Social enterprises move forward with Super Goods

IN partnership with one of the country’s largest nation-building movements, Gawad Kalinga (GK), Rustan’s Supermarket has developed a whole new category for accredited social enterprises that pledge to push forward local businesses and sustainable practices.

Its line called Super Goods, curated by the leading social enterprise in the Philippines, Human Nature, carries products that pass strict requirements in order to ensure that the sale of these products deliver genuine impact and uplift Filipinos out of poverty for good.

The Super Goods roster includes brands like Bayani Brew, Villa Socorro, Holy Carabao, Sweet & Fit, Sabanana Banana Chips and many others that bring the land’s bounty into homes, while forging genuine partnerships with Filipino farmers and adopting practices that go beyond fair trade.

With their innovative business models, Super Goods brands aim to fill the basic needs of communities. For instance, Theo & Philo chocolate products, which source ingredients from Davao and Bacolod, champion Filipino artisanship in each bite.

Hope in a Bottle and Wellness Water does more than quench thirst. The brand seeks to address the education problem in the country, as 100 percent of profits of Hope in a Bottle go into building public school classrooms that are 30 to 50 percent less than usual costs.

For a product to be considered into Super Goods, it must be responsibly sourced. An example of this is Hineleban Coffee from Hineleban Foundation, which promotes a holistic environment for crops to grow through its reforestation initiative in partnership with the indigenous tribes of Mount Kitanglad. One coffee bag sold means one tree planted in a bid to restore the natural habitat for wildlife to flourish, while also creating a sustainable livelihood system.

Dr. Gerry’s, another brand under the Super Goods category, for instance, sells coconut jam and coconut nectar, which helps the farmers from Quezon earn ten times more than from their usual copra production.

Important to any social enterprise is business integrity, and this is required of the Super Goods brands. All carry FDA permits to ensure safe high-quality products. (With PR)