Dr. Bronner’s Announces its Support for Purpose Pledge, a New Purpose-Driven Business Community
Organization Initiated by Dr. Bronner’s, LIFT Economy, and One Step Closer Begins Pilot Program with Fourteen Companies
February 24, 2025
VISTA, CA – Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, has announced its support for a new purpose-driven business community called Purpose Pledge. Initiated by Dr. Bronner’s, LIFT Economy, and One Step Closer, Purpose Pledge invites established and emerging companies to pledge their commitment to ten key areas, which define specific criteria for what it means to operate their businesses on the principles of a stakeholder approach to capitalism. Participating pilot companies include Dr. Bronner’s, Gaia Herbs, Guayakí Yerba Mate, Kuli Kuli, Lundberg Family Farms, Mountain Rose Herbs, MUD\WTR, Nature’s Path Organic Foods, Numi Tea, Organically Grown Company, Pachamama Coffee Farmers, Philosopher Foods, SIMPLi, and Wildway. Purpose Pledge will be led as a project of One Step Closer. For more information about Purpose Pledge, please visit: http://www.purposepledge.org.
“Purpose Pledge is a call for meaningful action, not just intention. We’re inviting the world’s most exceptional purpose-driven companies to challenge themselves and each other to take even bigger steps forward. I believe that this effort can be a global beacon for change in how business is done,” said Lara Dickinson, co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization One Step Closer. “Grounded in alignment with One Step Closer’s commitment to developmental leadership and systemic transformation, the Purpose Pledge fosters accountability, clear goals, and collaborative momentum to drive a ripple effect of positive change.”
Specifically designed for companies in the food and beverage, health and wellness, personal care, and apparel sectors which manufacture products from land or ocean supply webs, Purpose Pledge offers companies a roadmap and support structure to meet rigorous commitments while facilitating long-term, purpose-driven investment funding for companies that need it.
“Business-as-usual profit primacy has led us into existential times. Change is necessary for humanity to navigate into a livable future,” said Kevin Bayuk, worker-owner of LIFT Economy. “The commitment of a community of companies to the Purpose Pledge marks a critical leap forward, inspiring businesses to meaningfully contribute to the long arc of transformation of the economy.”
2025 marks the start of the Purpose Pledge pilot program. The pilot companies, including Dr. Bronner’s, Gaia Herbs, Guayakí Yerba Mate, Kuli Kuli, Lundberg Family Farms, Mountain Rose Herbs, MUD\WTR, Nature’s Path Organic Foods, Numi Tea, Organically Grown Company, Pachamama Coffee Farmers, Philosopher Foods, SIMPLi, and Wildway will embark on a multi-year journey to fulfill the 10 Purpose Pledge commitments. These pilot brands will receive support from and contribute to, a developmental community that emphasizes openness, resource-sharing, and support mutual progress as companies overcome various challenges in pursuit of the pledge commitments.
The 10 Purpose Pledge commitments include:
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- Product Quality
- Independent Governance
- Supply Web Integrity
- Fair & Balanced Compensation
- Living Wage
- Inclusion
- Community Engagement
- Climate Positivity
- Circularity for Zero Waste
- Capability Building
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“The organic and natural products industry has been pioneering ecological, healthy, and socially responsible products for decades. I think my grandfather Emanuel Bronner would be amazed to see how far we have come, but also dismayed by the state of the world today,” said David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner’s. “As a society we have to collectively embrace an economy based on ethical and not extractive and exploitative business practices. Purpose Pledge is an invitation for companies to rise and journey toward that just and healthy economy together.”
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ABOUT PURPOSE PLEDGE
Purpose Pledge is a developmental community for companies to foster collaboration, problem-solving, and accountability around the goal of embedding high-bar ethical practices into their business models. Purpose Pledge invites established and emerging companies to pledge their commitment to ten key areas, which define specific criteria for what it means to operate their businesses on the principles of a stakeholder approach to capitalism. Purpose Pledge is led as a project of One Step Closer (OSC).
For further information, please visit: http://www.purposepledge.org.
About Dr. Bronner’s
Founded in the U.S. in 1948, Dr. Bronner’s is the top-selling brand of soap in the natural marketplace in North America and a leading mission-driven brand worldwide. The company is an independent, family-owned business based in California, committed to honoring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible personal care and food 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 ethical business is part of the company’s mission to put the “All-One” philosophy printed on the company’s iconic soap labels into practice and integrate these ideals into all aspects of its operations. The company caps executive salaries at 5 times its lowest paid fully vested position and donates all profits not needed for business development. In 2024, Dr. Bronner’s generated an estimated $209 million in net revenue and gave an estimated $8 million to charitable and activist causes. To-date Dr. Bronner’s has donated over $100 million since 1998, when leadership was transferred to the current generation who runs the company today. The company celebrated 75 years in business in 2023.
For further information, please visit: https://www.drbronner.com.