A SOCIAL entrepreneur is challenging Filipino enterprises to operate their businesses “with a heart” to create thriving communities and reduce the country’s long- standing problem of poverty.
In his recent visit to Cebu, Gawad Kalinga advocate and Human Nature Inc. co-founder and chief executive officer Dylan Wilk stressed the importance of social enterprises in nation-building.
Although such ventures require a generous heart, Wilk champions profit-oriented business as a tool for fixing societal problems like poverty by providing livelihood and other growth opportunities at the grassroots level.
“Instead of merely focusing on profits, I challenge companies to also take this road or support organizations that are already into this,” he said.
Wilk was in Cebu to help raise funds for the rebuilding of Marawi City through the company’s “Goodness Rising” initiated by partner-dealers nationwide.
Wilk cited the success of Human Nature Inc., which has given livelihood to around 300 farmers nationwide or about 20 farming communities.
Farmers plant natural and organic plant-based ingredients for Human Nature’s personal, skin care, home care and makeup products.
These products are then marketed to the public through the direct selling business model to spur entrepreneurship in the urban and rural areas.
According to Wilk, some earnings of some products go directly to the farming communities to support farmers and their families.
Human Nature Inc. has about 200 branches in the country. It employs about 520 persons.
Besides making the products available in the local market, the company is also exporting the products to Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States.
“When you empower communities, they would have high chances of improving their lives,” Wilk said.
The business, which is also run by his wife, Anna Meloto-Wilk, teaches farmers best practices in farming with the adoption of new farming technologies to improve their yield.
Wilk added that Human Nature, which calls itself a pro-poor, pro-environment and pro-Filipino business, has registered the most number of products under the Natural Products Association (NPA) in the United States.
NPA-certified products must use natural ingredients, avoid ingredients with health risks, don’t use animal testing, and include biodegradable or recycled material in the packaging.
The association requires that certified products must be made of at least 95 percent natural ingredients or ingredients from natural sources, excluding water.
Looking forward, Wilk said they aim to grow the business as this would mean growth for more farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs.