relationships with employees, customers and suppliers. It’s important to us that our products have a real and positive impact on the people and communities worldwide that make them.

We achieve our purpose by our cosmic principles that define our most important relationships and guide us in everything we do, from soapmaking to peacemaking, these include:

• Ourselves: Work Hard, Grow!
• Our Customers: Do right by customers
• Our Employees: Treat employees like family
• Our Suppliers: Be fair to our suppliers
• Our Earth: Treat the earth like home
• Our Community: Fund and Fight for Whats Right!