Q. What’s the story behind Dr. Bronner’s?
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honouring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. Bronner was a third-generation soap maker who spent his life renouncing hate and war on a personal mission to unite mankind. His strong views and lectures landed him in a mental asylum in Chicago, but eight months later in 1948, Bronner escaped and continued with his message in California. During this time, he began making peppermint liquid soap under the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps brand. He gave the soap away during his talks, but soon realised people were taking it without listening to him speak. As a result, he started writing his philosophy on the bottle in tiny script, which is still used on Dr. Bronner’s packaging today. The company has grown to become the top-selling natural soap maker in North America and a major brand worldwide.