We are excited to announce our partnership with Tom’s of Maine!
Many of our readers are familiar with this brand. Thankfully it is found in many stores. From health food stores to big chains, Tom’s quality and commitment to healthy personal care products has remained steadfast since the company began from humble roots.
The brand story parallels that of our readers ever unfolding green lives…we are motivated by our children! We want safe products for our kids, and we want to teach them stewardship and conservation. This is exactly how Tom’s began with the same motivation of green parenting.
In 1968, Tom and Kate Chappell left Philadelphia, where Tom worked for an insurance company, and moved to rural Kennebunk, Maine. As part of their goal to simplify their lives, they sought out natural, unprocessed foods and, unadulterated products.
Unable to find natural personal care options for themselves and their children, in 1970 Tom and Kate decided to create and sell their own. They began with a $5,000 loan from a friend and the philosophy that their products would not harm the environment.
From this small start, Tom’s of Maine grew and developed into a different kind of company, one based on the belief that people and nature deserve respect. Over the years our product line moved from non-phosphate laundry detergent to natural personal care products such as the first natural toothpaste (1975) and deodorant (1976).
Tom’s of Maine’s values are extensively described and reported in the company’s Goodness Report:
A genuine passion for healthy, human and environmental goodness has always been at the heart of what Tom’s of Maine is all about. Since 1970, our partnership with customers who share our values has helped us redefine the very idea of good citizenship. Today our standards remain high and our goals are even higher.
We are deeply honored to be included in this concept of “goodness” by joining Tom’s of Maine Goodness Circle:
Tom’s of Maine has been in business for over 40 years, and we have always loved to talk to the people who buy and use our products. This open and honest dialogue has been a great way for us to get and share new information and, more importantly, has sometimes been used to guide the decisions we make as a company. Our consumers sometimes have the best ideas on the ways we can take care of their health, their communities, and our planet.
We’d like to introduce you to a group of passionate and enthusiastic consumers who we have dubbed the Tom’s of Maine Goodness Circle. This diverse group is made up of active community members, mothers, and professionals who share a passion for blogging about healthy living. Our 12 members are all a unique and special part of the Tom’s of Maine community. We hope you will find the information and opinions they share to be valuable, and look forward to hearing your feedback!
At sixteen-years-0ld, my commitment to eco-living was solidified. I officially gave up meat. I became passionate about animal rights. I began donating my babysitting money to Greenpeace. I also discovered Tom’s of Maine.
At the time, we had only one small health food store in our suburb. It was far from my house, and it mostly stocked vitamins and some organic produce. This store carried Tom’s of Maine. A friend of mine started using Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, and it opened my eyes to the chemicals found in personal care. I have never gone back.
I joined the Tom’s of Maine Goodness Circle as I believe not only in the quality of products, but also in the ethics of the company. I was truly impressed to learn in a recent conference call that Tom’s employees volunteer 5% of their work time at an organization of their choice.
Connecting with our neighbors and local non-profits through volunteerism is a favorite benefit for Tom’s of Maine employees. Each year we get 5% of work time off (12 days for full-time employees) to volunteer. From helping at a local school to working to preserve the Maine landscape, everyone at Tom’s of Maine is encouraged to follow their heart.
85% of us volunteered in our communities in 2013. Ultimately, we’re hoping to achieve 100% goodness — everyone following in the footsteps of these volunteer veterans:
This is an incredibly powerful message and model I wish more corporations would embrace. Not only does it give back to the community, but it gives back to employees too. We all wish we had more time to volunteer at our children’s school or in a nature group. Tom’s builds it into their work force and compensates employees. (It’s also a dog-friendly workplace.)
I am honored to be part of this team, and I look forward to bringing more information about Tom’s of Maine products and “goodness” to our readers.
*Disclosure: As a participant of the Tom’s of Maine Goodness Circle, I’ve received compensation for my time and product samples for review purposes. Opinions are my own.
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