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Across the Fence:  Interesting Info About Burt's Bees  |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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ranchetta
True Blue Farmgirl
318 Posts
carol
Marysville
Wahington
USA
318 Posts |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 4:45:37 PM
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I know! It just makes me so disappointed when consumers put their trust in a company thinking they're supporting someone with the same values. Then to find out they are owned by a huge corporation that doesn't practice environmentally sound practices. I'll never buy Burt's Bees again. This is an excellent reason to support independent businesses. You know what you are getting and you are supporting a small business owner.
Handmade Soap & Lotion Bars http://www.therusticcottagebath.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 5:41:42 PM
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I agree- People who make small batches of product are the way to go! People like you Kay, and if I may say so- myself! I would love to some day make products that get sold on store shelves all over the country, but if that means that I lose quality control and have to expand to the point where I can no longer point to a jar, tube or what have you and say "I know exactly what went into that and where it came from" then that is the point in time when I will pull the plug on my business.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 5:51:50 PM
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They were actually purchased by clorox in early 2007. Here is the statement off the Burts Bees website:
Burt's Bees entered an exciting new chapter as a result of our recent sale of the company to The Clorox Company. It's a great opportunity to help us better deliver against our mission of making truly natural personal products available to everyone, everywhere. This new journey gives us the energy and the resources to do even more. You can keep counting on Burt's Bees in the ways you always have. We will always stay steadfast behind our values and commitment to making the best natural personal care products with the most environmentally sensitive packaging and nature-safe manufacturing processes. And, above all, we'll continue on with our social mission to make people's lives better every day, naturally
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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createmyworld
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Beth
Akron
PA
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 5:52:30 PM
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Wow, I had no idea....thanks for this post Kay
www.createmyworld.etsy.com
"He who works with his hands is a laborer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, head and heart is an artist." -St. Francis of Asisi |
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ranchetta
True Blue Farmgirl
318 Posts
carol
Marysville
Wahington
USA
318 Posts |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 11:53:49 PM
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You're so welcome! Glad to share the info. What gets me is that these corporations are really not into organics or natural products because it's good for the consumer. They're in it because people want that kind of product and the corporation wants to make money. Sad.
Handmade Soap & Lotion Bars http://www.therusticcottagebath.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
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Edited by - therusticcottage on Mar 20 2009 11:55:29 PM |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4821 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4821 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 07:23:47 AM
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I stopped buying Burt's Bees after the Clorox purchase. I have learned that once a small company is taken over, the big guys destroy the quality and it is no longer worth the extra $.
Dawn in IL |
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LauriP
True Blue Farmgirl
239 Posts
Laurianne
Hertford
North Carolina
USA
239 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 08:01:34 AM
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>> Wow <<
This is really an eye opener...I'd been wondering why I was suddenly seeing what I'd considered "Small" companies, having large shelves covered with their products in chain grocery stores, and nationwide drugstores. Whatta dunce I feel like!
We used to haul freight for Clorox and a couple other Huge "cleaning" companies..it was always sooo scary. We'd get a sheet telling us about how to "Stay Safe!" -- and specific handling instruction for the boxes of their products. We weren't even supossed to Be handling their products..but the Safety Director had every base covered, so we were given their sheets. Scared me to pieces, thinking of What If..all the way down the Interstate.
Needless to say, I'm rethinking my choices of Organic products from certain stores. Sad Day in the Shopping World..
Laurianne |
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
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Niamh
True Blue Farmgirl
140 Posts
Idaho
140 Posts |
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 09:21:08 AM
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Buying local is the way to go. At least that way you know what is in the product and where it comes from.
Ingrid
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 5:19:01 PM
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Check out the validity in this too, but I recently found out that trader Joe's is also owned by Aldi which is a German company AND, is the #1 competitor against Wal-Mart. Aldi is the only company that has Wallly world quaking in its boots.
I had known about Burt's Bees when the merge/takeover happened in '07.
Clorox does have the better for the envoronment products now.
I'm slightly disapointed though only because I like buying stuff that is not only really natural/better for me, but is uncommon and non-mainstream. I can't STAND trendy!
Zum makes a great hand salve that smells spot on like lavender, so i use this now.
I'll start screaming if Kombucha ever goes mainstream |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 2:05:38 PM
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I work for corporate America and you might want to take a second look before you dismiss Burt's Bees. I am not saying that all Corporations have the best intentions, but many are trying to change their ways. For one thing Burt's Bees did not leave their facility in North Carolina, a move made before the sale to Clorox for cheaper labor and taxes. Thus the local economy was not effected, in fact due to the sale to Clorox the employees are getting better pay and bonuses. Also the philosophy and the ingredients used to make Burt's Bee products is still the same wholesome ingredients, because it is run by the same management and individuals before the sale to Clorox. This was not a pressure buy either, Quimby always intended to sell. She has taken that money and used it to run a new business called Happy Green Bee, a company that makes organic clothing for children. She says she spent more than $50 million to buy 100,000 acres where she tries to restore the land to its natural state by blocking hunting, closing roads and dismantling bridges. Thus taking that corporate money and putting it to good use. The CEO of Burt's Bees is now monitoring Clorox - ask of defending Clorox’s purchase of Burt’s Bees has fallen on Mr. Replogle’s shoulders. He says that in six months, he will post a blog on the Burt’s Bees site about whether he thinks Clorox is making enough progress on its green initiatives. He says Burt’s Bees’ 380 employees have an opportunity to influence the direction of Clorox, a company that generated $4.8 billion in sales last year and employs 7,800 people. Burt’s Bees maintains its founders’ green philosophies. Employees’ bonuses are based in part on how well the company meets energy conservation goals, and there are prime parking spaces for staff members who drive hybrid cars or carpool. It buys offsets for 100 percent of its carbon emissions and is working toward a goal of sending no trash to landfills by 2020.
Sometimes Corporate money helps a good business become better, just try to keep an open mind and monitor Burt's Bees and Clorox and see if they fulfill their promise. Because just by stopping the purchase of the product really hurts the Burt' Bees division, which hurts the employees, which hurts the local North Carolina economy. Look at the whole picture first before you judge.
I know that if my company was not supported by the money of the large corporation that owns us, we would not be in business today and I and 600 + employees would be out of work which would effect the local economy our company is located in.
Anne in Portland,OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 5:44:00 PM
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Ben and Jerry's owned by Breyers...what a disapointment. And for 9 yrs too...
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9622 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9622 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 6:00:37 PM
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I was under the inpression Burt's Bees was bought out by Colgate. Which I see I got wrong.
It has been a couple of years since I heard about it so I think I was confusing my c's.
It is disappointing to see the little guys giving up and selling out to the BIG companies. That's what makes a monopoly.
It all about money I guess.
Denise
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Sue Feely
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Sue
Buffalo
New York
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 7:53:51 PM
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Kay -
Thanks for the info; I too kept Burt's lip balm in my purses year round! You just never know unless things are from MJF or us farmgirls!
Sue Feely
Sister #349 |
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Linder
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Linda
Lake Forest
IL
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 08:20:30 AM
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Awesome response to the topic Anne! I love Burt's and in an economy that has been suffering it is a great comfort to know that Clorox did not move the factory and put an entire community out of work.
They may have purchased Burt's for the profit but in the long run don't we all benefit from a natural product that gets more exposure and wider use?
And Anna, believe it or not there's about 5 different kinds of Kombucha on the shelves at a few of the Natural markets that I visit.
It has gotten SO expensive that I have been making my own kombucha for about 8 months now and I LOVE IT!
I don't think we'll have to worry too much as it'll take ages for folks to become accustomed to the taste! LOL!
Fingers crossed that it'll remain own secret.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
www.mylusciousjourney.blogspot.com |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 4:06:52 PM
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Yeah I had heard they were purchased by Clorox, that is too bad.
I use Kiss my Face and love it, they're still owned by the people who founded them. Good, ethical personal care products.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 5:45:39 PM
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I think we had a topic on this when the merger happened! It is unfortunate, but Anne did point out the good points of the merger. I still use Burts, though at first I was just as upset and refused to buy, I haven't been able to find anything as quality, even Kiss My Face. Their baby products are the only products my little psoriasis babies can handle besides my own and frankly, I am taking the lazy way out until my kids are all older. I just haven't the time to make anything more than my laundry soap and candles. I didn't even get to make my bar soap this winter like I usually do!
Of course companies are doing it for money, what else would be their number one motivator? Second is most likely ingredient use and making things better that people put on and in their bodies, but isn't the motivation for any person selling their wares, money?
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Farmgirl Sister #88
Blogs:
http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
Etsy:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
"Joyful chaos, working in tune with the seasons, telling itme by the sun, variety, change and self-direction; all this wwas replaced with a brutal, standardized work culture, the effects of which we are still suffering from today." - Tom Hodgkinson in 'How To Be Idle' |
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sjs
True Blue Farmgirl
247 Posts
Stephanie
Oakland
CA
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 08:39:28 AM
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Yeah, this was a disappointment. And Tom's of Maine is now owned by Colgate, so I can't buy them either. :(
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Learning to live is learning to let go.
Visit my food blog! http://www.wasabimon.com - natural cooking to live for.
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 09:24:22 AM
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Anne,
Thank you so much for the reminder, that change often comes in unconventianal ways. I love Burt's Bee, I think they have done so much to educate about the decline in bee population etc. While I dont work in Corporate any more, I do know that we each get to a cross road where we have to decide things and so do these folks that build up companies. Personally, I choose to live my life supporting what I see as "positive" change..no matter WHO is doing it. I go into walmart.. and I buy ORGANIC. I want my $$$ to show them MY values. If they are doing positive things then I reward that.
I think that there is a truth, that we really dont have the right to "pour into" the lives of people that we dont co-mingle with.... for example: If you arent my friend, then.. I dont care if you like me much. BUT.. if you are my friend... and I disappoint you...........I would be devistated.... Corporations arent much different. If they disappoint customers, that has more impact then if the disappoint non customers it seems to me....I have a voice, everytime I walk into walmart (as an example.....), and walk over to the produce...to voice my view in a loving way to the produce manager... and I do... believe me I do. I point out that I buy Organic.. SO... if "he/she" has it.. I buy it.. if they dont.. then I am off to the next "haunt". Seems to me they have more and more everytime I go in.. (of course having 133 Prosserfarmchicks clucking the same tune, helps I am sure)....
Any true change comes from the ground up.. Kay is right, we need to be informed.. then we need to decide how we are going to "Be the change we want". For me, I like the relationships I build in the produce isles.
More often then not, I shop elsewhere simply because it saves time and I know that they have what I want... but I havent crossed Walmart off my list, I certainly am not throwing Burt out with the bath water because I know that my voice and dollars can be the change I want in the world if I am willing to be an educator in the process.....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/http://renenaturallyspeaking.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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KayB
True Blue Farmgirl
540 Posts
Kay
Del City
Oklahoma
USA
540 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2009 : 09:18:52 AM
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Now I am confused. Due to the recent problems I've had with my skin I've been using both Aveeno and Burt's Bees with my doctor's blessing. I have noticed, too, that Clorox is coming out with "green" products now, too. What else is there to use? I read labels and I don't get around much, so usually it's Wal-Mart, Target, etc. for me. Any ideas, ladies?
Life's a dance you learn as you go |
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Across the Fence: Interesting Info About Burt's Bees |
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Interesting Info About Burt's Bees
Living the farm life in my heart.