Burt's Bees

I first learned about Burt's Bees through a friend who moved from Maine (the birthplace of Burt's) to our similarly eco-conscious community of Santa Cruz, CA. I’ve always found their branding sweet and modest, with old-fashioned typeset, golden honeycomb wallpaper and a cast-metal bee tied to gift items. During the course of my own lifetime, Burt’s humble beginnings have expanded to find a home in nearly 30,000 retail outlets and in the hands of millions of consumers worldwide.

The company got their start by selling homemade lip balms and hand salves at local craft fairs in Maine, which they made out of the leftover wax from their honey business. By the end of the first year, sales had jumped to $20,000, and continued to grow. Over the years Burt’s has developed different product lines to serve babies and moms, men and outdoorsy-types, all the while maintaining their commitment to natural ingredients and processes. This, I’m sure, has been tested and challenged as they’ve grown (and were acquired by Clorox). But the company commits to upholding general sustainability and eco sensitivity in their practices, and their Greater Good Foundation funnels at least 10% of all web revenues to selected "well being" partners. They are currently partnering with NEEM (Natural Environmental Ecological Management) to encourage urban farming in Durham, NC, and joining Kashi on a nationwide REAL wellness tour that encourages healthy life choices and sustainable living.

Burt's Bees employees add to the efforts: employees can dedicate 30 business hours a year to giving back. One 103-degree summer day, its Durham North Carolina headquarters closed so that staff could join partner organizations Habitat for Humanity and KaBoom! in building an eco-friendly playground and community garden. They later helped Habitat to build multiple green-certified homes in Durham, and employees donated 400 pairs of jeans for Habitat to repurpose as home insulation. The company offers high standards of employee benefits and health care, displaying an all-around investment in its people and in the world.

Burt's, you are the bee's knees.



photo by angel with horns, under flickr creative commons