Human Nature opens outlet in Zamboanga

HUMAN Nature, a line of 100 percent Philippine-made organic and natural products and the fastest-growing social enterprise in the country will open a branch Wednesday in Zamboanga City.

Yen Delgado, Human Nature Zamboanga branch operator, said the decision to open a branch was driven by desire to spread the good news of Human Nature that it is possible to engage in business that profits as well as benefits the people and the environment.

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The branch is located on La Purisima Street in downtown Zamboanga.

Delgado said everything that the company does is guided by the principles of being "Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment."

Delgado said that Human Nature has been touted nationally and internationally as a model for a successful, working and large-scale social enterprise and for the first time, budding and seasoned entrepreneurs are seeing an alternative to traditional business enterprise.

Human Nature offers a wide array of personal care products, including shampoo, conditioner, massage and shaving oils, hair mask, lip balms and facial moisturizer.

Its bestseller is the citronella bug spray, which does not contain the chemical Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) found in most commercial insect repellent.

It is safe to use even for very young children, Delgado said.

Delgado said the products are 100 percent free from harmful chemicals such as Phthalates, found in many commercial baby shampoos but has been recently found to damage the liver and reproductive organ.

Delgado said the products are environmentally-friendly citing all ingredients and the packaging are biodegradable.

She said even its catalogs are made with mineral-based ink and 100 percent recycled paper.

Delgado said Human Nature sources its raw materials locally in order to support the country’s agriculture.

It is only when the supply is not available locally that the company resorts to using imported ingredients, she added.

Delgado said that after less than two years in operation, Human Nature now has 16 branches all over the country.

Delgado said that Human Nature products are mostly sold through direct-selling.

The decision to go into direct selling instead of retail selling was a result of Human Nature’s desire to provide extra income for ordinary people, Delgado said.

Human Nature is a brand of Gandang Kalikasan Inc., founded in 2008 by Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, daughters of Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto, Human Nature. (Bong Garcia)