Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Farming

Mint oils are Dr. Bronner’s most used essential oils—their cooling properties are what make our peppermint soaps and All-One Toothpastes so refreshing, and it gives our peppermint soap its famous tingle. We use a blend of oils from two mint species, peppermint (mentha piperita) and corn mint (mentha arvensis). Since 2004, we have sourced a blend of peppermint and corn mint from smallholder farms in Uttar Pradesh, India. Following a period of transition, we empower four dedicated agricultural engineers to establish their own company, now known as Pavitramenthe.

This thriving project now involves over 1,200 smallholder farmers transitioning to organic practices. Facing depleted soils from intensive farming, Dr. Bronner's initiated a comprehensive "soil regeneration" project in 2017, supported by the German aid agency GIZ. This includes a large-scale composting program, subsidised compost for farmers, training, and support for adopting conservation tillage and beneficial crop rotations. Additionally, a significant tree-planting program is underway.

Since its inception in 2015, Pavitramenthe has also driven significant community development. Funded by fair trade premiums from Dr. Bronner's, these initiatives include medical camps, the construction of home toilets, and access to clean drinking water. Another key focus is empowering women through skills development, such as improving working conditions for saree artisans. These efforts align with a broader regenerative program, supported by GIZ, which includes extensive capacity-building for farmers in regenerative organic techniques.

Watch more about The Journey to Pavitramenthe here