Dr. Bronner’s, the family-owned maker of natural soaps, has launched a new, limited-edition label of its Castile Liquid Soaps in Canada, with the message ‘Protect Orcas!’ to promote the documentary film, Coextinction.
 
A presenting partner of the film, Dr. Bronner’s has created its first-ever limited-edition advocacy soap label for the Canadian market to further raise awareness about the film and its call-to-action. Among its messaging, the ‘Protect Orcas!’ label calls upon consumers to take action on four key issues to prevent the extinction of the Southern Resident Orcas:
 

• Support Indigenous Sovereignty
• End Open Net Salmon Farming
• Remove Obsolete Dams
• Stop Fossil Fuel Pipelines

 
This is not the first time Dr. Bronner’s has put a political message on its labels. In 2016, the company demanded “Fair Pay Today” on its packaging in support of raising the minimum wage in the U.S.

Dr. Bronner’s Call to Action

“Coextinction is strongly aligned with Dr. Bronner’s guiding Cosmic Principle ‘Treat the Earth Like Home,’ and addresses multiple issues that we are concerned about as a company from protecting animals and ocean wildlife to respecting Indigenous rights, promoting social justice, and practicing environmental stewardship,” says Michael Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s.
 
“Coextinction is breathtaking and provides a necessary and urgent call to action! There is still time for us to protect this threatened ecosystem and show that we have the will to not only protect the orcas, but also to save ourselves in the face of the vast climate crisis. We are proud to leverage our reach and brand recognition to engage the public on the issues raised in this remarkable film,” Bronner continued.
 
In Canada, Dr. Bronner’s is promoting Coextinction under the All-One International Initiative, namely the All-One Canada chapter. The initiative seeks to support mission aligned activism in the markets outside the U.S. where Dr. Bronner’s sells its products.  The All-One International Initiative and Dr. Bronner’s support for Coextinction are both anchored by the company’s commitment to social justice, environmental stewardship, and animal advocacy.

About the Documentary

An award-winning documentary on the extinction crisis, Coextinction debuted at film festivals in 2021, and has received critical acclaim at screenings worldwide. Dr. Bronner’s has helped fund the impact production of the film and partnered with the filmmakers to promote educational events, screenings, and advocacy work to inspire viewers to take bold action for climate and social justice.
 
Filmed throughout the coastal watersheds of the Pacific Northwest, including the Salish Sea and along the Broughton Archipelago which are traditional territories of the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, ‘Namgis, Tsleil-Waututh and other Nations, Coextinction documents the plight of the Southern Resident Orcas, of which less than 75 are alive today.
 
The filmmakers take the viewer on a journey to understand the causes of the orcas’ population decline. Their findings reveal how the orcas’ endangerment is fundamentally tied to the collapse of wild salmon populations and centuries of injustice against Indigenous peoples.
  
Since 2013, Dr. Bronner’s has donated an estimated $4 million to support efforts to protect farmed animals and ocean wildlife. The company contributed $40,000 USD (approximately $50,000 CAD) from its animal advocacy philanthropy budget in 2022 to support the impact production of Coextinction.
 
Furthermore, Dr. Bronner’s also supports myriad organizations that seek to dismantle industrialized chemical-intensive agriculture models and confined animal feeding operations. This work is interconnected with ocean conservation efforts, as animal waste and chemical runoff from these systems have devastating impacts on both freshwater and ocean ecosystems.