From Soil to Soap, Dr. Bronner’s Sets the Standard for Fair Trade Beauty
Globally Renowned Soap Brand Champions Ethical Sourcing for People and the Planet
July 24, 2025
MELBOURNE, AUS – Dr. Bronner’s, the globally renowned family-owned natural brand of soap proves that businesses don’t need to compromise their ethics in the pursuit of profit. The company is well-known for their commitment to sourcing its raw materials from certified fair trade operations across the globe that work directly with smallholder farmers using regenerative organic practices.
“Since I started working with Dr. Bronner’s as their ambassador in Australia, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how business can truly drive regeneration in action, as well as in messaging,” said actress and activist Maree Lowes. “The company’s relationships with farmers and suppliers in Samoa, India, Ghana, and beyond are real and meaningful. It shows that while their business is global in scope, it is also deeply localised in their enactment of care. Their sourcing practices don’t just shine a light; they empower communities to light their own flames.”
Dr. Bronner’s supply chain practices focus on empowering the communities they work with by building long-term partnerships rooted in fair trade certification that support both economic and ecological well-being. Through direct sourcing from smallholder farmers and reinvesting in local infrastructure, education, and health initiatives, the company helps communities gain the tools and autonomy to thrive. Their commitment to regenerative organic agriculture not only restores the land but also strengthens local economies, making their supply chain a model for ethical sourcing practices.
Dr. Bronner’s fair trade and regenerative organic supply chain includes the following ingredients sourced from suppliers around the world:
Coconut Oil from Samoa
Coconut oil is a major ingredient in Dr. Bronner’s soaps and produces an extremely high-lathering foam from its high lauric acid content. SerendiCoco was formed in 2016 by Dr. Bronner’s as a joint venture with an experienced Samoan producer of conventional coconut copra oil. The project is helping to shift a significant percent of the domestic coconut production to fair trade and organic certifications and is having a significant beneficial impact on the country’s economy.
Palm Oil from Ghana
Used in Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps, palm oil balances the lathering power of coconut oil while keeping the soap from softening and dissolving too quickly. With rapid expansion of oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia causing large-scale environmental degradation and social deprivation, it was imperative that Dr. Bronner’s found an ethical source for palm oil. Dr. Bronner’s sister company Serendipalm in Ghana began production in 2008 and has since become the world’s most respected fair trade and regenerative organic certified palm oil project.
Mint Oil from India
Mint oils are Dr. Bronner’s most-used essential oils—their cooling properties are what make its peppermint soap and toothpaste so refreshing, and provide Dr. Bronner’s soap its famous tingle! Dr. Bronner’s sources its regenerative organic mint oil from the Pavitramenthe project in India and is its primary buyer. The fair trade premium received from Dr. Bronner’s has helped fund projects focused on regenerative organic agriculture, capacity building and menstrual hygiene, the construction of medical camps and home toilets, and the distribution of water coolers for drinking water.
Dr. Bronner’s sourcing of organic and fair trade raw materials benefits around 35,000 farmers, employees, and their families, worldwide—improving livelihoods while simultaneously regenerating soil. To date, the brand has transitioned more than 75,000 acres of its agricultural supply chain to become Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). Customers who choose Dr. Bronner’s are not just purchasing a product but participating in a larger mission to regenerate communities and restore ecosystems.
To learn more about Dr. Bronner’s suppliers, please visit: https://www.drbronner.com.au/blogs/our-suppliers/projects-and-partnerships.
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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 more information on Dr. Bronner’s, please visit: https://www.drbronner.com.au.
About Maree Lowes – Dr. Bronner’s Australia Ambassador
Maree Lowes is an Australian actress, writer, activist, and educator. She is Dr. Bronner’s ambassador in Australia and supports the company with public speaking, social media content, media relations, and consumer education. Maree is best known as “dirtgirl” in the Emmy-winning TV series, “dirtgirlworld” & “Get Grubby TV” (currently screening on ABC Kids & iView). She wears many hats in her mission to share stories in service of bettering the planet and our collective future. Maree is available for interview for media and public relations opportunities on behalf of Dr. Bronner’s, including TV and radio, as well as podcasts, and Instagram and Facebook live sessions. She can also provide quotes and comments for print and digital media and can speak on topics related to social justice and environmental issues and how they connect to Dr. Bronner’s mission and products.
To view Maree’s full bio, please visit: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0065/5409/1605/files/DrB_Maree_Bio_Beauty.pdf?v=1726108104.
About Lateral Food
Lateral Food Corporation Pty Ltd is an Australian family owned and operated company with over 35 years of experience in manufacturing, retailing, distributing, importing and exporting a wide range of products for the health and organic market. Lateral Food manufactures Grants of Australia products and are the exclusive importer to Australia and New Zealand of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Body Care. The company has an extensive network of state-based distributors covering all Australian states and territories and exports to North and South America, Asia, New Zealand and Eastern Europe.
For more information on Lateral Food, please visit: http://www.lateralfood.com.