We often make our shortlist or choice of products based on popularity, affordability, effectiveness, and sometimes captivating advertisements. We don't normally seek out brands that are more socially responsible, environment-friendly, or not cruel to animals.
For the more conscious, reading the label prevents being tricked by misleading advertisements and endorsements. Sometimes a brand would highlight one or few natural ingredients although its amount is negligible in the actual product or it has other synthetic chemicals mixed with the natural ones.
SOCIAL BUSINESS
And then there are businesses that primarily have social objectives where the poor and marginalized are the primary stakeholders. The social enterprise sector is growing in the country, with some providing livelihood training, supporting local producers at fair trade, while others are producing goods.
They are the so-called social enterprise. This is more than just being committed in the corporate social responsibility program. Social enterprises are mission-driven, managing the business towards creating wealth and its equitable distribution.
I believe our country's economy will drastically grow when we process our own raw materials rather than exporting them for other countries to develop into products. Sometimes, they employ our fellow countrymen as laborers and we are also the consumers. The Philippines is rich in natural resources and have talented people to make quality finished goods. That can and should make us prosperous, right?
Human Nature is one such social enterprise, which is able to support several farms and communities across the nation. As much as possible, it uses ingredients that can be grown in the country and include other ingredients only if there are no local alternatives. They also prioritize Filipino suppliers.
PRO-FILIPINO
The organization has been able to help farmers learn beyond planting rice and other crops as food. Considering there is demand for supplies for a wide variety of products, there are endless possibilities to what we can offer the world. Human Nature is able to harness local talents they employ from laboratories, production, merchandising, and everything involved in the enterprise.
To be able to commit to fair trade and dignified wages while maintaining low prices of quality products, the owners had to reduce their own profit. They reinvest profits to further expand and develop their partner farming communities.
It is able to make the most of our good soil and the plants that can grow abundantly from it, like citronella and lemongrass. They keep discovering excellent ingredients from our own backyard which are effective for different uses in their products. That is why they are confident in proclaiming that made in the Philippines can mean world-class! It is good for many more of us be confident in that, too, and to take pride and contribute as well.
WELL-ROUNDED SUSTAINABILITY
Not only is Human Nature pro-Philippines and pro-poor being a social enterprise, they are pro-environment by making products without any harmful chemicals and by processes that do not harm the environment.
As their website described it: "ingredients are more than inspired by nature - they are nature itself, carefully selected, deftly distilled and perfectly blended".
So, amidst the loads of products out there, it helps to stand up for those that we know have higher advocacy. The little we can do can mean so much when it can start a change in the mindset towards making a better choice -- of seeing value beyond the superficial. We can be more conscious in our own purchases or in what we promote or endorse to other people. Maybe we can be involved or start our own enterprise, too.
