JOIN! Summer Business Camp for Starter Social Entrepreneurs

There's an exciting new opportunity for people looking to enter the social entrepreneurship world.  From April 22 to 28, 2013, the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm  in Bulacan is hosting a Summer Business Camp that gives people a chance to explore different industries and discuss case studies of social enterprises ranging from small and medium to large-scale.

Industries covered include:

• Health and Wellness
• Social Tourism
• Food and Beverage
• Personal Care & Cosmetics
• Apparel and Toys
• Architecture & Interior Design

Participants will also get a chance to undergo mentorship from both Filipino and European social entrepreneurs.

For more information, email gkenchantedfarm@gmail.com or call +63 917 5802427.

NYU Social Innovation Symposium 2013: Rethinking Impact

Image courtesy of event's website.

Something worth checking out from NYU Stern, Wagner and Law:
3rd Annual NYU Social Innovation Symposium.

Join us for the NYU Social Innovation Symposium 2013: Rethinking Impact -- a collaboration between the Social Enterprise Association at Stern, Bridge at Wagner, and LSEA at the Law School. This year’s fantastic keynote speakers are Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org, and Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google Giving. The event will also include a networking lunch with panelists, alumni, faculty, and professionals; interactive workshops with mini-case studies; a new speaker series entitled "10 Minutes to Change the World" featuring bold ideas on how different industries are rethinking impact; and an evening cocktail reception.

WHEN: Friday, February 22, 2013, 8:30AM-6:30PM
WHERE: NYU Stern School of Business, 44 West 4th Street, Paulson Auditorium
TICKETS: $30 Early / $40 Student / $60 Professional BUY YOURS NOW >(Includes breakfast, interactive workshop panels, networking lunch, and cocktail reception)

To see theschedule and full list of speakers, click here.

The organic way to luscious lips

Earlier I blogged about my new experiment called "The Switch" which is an effort to switch, one item at a time, to more sustainable and environment-friendly products. I intend for it to cover a range of products and brands - from household cleaning to corporate needs to personal care. 


Because I've been on medication which has the side-effect of really drying out my lips, I've been using a lot of lip balm lately. And of course when you have high consumption of any product, you want the safest one possible. So I decided to ditch the commercial brands and look for organic alternatives. This post reviews two of my new lippie loves!

Photo courtesy of
Human Nature online shop.

Time and again I've always featured Human Nature products on the Switch series. It can't be helped. It gets enough word of mouth to keep it top of mind, it's widely distributed, and the price points are very good. So I tried out all three variants of their lip balm: Tutti Frutti, Peppermint and Choco Fudge.

Ingredients

Ricinus communis (Castor) seed oil, Beeswax, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) seed butter, Caprylic/Capric Trigylceride, Helianthus annus (Sunflower) seed oil, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract, Tocopherol (+/-): Mentha piperita (Peppermint) essential oil, Menthyl lactate, Organic flavor oil, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa), Zinc oxide (CI 77947), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Iron Oxide (CI 77491)

The verdict? 

Very good moisturizing properties without leaving a waxy feel over your lips even if you apply it several times throughout the day. The moisturizing effect lasts long and doesn't leave your lips extra dry once the moisturizing effect wears off. All three flavors were great and - I am guessing because of their natural / organic ingredients - were not overwhelming. My favorite would have to be the Choco Fudge flavor - it smells like Milk Tea!! :)

Where to get it

Human Nature lip balms are available on the Human Nature online shop or via your closest Human Nature distributor for P69.75. Unfortunately, the lip balm is not as widely distributed as its other products which you can easily find in, for example, Rustan's Fresh grocery shelves. But I've shopped using their online store several times and I've never had trouble, delivery is fast and accurate.

More about the company

Human Nature's philosophy is summarized in three main phrases: Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment. All products are 100% manufactured in the Philippines, helping set up organic farms with Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages, and they are conscious about choosing locally sourced ingredients, or utilizing recycled materials for packaging and marketing needs.

To many consumers, the Human Nature brand stands for quality yet affordable organic personal care products. To a person like me who has observed the whole Philippine do-gooder world over the years, Human Nature is a sign of hope that the 'industry' has finally reached an important point in its evolution. That point is when we move away from begging or guilt-tripping people into buy ethical products ("It's not very pretty or of very good quality, but please buy us, it's for a good cause!"), and move towards selling good quality products that can compete in the market. And then we can say "By the way, these products are ethically made, they support a good cause, and they're proudly Filipino." How awesome is that?

While it seems to be a very environment-friendly organic products brand, Ilog Maria is one you will hear more from beauty enthusiasts than from advocacy / NGO circles. Which to me means that its products have been tried and tested by many beauty pros. So I was happy for a chance to grab a pot of their lip balm as soon as my last stick of Human Nature balm ran out.

Photo courtesy of Ilog Maria online shop.

On the cover

On the cover of the pot it only says "Honey, Beeswax & Propolis Lip Balm" but if you check out their website, you will find that it's actually also has a medley of fruit oils and a kick of mint.

The verdict

I like it! It moisturizes without the waxy feel of other petroleum-based lip balms and leaves a minty tingle on your lips. It has a subtle sweet scent that you cannot place. You know that it's fruity, but cannot pin down a specific flavor. And as their website says, it's a 'medley of fruit oils'. Well, whatever mysterious blend of fruit oils it is, it leaves a good hint of yummy. The moisturizing effect does not last as long as the Human Nature ones, but it is still a good balm.

Where to get it

A jar of Ilog Maria lip balm is available for P71.50 on their website, or P130.00 at the ECHOStore.

More about the company


Ilog Maria is mostly known for their organic products and a company ethic that is mindful of the proper care of the bees that supply their pollen and honey. What I was very happy to learn on their site was that they are also employing alternative energy sources and try to live as naturally as possible. That gives them extra brownie points in my book!


On the homepage of their site, you see a photo of solar panels attached to the roof of their building.

But that's not the end of it, they actually do a lot more! I was so impressed (and a little bit curious about how it's been going for them. But let's leave that for another post.) Go to the Alternative Fuels & Energy section of their page and they talk about their efforts in detail, explaining why they made these switches.

And all this without ever using it to sell their products. Their products sell because they're good, not because they're riding on some green marketing trend. They use alternative energy because they believe in sustainability.


Love it!

BOOK REVIEW: Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs

 True to its name, this book is a nice little toolkit you should keep in your office as a reference book.  It starts off - as any good book should - with definitions. What is social entrepreneurship? What makes an enterprise a social enterprise? Then it moves on to setting the foundations for your social enterprise, defining your operations, reaching out to your customers, and ends with some suggested further reading in the appendix. 

What I love about this book is that it's a practical, actionable book. Not just page after page of theories, but a good mix of good explanatory paragraphs and process charts and diagrams you can actually apply to your own operations.
 
In true schoolbook fashion, it's also got a system showing you the best way to absorb what the book has to teach you. It has little symbols identifying key texts/sections in the book as:

• Core concept
• Tool of the trade
• Practical tip
• Reality check
• Gem of wisdom
• Red flag
• Action step
• Concept check

THE VERDICT

Does it actually work? Well, only time will tell. Reading it is one thing, but applying it to real-world situations is another. So I'll have to wait and see.

However, as far as theory is concerned, it did clarify a lot of things in my head. I'm currently drafting some planning sessions for the staff in my NGO and already this book has given me loads of ideas and diagrams to use when facilitating the sessions.

If, like me, you are a lover of diagrams and terms like "mission drift", "discovery driven planning" or "disruptive innovations"... then you will love this book as well!

HERE'S A PEEK AT THE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Social Entrepreneurship

   What is social entrepreneurship?

   What makes an enterprise a social enterprise?

   Why social entrepreneurship is important to you?

   Factors leading to entrepreneurial success

Chapter 2: Defining Your Mission

   Mission as the entrepreneur's most useful tool

   How to define your organization's mission

Chapter 3: Recognizing and Assessing New Opportunities

   Opportunity recognition is a skill, not a character trait

   Always on the lookout

   The value of a strategic plan

   Assessing opportunities

   Windows of opportunity

Chapter 4: Mobilizing Resources

   It's not just about the money

   Assess your resource needs - entrepreneurially

   Ten tips for reducing your initial cash needs

   Develop your resource mobilization strategy

Chapter 5: The Accountable Social Entrepreneur

   Defining accountability an understanding its dimensions

   The rationale for being an accountable social entrepreneur: Why bother?

   The accountability trap: feeling accountable to all, being accountable to none

   Making accountability work for you: moving from concept to action

   On stubbing your toe: possible implications of being accountable

   The six steps to meaningful accountability

Chapter 6: Understanding Risk: The Social Entrepreneur, and Risk Management

   What does "risk" really mean?

   The art of calculated risk taking

   Understanding risk, reward, and the reason we're playing the game

   Understanding your options: strategies for managing risks

   The potential costs of risk-reduction strategies... a word of acution

   Learning from your mistakes

Chapter 7: Mastering the Art of Innovation

   What is innovation?

   Where to look for innovative opportunities

   Balancing tensions in the innovation process

   Managing the resistance to innovation

   Creating an innovative, adaptive enterprise

Chapter 8: Understanding and Attracting Your "Customers"

   Identifying your customers

   Understanding your customers' needs and wants 

   Creating a winning value proposition

   Pricing your product, service, and mission

Chapter 9: Financial Management

   The only five financial reports you'll ever need

   The basics of financial management

   Keeping track of it all (cost accounting)

   The price of success (isn't terribly high)

Chapter 10: Planning for the Social Enterprise

   Business planning: why?

   Business planning: how?

   Business planning: whatever the purpose, no matter what the scope, it works

   Business plan for the social enterprise: the document

   Comparing a social enterprise plan with a traditional business plan

Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs is available on Amazon.Com.

The Switch - Organic Hand Sanitizers

Earlier I blogged about my new experiment called "The Switch" which is an effort to switch, one item at a time, to more sustainable and environment-friendly products. I intend for it to cover a range of products and brands - from household cleaning to corporate needs to personal care.

So this one's a collection of eco-friendly hand sanitizers. All three are Philippine made, making them the option with less carbon footprint. Two help grassroots communities through their operations while one uses recycled material as its base ingredient. Who would have thought your choice of hand sanitizers could bring a world of good?


So here we go..


HUMAN NATURE:
Kids All Natural Spray Sanitizer (Bubbly Gum)

Photo courtesy of Human Nature website.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

PhP 67.75 for a 50mL bottle, available on the Human Nature website.

On the packaging:

Keep harmful bacteria at bay without drying out your child's hands with our all natural spray sanitizer, clinically proven to kill 99.99% of germs, naturally. This hand spray formulation is also perfect  for toys, hard surfaces and potty seats. Don't leave home without it!

100% No Harmful Chemicals: No parabens, pthalates, triclosan, PEGs or other toxic substances.

Ingredients:

Ethyl alcohol (sugar-cane derived), water, Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, fragrance (100% natural)

PRODUCT TEST

This all natural spray sanitizer cleans well and leaves your hands not feeling dry. However, while I am a fan of most Human Nature scents, this one I found a tad bit too strong. The Bubbly Gum scent is just the right kind of sweet that will clearly be a hit with the kids. 


The verdict? I may not buy this scent again but I'm definitely willing to try their other variant - Candy Cane!

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Human Nature's philosophy is summarized in three main phrases: Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment. All products are 100% manufactured in the Philippines, helping set up organic farms with Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages, and they are conscious about choosing locally sourced ingredients, or utilizing recycled materials for packaging and marketing needs.

To many consumers, the Human Nature brand stands for quality yet affordable organic personal care products. To a person like me who has observed the whole Philippine do-gooder world over the years, Human Nature is a sign of hope that the 'industry' has finally reached an important point in its evolution. That point is when we move away from begging or guilt-tripping people into buy ethical products ("It's not very pretty or of very good quality, but please buy us, it's for a good cause!"), and move towards selling good quality products that can compete in the market. And then we can say "By the way, these products are ethically made, they support a good cause, and they're proudly Filipino." How awesome is that?



MESSY BESSY:
The Little Warrior (Original Green Tea)

Photo courtesy of Messy Bessy website.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

P7hP 70.00 for a 50mL bottle, available on the Messy Bessy website.

On the packaging:

Earth friendly - Non-toxic - Biodegradable

Ten-hut! Meet the LITTLE WARRIOR, your germ-busting  multi-tasking sidekick!

As a hand sanitizer, just spray on hands and rub till dry.

As a disinfectant, spray on dirty surface or in the air and leave to dry.

As a surface cleaner, spray on tissue or cotton and wipe clean.

A little goes a looooooooong way!

Made locally (and therefore no excess fuel was used to bring this to you!)

Ingredients:

Sugarcane alcohol, aloe vera extract, green tea essential oil. Yup, that’s all!

PRODUCT TEST

Messy Bessy's sanitizer cleans well and doesn't leave your hands dry. However, the scent is not the best. Out of all the hand sanitizers on this post, this one has the scent I like the least.


The verdict? I may not repurchase their hand sanitizers based on the scent, but the effectivity of the product keeps me still very much interested in their home cleaning products.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Messy Bessy is a name that you will hear a lot when someone brings up the organic, non-toxic world of cleaning solutions. It's a name you will see on specialty store shelves, in magazines, even mentioned by a lot of friends. They seem to be a darling  brand of this "industry", so I've been very excited to start reviewing their products. A peek at what they say on their website:


How did Messy Bessy start?

Messy Bessy Cleaners, Inc. (www.messybessy.com) was established as the first enterprise of Project H.OU.S.E. (Helping OUrselves through Sustainable Enterprises). Messy Bessy is a manufacturer and wholesaler of natural, biodegradable household cleaners with the primary goal of employing, training and educating disadvantaged (formerly abused, trafficked, out-of-school, impoverished) young adults. It is a fusion of addressing a need for a greener lifestyle and a cleaner environment and helping these young adults out of their victim complex and leading them into a life that they choose to 

Why should I use Messy Bessy Products?

What many don’t realize is that when we use cleaners, we release substances out in the air, into our bodies, and down the drains and into our streams. Using regular cleaners that are known to have toxic chemicals can thus be harmful to our bodies, and our planet. This is why we encourage our customers to choose Messy Bessy, because by doing so, we choose safer homes, and a cleaner planet.

The pleasant surprise that I found out about Messy Bessy while I was browsing through their website: they give discounts for returned bottles! Love it!  I have always believed that a true responsible company is one that thinks of the end-to-end product lifecycle. All three brands featured on this post use plastic spray bottles for their sanitizers. None offer refill packs, as far as I know. But this one at least offers an incentive to return the packaging. So kudos to Messy Bessy! 

PLANTEX:
Handy Tidy Sanitizer Spray

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

PhP 104.75 for a 50mL bottle, available in most Rustans Supermarkets.

On the packaging:

All-around disinfectant and odor eliminator.

Organic, safe & effective.

Kills 99.9% of germs. Prevents AH1N1.

Kills 99.9% of germs such as E.coli, Salmonella typhosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycrobacterium tubrculosis, Pseudonomonas aureginosa & etc.

A mixture of plant, herbs, fruits and vegetable extracts uniquely combined and formulated to exhibit powerful bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal action; as such, it can be used to disinfect and eliminate odor in places where human activities are very common.

Product of the Philippines.

Ingredients:

Plantex solution, de-ionized water, nature-derived essential oils.

The "Plantex" solution name came from "plant" and "extract", as this article explains:

Plantex Solutions Manufacturing Corporation's household and homecare products are derived from indigenous materials ordinarily regarded as "waste" like overripe fruits and vegetables, as well as banana trunks, bark, and peelings.

PRODUCT TEST

Initially, your hands feel a little bit sticky after spraying the solution but this disappears quite quickly as you rub your hands and spread the liquid around. What's left are clean hands that feel slightly moisturized. If I were to pick two words to describe the scent, it would be "neutral" or "plant-y". What I mean to say is that you will definitely know that it was made of plant extracts because it has that clean nature smell to it.


The verdict? Quite pricey at P104.75 a bottle. While I think that they should be able to charge a small premium for the invention of the Plantex solution - I am all for rewarding the hard work of our Filipino scientists especially if their work is for the good of our environment - I don't think I will be buying this sanitizer spray again. The reason being that I use up small bottles of hand sanitizer in a couple of weeks. For something so high-frequency, I would definitely want something with a lower price. However, I think I would purchase their home our industrial cleaning solutions.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

I've only encountered Plantex on the grocery store shelves, but have never encountered any marketing or PR about them. This situation makes me think -- are these people really serious about the science and they're not in it for the organic fad?


Well, after doing some basic research, it turns out that their products have won quote a few awards. This article says it has won:

Most Sustainable and Environment Friendly Product Award at the Eco-Products International Trade Fair (EPIF) hosted by the country in 2009; and the Consumers' Choice and Dangal ng Pilipinas Annual Award as the Best Multi-Purpose Liquid Disinfectant Solution the same year.

Here's what they have to say on their company website:

Our marketing company, TREVIS INTERNATIONALE CORPORATION was established on October 29, 2003. Our commitment to protect the environment through the strength of our products made us a major player in the ecological waste management and pollution control with collaborative efforts of various local government units and the industrial sector as mandated by RA 9003, RA 8275, RA 8749 and RA 6969.

In 2006, we proudly put up our own manufacturing plant, the PLANTEX SOLUTIONS MFG., CORP. We likewise set up our own laboratory which employs competent and noted consultants, chemists and microbiologists, thereby ensuring continuous research and product development. The Davao Satellite Office was established in 2007.

With our belief that the Filipino household should be actively involved in environmental advocacy and protection, we successfully launched the PLANTEX GREEN ADVOCATES in December 2009. The PGA is a movement of groups and individuals campaigning for green living and green purchasing, and serves us an efficient distribution channel for Plantex household and homecare products.
Our progressive environmental policies are clearly evidenced by the products we sell since we have made these an integral part of our company's product development and business operations.

ABOUT ORGANIC & BIODEGRADABLE CLAIMS

Now one of the reasons why I came up with "The Switch" blogpost series was to demonstrate how easy (or difficult) it is for a normal consumer to verify claims such as "organic" and "free trade" plastered on the packaging -- especially when there are still no certifying boards out there.

In  my first post for the series, the one about Goodmaid's Bio Dishwashing Liquid, the label said 100% Natural Active Ingredients* and yet the explanation / footnote that should go with the "*" was nowhere to be found -- not on any other part of the label, or on their website. Questionable marketing? Or just plain oversight? I don't know. I have yet to reach out to them and inquire.

But in the case of Human Nature, they don't play tricks. If you read their website, they are the first to acknowledge that there is no regulating body that verifies these claims.

There are many "natural" products available today, but surprisingly, there is no government regulation of the term natural. This makes it very difficult for ordinary people to discern what is genuinely natural and what is mostly chemical with a few natural extracts thrown in.

So while they, like many other marketers, created a nice catchy looking seal that says "Natural", unlike other marketers, they also took the time to spell out what this seal means:

As your guarantee of the integrity of our products, you will start seeing a new natural seal on our labels. To qualify for the seal:
1) The ingredients must be biodegradable and at least 95% natural (the same standard set by the Natural Products Association in the USA). Many of our products are in fact 100% natural. 2) The ingredient must come from a renewable resource with no petroleum compounds and be processed in a way which is not damaging to the environment. 3) A "non-natural" ingredient is only permitted if there is no readily available natural alternative and the ingredient meets strict criteria regarding human and environmental safety and biodegradability.

I was very happy to learn that Messy Bessy is much the same way about taking the initiative to educate their buyers. Their website features an FAQ explaining exactly what they mean when they put claims on their label: 

What does Messy Bessy mean when it says “earth-friendly and biodegradable’? 

Because Messy Bessy ingredients are derived from nature, the products also biodegrades back into nature – whether it be through the air, or through our drains and water.

What does Messy Bessy mean when it says “all-natural”? 

“All-natural” only means we use ingredients that are derived from nature. Some of our ingredients even include kitchen essentials, like baking soda and vinegar!

Their explanations are not as detailed as that of Human Nature (read: charts of chemicals and explain what harm they cause) but they give you a wide array of ways to get in touch with them if you have any more questions.


So there you have it - three organic, Philippine-made hand sanitizer options that are willing to back up the claims they have on their packaging. If this is an indicator of the rest of the 'industry', then it's looking good so far :)
 .

Book Review: Measuring Social Enterprise (Ed: Marie Lisa Dacanay)

 
 

Measuring Social Enterprise is a good resource for social entrepreneurs who are serious about moving past nice anecdotal stories and start applying metrics to quantify their results.

Dacanay starts off the first chapter by setting a clear definition of a social enterprise and discussing the challenge of performance measurement.

She highlights the difference between a traditional enterprise and a social enterprise on three key aspects:

(a) Primary stakeholders or beneficiaries

Where a traditional enterprise is answerable to its stockholders, a social enterprise considers its beneficiaries as its primary stakeholder.

(b) Enterprise philosophy

A business enterprise has what she calls a "accumulative enterprise philosophy" while a social enterprise has a "distributive philosophy". That is, a broader distribution of wealth.

(c) Primary objectives

Given the earlier two points, it then means that the art of managing a business enterprise and a social enterprise has a key difference as well - the former focuses on maximization of profit while the latter consists of managing multiple bottom lines: "optimizing development outcomes while ensuring financial sustainability."

The bulk of this book is about that last part, optimizing development outcomes. Dacanay opines that "you cannot manage what cannot be measured." So this book offers two classic tools for measurement of development outcomes - Development Indexing and Social Return on Investment - and case studies of how they have been applied.

The featured case studies give you a good overview of the organization's goals and measurement needs, and then shows actual guidelines, impact maps and even FGD guides. It's almost like being allowed to sit it on a strategic evaluation meeting with these social enterprises to learn from their strengths and challenges. Among the featured organizations are:

• Alter Trade Group
• National Federation of Cooperatives of Persons with Disability
• Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation

While a person with a background in development work will feel comfortable with it, I believe some social entrepreneurs who came from another field may possibly find all this information overwhelming. But it's exactly those people - social entrepreneurs who came from the corporate world or some other industry - that I would advise to read this book. It's something you need to learn if you are serious about your social enterprise: accounting for your social development impact should be just as important as your financial accounting.



- - -
To learn more about the book, visit its official page.

MEASURING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE may be purchased from the ISEA office at P500.00 per copy (exclusive of mailing cost). International purchases may be made at USD15.00 per copy (exclusive of mailing cost). ISEA and Oikocredit members/partners are entitled to a 20% discount beyond their pre-arranged complimentary copies. A discount of 10% shall be given to students and groups purchasing 5 or more copies. Orders and inquiries may be made at inquiry@isea-group.net and at +632-7038912 (text or call, look for Dolly Marcial.)

The Switch - Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash

Earlier I blogged about my new experiment called "The Switch" which is basically an effort to switch, one item at a time, to more sustainable and environment-friendly products. I intend for it to cover a range of products and brands - from household cleaning to corporate needs to personal care.


So here's my second installment on personal care - Human Nature's Balancing Facial Wash: Orange & Elemi with Bamboo Scrubs. (The first one was also on Human Nature: Hydrating Facial Wash.)




PRODUCT TEST
 

While I would normally start off my reviews with the scent of a product, for this facial wash the first thing I noticed was the way it looked. It comes in a transparent bottle through which you can clearly see small green shreds (of what is assumed to be a plant) suspended in the gel-like transparent liquid. At the bottom you will find a heavier concentration of these green shreds which have settled to create a sort of green ring at the base. 

It is not exactly the look that makes you want to grab it from the store shelf. But as I've already tried their hydrating facial wash, I was eager to try out this other variant.


What convinced me to finally buy it was the scent - a refreshing citrus-y smell mixed with an uplifting hint of mint. It's the kind of scent I would welcome when washing off the oil and tiredness at the end of the day. The little green things floating in the gel turned out to be another bonus - the bamboo scrubs are really gentle exfoliants that don't leave your face feeling raw and dry from scrubbing. Just be sure to give the bottle a good shake before each time you use it to redistribute the scrubs that have settled at the bottom.


Will I buy this again? Definitely, yes. While I had a less than ideal first impression, I easily got over it and was won over by the scent and gentle exfoliation. 


Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash can be purchased through their dealers or through their official website. The 50 mL bottle goes for PhP 84.75, and the 200mL bottle for PhP 199.75 on their website. Human Nature products can also be found in select Rustan's Fresh stores, with a slightly higher retail price.




MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCT


The website describes this facial wash as specially formulated for people oily to combination skin: Bamboo beads and Luffa gently exfoliate and help regulate oil, Elemi oil has antibacterial properties, peppermint oil tops it all off with a refreshing tingly sensation while washing. 

Ingredients: Water, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Bambusa arundinacea stem extract, Coco-glucoside, Gluconolactone, Xanthan Gum, Luffa cylindrica extract, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus sinesis oil, Mentha piperita oil, Canarium luzonicum oil. 

Human Nature is one of those companies that really make an effort to educate their consumers about their products, ingredients and their advocacy. So although a lot of these ingredients sound so foreign to me, I was willing to try this product out anyway - on the good faith that if I go to their website, I'm sure to find some explanation of what these are. I guess good company ethos really does have a role to play in the consumer buying process. 





MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY

Human Nature's philosophy is summarized in three main phrases: Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment. All products are 100% manufactured in the Philippines, helping set up organic farms with Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages, and they are conscious about choosing locally sourced ingredients, or utilizing recycled materials for packaging and marketing needs.


I think there was a time when Human Nature's claim to fame was that it was created by the daughter of GK Founder, Tony Meloto. But through the years its been producing good products and educating so many people on its advocacy that, today, it undoubtedly has a name of its own. 


To many consumers, the Human Nature brand stands for quality yet affordable organic personal care products. To a person like me who has observed the whole Philippine do-gooder world over the years, Human Nature is a sign of hope that the 'industry' has finally reached an important point in its evolution. That point is when we move away from begging or guilt-tripping people into buy ethical products ("It's not very pretty or of very good quality, but please buy us, it's for a good cause!"), and move towards selling good quality products that can compete in the market. And then we can say "By the way, these products are ethically made, they support a good cause, and they're proudly Filipino." How awesome is that?





ABOUT ORGANIC & BIODEGRADABLE CLAIMS


Now one of the reasons why I came up with "The Switch" blogpost series was to demonstrate how easy (or difficult) it is for a normal consumer to verify claims such as "organic" and "free trade" plastered on the packaging -- especially when there are still no certifying boards out there.

In  my first post for the series, the one about Goodmaid's Bio Dishwashing Liquid, the label said 100% Natural Active Ingredients* and yet the explanation / footnote that should go with the "*" was nowhere to be found -- not on any other part of the label, or on their website. Questionable marketing? Or just plain oversight? I don't know. I have yet to reach out to them and inquire.

There are many "natural" products available today, but surprisingly, there is no government regulation of the term natural. This makes it very difficult for ordinary people to discern what is genuinely natural and what is mostly chemical with a few natural extracts thrown in.

So while they, like many other marketers, created a nice catchy looking seal that says "Natural", unlike other marketers, they also took the time to spell out what this seal means:

As your guarantee of the integrity of our products, you will start seeing a new natural seal on our labels. To qualify for the seal:
      1) The ingredients must be biodegradable and at least 95% natural (the same standard set by the Natural Products Association in the USA). Many of our products are in fact 100% natural.       2) The ingredient must come from a renewable resource with no petroleum compounds and be processed in a way which is not damaging to the environment      3) A "non-natural" ingredient is only permitted if there is no readily available natural alternative and the ingredient meets strict criteria regarding human and environmental safety and biodegradability.

Once again, the ethos of this company won me over. You can expect to have a few more Human Nature products reviewed on "The Switch", for sure :)