Human Nature: Raising Social Entrepreneurs

Summary

Human Nature, a social enterprise in the Philippines, is founded on the principles of being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment. The company utilizes local ingredients, empowers farmers by providing training and fair wages, and focuses on biodegradable products. A standout product is a citronella-based insect repellent, which not only helps combat dengue but also supports the local community through fair trade practices. Human Nature's commitment to social responsibility and innovation, driven by Filipino scientists, aims to uplift communities and promote sustainable development.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The company 'Human Nature' was founded on three core principles: being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment.
• 🚜 The company aims to utilize local ingredients that can be grown in the Philippines, supporting local farmers and reducing dependency on foreign products.
• 💰 Human Nature seeks to empower Filipino farmers by purchasing their raw materials at prices that ensure a good quality of life, thus helping them escape poverty.
• 🌿 The company is committed to environmental sustainability, using only biodegradable and non-destructive ingredients in their products.
• 🏭 Human Nature has developed products like a locally-sourced insect repellent using citronella and virgin coconut oil, which has become one of their top sellers.
• 🔬 The company has a research and development team composed of Filipino scientists who are encouraged to innovate and create new products from scratch.
• 🏫 Human Nature is involved in community development, including renovating public schools and providing health insurance to farmers in the citronella community.
• 📈 The business model of Human Nature is based on being a social enterprise, optimizing profits to reinvest in communities and support social causes.
• 💡 The company pays farmers more than the market rate to ensure they have a good quality of life, which is a strategy to help them develop and escape poverty.
• 🌐 Human Nature's products are manufactured in world-class facilities around Manila after being processed in local communities, promoting local economic growth.
• 🌐 The company's approach to business involves making profit margins smaller to make products more accessible, which they believe can drive economies of scale and national progress.

Q & A

What are the three core principles of Human Nature?

The three core principles of Human Nature are being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment.

How does Human Nature support Filipino farmers?

Human Nature supports Filipino farmers by ensuring that every ingredient used in their products can be grown locally. They also help farmers add value to their raw materials, ensuring that the profit remains in the Philippines.

What is the approach of Human Nature towards environmental sustainability?

Human Nature ensures that all their products are environmentally friendly, using only biodegradable ingredients that are not harmful or destructive to the environment.

How does Human Nature contribute to the communities they work with?

Human Nature contributes by training and providing quality control to poor communities, helping them grow and process high-value crops. They also provide health insurance and other benefits to community members.

What is unique about the bug repellent product developed by Human Nature?

Human Nature developed a bug repellent unique to the Philippines using citronella grass, which grows locally. The product is based on virgin coconut oil with citronella as the active ingredient, effectively repelling mosquitoes and addressing the dengue problem.

How does Human Nature define itself as a social enterprise?

Human Nature defines itself as a social enterprise by focusing on optimizing rather than maximizing profits, with the goal of reinvesting profits back into community development and helping poor communities.

How does Human Nature determine the price it pays to farming communities?

Human Nature determines the price by assessing the living needs of the farmers. They aim to pay a fair price that ensures a good quality of life and growth for the farmers, even if it means paying more than the market rate.

What role do Filipino scientists play in Human Nature's product development?

Filipino scientists at Human Nature are given the freedom to innovate and create their own product formulations, leading to breakthroughs such as using cocoa nectar from coconut flowers in shampoo.

Why does Human Nature focus on small profit margins?

Human Nature focuses on small profit margins to make their products more accessible, relying on economies of scale to drive growth and help more people afford their products, thus supporting social progress.

What is the long-term vision of Human Nature for the Philippines?

The long-term vision of Human Nature is to radically change the business environment in the Philippines by promoting a love for the country, addressing social issues like poverty, and encouraging businesses to reinvest in local communities.