Born in 1908 to a Jewish family that had been making soap since 1858, Emanuel Bronner was the third generation certified as a master-soapmaker under the guild system of the time. In 1929, he brought his formulas for high-quality liquid and bar soaps to America, starting Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps in 1948.

The soap’s quality, versatility and eco-friendliness is what sets them apart, and this was no doubt behind the 1960’s explosion in Dr. Bronner soap sales. Dr. Bronner’s was the iconic soap of that era, and in the decades that followed the soaps spread into every health food store in the U.S. and then into the mainstream as well - eventually becoming the number-one-selling natural brand of soap in North America.

The company is still family-run to this day, creating Emanuel’s original unsurpassed soaps with care and integrity. 2008 marked the 60th anniversary of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps in America and the 150th anniversary of the Bronner family’s first soapmaking activity in southern Germany. The company’s progressive business practices, and devotion of profits to worthwhile causes and charities honours this heritage and Emanuel’s memory.

Their classic soaps are certified both USDA National Organic Program and Fair Trade, under IMO’s “Fair for Life” program. Their soaps are 100% pure-castile soaps (with no SLS in sight) making them a guaranteed simple ecological soap.

Their latest line, Shikakai, brings organic personal care products to the brand, all with USDA and Fair Trade seals. Organic Shikakai comes from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acacia Concinna, and has been used in India for millennia as a gentle conditioning cleanser for both skin and hair.

Their latest project aims to tackle malaria through a crowdfunding campaign to provide bed nets to reduce malaria transmissions in Serendipalm, joining a long history of campaigning for fair trade and environmental causes.

Other causes Dr. Bronner supports include the Coming Clean Campain, Fairshake and the Industrial Hemp Initiative. Employees annually receive 15% of salary paid into a retirement/profit-sharing plan, up to 25% of salary as a bonus, and a no-deductible PPO health insurance plan for themselves and their families. Steps are being taken to reduce water, greenhouse gases and waste, their packaging is recyclable and products are not tested on animals as well as being paraben-free.

For more details please visit http://www.drbronner.co.uk/.