Dr. Bronner’s, the family-owned, top-selling natural soap maker in North America, celebrated a landmark goal at its factory corporate headquarters in Vista, California with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the company’s new solar power project. Vista Mayor Judy Ritter and other community members were present at the September 29 event.
Honoring the wishes of founder Emanuel Bronner, the company began researching a way to construct an on-site, solar-generated electricity system in 2013. Soon after, it was determined that the building of the factory could not hold solar panels on its roof. Exploring other options, the company pursued a solar design project that would utilize all buildable areas surrounding the building.
Four years in the making, the new solar power project creates a huge improvement in their sustainability efforts. "Our new 346 kilowatt solar power system will generate 572,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, accommodating about 50 percent of Dr. Bronner's factory headquarters needs on an annual basis," says Dr. Bronner's Strategic Advisor & CSR Manager, Kris Lin-Bronner. This goes along with their new drought-tolerant landscaping using regenerative organic practices, which will save the company over 600,000 gallons of water each year.
The solar panel project underscores the mission of the Dr. Bronner's brand to conduct business sustainably—and to make socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality as well as dedicate profits to help make a better world.