OCA Ally, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, Wins Co-op America's Green Business Leader Award

Press Release
Contact: Amanda Johnson
(202) 872-5314

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Win First
Green Business Leader Award
Recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing the Green
Business Movement

San Francisco, November 12, 2003 ­ The Green Business Leader Award was given
by Co-op America¹s Business Network to Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps at the
first annual Green Business Conference held November 4th-7th in San
Francisco. The Green Business Leader Award was created to recognize an
extraordinary company or business leader that has led the way in creating a
just and sustainable society, and whose efforts are at the forefront of the
green business movement.

Co-op America, a national nonprofit consumer education organization for
environmentally responsible purchasing and investing, works with over 2,200
green businesses nationwide, and Dr. Bronner's was selected for the award
from these businesses, for its outstanding and long-time commitment to
socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Co-op America, said, "This award
recognizes a business that exemplifies sustainable practices for many years.
While the Green Business Movement has increasingly reached a broader
consumer audience, -- with more and more consumers purchasing organic,
natural, and energy efficient products from responsible companies -- the
movement is where it is today only because of the hard work and dedication
of the movement leaders like Dr. Bronner's, and they deserve our
recognition."

Five businesses were nominated for the award, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps,
Maggie's Organics, Organic Valley, Seventh Generation, and Thanksgiving
Coffee, and all are taking steps to further the green business movement. The
winner was chosen through a ballot process, with each person attending the
Green Business Conference getting one vote.

Dr. Bronner's was selected, due to their dedication not only to the
movement, but also to the environment and the community. For over 50 years
Dr. Bronner's has been making ecological soaps and recently introduced
certified organic oils. These often-called Omagic' soaps can be used for
everyday washing, dishwashing, laundry, toothpaste, and much more. David
Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's said, "Coop America has been an
inspiration for us to become an ever more socially and ecologically
responsible company. All of us at Dr. Bronner's are deeply honored to
receive this award." The award was crafted by Rivanna Natural Designs, a
green company.

About Co-op America
Co-op America is the leading national nonprofit organization for responsible
consumer and business education. Co-op America¹s Green Business Conference
is a first-time gathering of hundreds of environmentally and socially
responsible companies from across the country to work together to learn from
each other and advance the green business movement.

About Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
Dr. Bronner's was founded with a commitment to providing healthy products
manufactured through socially and environmentally responsible means. Their
dedication to the green business movement can be seen all the way to the top
executive. David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's, is a board member of
both Vote Hemp and the HIA, and is the chair of the HIA's Food and Oil
Committee. David is the primary coordinator of the hemp industry's legal
battle with the DEA over the legality of hemp foods. He also is the primary
architect of the hemp industry's TestPledge program.

Dr. Bronner's joined over 400 other Co-op America business members in
signing the Co-op America WoodWise Pledge to reduce company impact on
forests. In the spirit of this pledge, their bar soap paper label and inner
liner are now a 10 percent hempflax and 90 percent post-consumer recycled
blend.

Their work for the environment and the community also includes:

To support sustainable agriculture, farm worker health and ecological
processing methods, Dr. Bronner's bar soaps are now all made with organic
oils certified under the USDA's organic food regulations by Oregon Tilth.

Dr. Bronner's qualifies for the Coalition for Consumer Information on
Cosmetics¹ rabbit and stars logo, which certifies, via independent audit,
that all ingredients are not tested on animals.

The Bronner family and company supports industrial hemp as a sustainable
crop, through efforts including Vote Hemp and the Hemp Industries
Association (HIA).

In the last five years, Dr. Bronner's charitable gifting to social and
environmental causes has roughly matched their total after-tax income. They
annually give profit sharing and bonuses totaling over $10,000 per employee
for warehouse positions.

Executive compensation is capped at five times that of the lowest-paid
position. Employees annually receive 15 percent of salary paid into a
retirement/profit-sharing plan, up to 25 percent of salary as a bonus, and a
no-deductible PPO health insurance plan for themselves and their families.

About Rivanna Natural Designs ­ Award Maker

Rivanna Natural Designs, a private business dedicated to supplying
responsible corporate gifts ranging from plaques to clocks, donated this
year¹s award.

The Green Business Conference is taking place in San Francisco November
4th-7th, 2003. For more information on the conference and the Green
Business Leader Award visit www.coopamerica.biz.

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Amanda Johnson is the Public Education and Media Coordinator at Co-op
America, a nonprofit consumer education organization for environmentally
wise purchasing and investing. She can be reached at
ajohnson@coopamerica.org