If ever there was a gateway product to the organic lifestyle, it’s Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. And now, the company has taken a huge step for the animals.
Known in recent years for a staunch anti-GMO commitment, Dr. Bronner’s has poured more than a million dollars into the GMO labeling initiatives in California and Washington. The company has also been integral in bringing attention to Fair Trade, organic integrity, industrial hemp and drug policy reform. And now, the soap brand is going to bat for the animals. “[V]egetarian advocacy and animal welfare will become a core focus of the company’s activism efforts,” the company said on its website. Dr. Bronner’s has committed $100,000 in donations in 2014 to Compassion Over Killing, The Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare organizations including The Humane League, Our Hen House, Farm Sanctuary shelters in Orland, and Los Angeles, CA, as well as Poplar Springs and Vine Sanctuary. “As a dedicated vegan, I’m proud that my family has stepped up to commit resources over the long-term to take on the terrible plight of farm animals and to promote more compassionate and sustainable dietary choices,” David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps said in a statement.
The funding will be spread out over the course of 2014, going to the organizations’ efforts in reducing animal suffering, and the company says it intends to “substantially step up” support for animals in the future. If its commitment to GMO labeling is any indicator of how much it considers “substantial,” animal advocacy and welfare groups could be looking at hundreds of thousands–if not millions of dollars in donations from the soap company.
Dr. Bronner’s soaps are also now vegan certified by Vegan Action, and are also registered with the Vegan Society in the UK. A”Vegan-Certified” logo will be added to the product labels (the products have always been vegan and cruelty-free, except for lip and body balms that contain Fair Trade beeswax).
The move signals an ever-increasing national concern over animal welfare. Whether it’s celebrities adopting the vegan diet or sourcing ethically-raised animal products, or millions of Americans demanding SeaWorld stop its capture and confinement of orcas, the trend towards compassion is showing no signs of slowing. And, says Bronner, “One doesn’t have to be vegan to want to reduce the incredible suffering of animals in factory farms and to lower overall meat consumption.”
Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger
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Image via Dr. Bronner’s