Press
J-Palm Liberia Partners with Whole Planet Foundation to Improve Productivity and Incomes for 7,500 Liberian Smallholder Oil Palm Producers
J-Palm formed a partnership with Pacha Soap, a US-based manufacturer of all-natural soaps and bath products. Pacha’s soaps are sold nationwide in Whole Foods in the US. In 2022, Pacha Soap will have bars of soap in Whole Foods Market stores with J-Palm’s wild harvest palm kernel oil as part of the soap base. Fundamentally this enables J-Palm Liberia to increase incomes for smallholders, and to continue to invest in further mini-mills to reach more smallholders.
Read the full articleThe 2021 Flourish Prize for Global Goal
Pacha Soap Co. is an all-natural hygiene brand that sells products like soaps, bath salts, and soothing bath balms. All of Pacha's products are crafted in the United States and are free of synthetic fragrances, SLS, parabens, and sulfates. Pacha’s cruelty-free and natural products are made to spread goodness around the world by focusing on and supporting four major initiatives. These initiatives are ethical sourcing, clean water, hygiene education, and small business opportunities.
Read the full articleUS $1.1M USAID Grant for Smallholder Palm Farmers
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of J Palm Liberia, Mahmud Johnson says smallholder palm farmers in Liberia will now have attractive prices for their products, as a result of a US$1.1 million dollar grant provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support an alliance that gives smallholder farmers access to the growing organic palm market.
Read the full articleGhanaian crude palm oil company receives $1.1m to support smallholder farmers in West Africa
A Ghanaian crude palm oil and palm kernel oil processing company, 8 Degrees North, has received an amount of $1.1 million to support smallholder farmers in West Africa (Ghana and Liberia) to access the growing market for organic palm oil in the United States.
Read the full article8 Degrees North receives US $1.1 million to support Organic Palm Market
The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) has awarded a $1.1 million co investment grant to 8 Degrees North, a Ghanaian palm oil processing company, to support smallholder farmers in West Africa to access the growing market for organic palm oil in the United States. The co investment project will considerably boost profits for smallholders and increase the value of exports from the region, while creating over 6,000 new jobs in Ghana and Liberia.
Read the full articleLocal business focused on sustainability
Pacha Soap Co. works with Grow Nebraska, an organization based out of Kearney who is committed to helping local small businesses improve sustainable practices, while also helping them distribute products through their website BuyNebraska.com.
Read the full articleLocal business focusing on sustainability
This week, a Hastings business is focusing on what they can do to reduce their waste and carbon footprint, and have committed to the NetZero 2030 program, vowing to be carbon-emission neutral across all levels of their business in the next 10 years. One example of this is how they invest in carbon offsets up their supply chain in Peru.
Read the full articleLiberia: A brand of health and beauty products made from oil palm grown by small-scale farmers
Palm oil, processed from the fruit of the oil palm tree, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The fact that this vegetable oil is an ingredient in so many different products in the world, has unfortunately led to the mismanagement of natural resources to establish more plantations for commercial production.
Read the full articleWhole Foods has 5 beauty trends for 2021
Whole Foods Market has its eye on clean beauty trends for the year ahead, deploying its “Trends Council” to reveal a list of five trends in concert with the retailer’s beauty week sale. The trends highlight some exclusive items from Whole Foods, too.
Read the full articleWhole Foods Is Giving You A Head Start On The Biggest Skin Trends Of 2021
Whole Foods has looked into its organic, non-GMO crystal ball and determined the biggest skin-care trends of 2021 — and the best part is they're all available to you today.
Read the full articleWhole Foods Market predicts clean beauty trends for 2021
In celebration of Whole Foods Market’s Beauty Week, experts on the grocer’s Trends Council have unveiled their annual list of top five clean beauty trends for the year: Beauty Goes Waterless, Multitasking Balms, Juiced-Up Skin Care, Upcycled Beauty and Stressed Skin, Meet Ramped-Up Remedies.
Read the full articleThe Spring 2021 Best Stuff Box Has Our Favorite Recycled Fleece Sweats
This season’s box is all about doing what feels good. We started with Richer Poorer’s sweats, which manage to be ridiculously soft and look sharp at the same time.
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Palm Done Right Launches #SudsUpSustainably Campaign
#SudsUpSustainably, a new campaign from mission-based educational platform Palm Done Right (PDR), aims to increase consumer awareness around making sustainable choices while washing hands and being mindful of the impact on communities, forests, and wildlife.
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These Are the Best-Selling Skin-Care Products to Buy at Whole Foods
Grocery shopping has become a major outing during quarantine, which is why it’s crucial to visit a store that you know is going to stock everything you need in just one stop. Whole Foods, a cult-favorite for many, not only has aisles upon aisles of health conscious and good-for-you foods, but they also have a wide variety of beauty products, many of which have all-natural labels. If your looking to revamp your vanity with products that are noteworthy for a reason, look no further than our favorite health food store.
Read the full articleNebraska soap maker raises the bar in giving back
OMAHA, Neb. — Keeping clean is nothing new for Pacha soap company in Hastings, Nebraska. The small business recently rolled out a helpful new product and they are giving soap to organizations in need for each bar of soap they sell on line. They recently gave 5,000 bars of soap to organizations serving the vulnerable.
Read the full articleChief Industries donates hand sanitizer to five Lexington child care providers
LEXINGTON — An ethanol plant helping child care providers seems like an unlikely partnership, but the COVID-19 pandemic has fostered numerous instances of community support, such as this.
Read the full articleCommunity help boosts Meals on Wheels program
Thanks to volunteers and community support, the local Meals on Wheels program offered by Senior Action Inc. has been able to continue offering hot meals to seniors in the city despite troubles presented by the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
Read the full articleThe Grand Island Independent Business briefs
HASTINGS — Mary Lanning Healthcare announced that several community businesses and residents are helping to support its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full articleMary Lanning thanks community for contributions to COVID-19 effort
As the Hastings area sees increasing clinical activity related to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, Mary Lanning Healthcare is thanking community residents, organizations and businesses for their generosity to those on the front lines fighting the outbreak.
Read the full articleAlumni help combat hand sanitizer shortage
Giving back has always been at the heart of Pacha Soap, a Hastings-based bath products manufacturing company founded by Andrew ’12 and Abi ’13 Vrbas in 2013. Each bar of artfully-crafted soap they sell, with funky names like Dirty Hippie and Feel the Beet, supports clean water initiatives, small businesses and hygiene education in developing countries around the world.
Read the full articleThe 'sourcing responsibly' trend: 5 innovators
Today, we look at five companies that are innovating in the "Sourcing Responsibly" trend within the Inventive Business Models macro force. Working to mitigate the extractive tendencies of our food system, many brands are operating with greater sourcing intention, lending new ways of conducting business and innovating business models and relationships to source their materials responsibly.
Read the full articleGovernor Ricketts Says Restrictions Will Be Phased Out Overtime
Governor Pete Ricketts said at his daily press conference that when things calm down, the restrictions put in place will be phased out overtime. They will do it in stages to make sure there is no bounce back with the virus.
Read the full articleFDA decision could make ethanol available as hand sanitizer ingredient
The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed regulations on the types of alcohol that can be used to make hand sanitizers during the shortage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, expanding the market to potentially millions of gallons made by ethanol producers.
Read the full articleLocal soap manufacturer begins producing hand sanitizer
Pacha Soap of Hastings is working to help solve the shortage of hand sanitizer brought about by the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. Pacha founder Andrew Vrbas said Thursday afternoon Mary Lanning Healthcare contacted Pacha to see if the company would make hand sanitizer.
Read the full articleFor the Love of All That Is Good, People, Please Don’t DIY Your Hand Sanitizer
We love a good DIY, but for real, you all, this is not the time for trying to save a buck on cleaning products. Earlier this week a New Jersey convenience store clerk tried to turn a quick buck by diluting industrial-strength foaming disinfectant into hand wash bottles, sold it, and four kids ended up with chemical burns. Burning kids while trying to cash in on a global viral pandemic? Not cool, convenience store clerk!
Read the full articleCoronavirus demand prompts ethanol plants to seek rule changes in resupply of hand sanitizer
As hospitals and nursing homes desperately search for hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak, federal regulators are preventing ethanol producers from providing millions of gallons of alcohol that could be transformed into the germ-killing mixture.
Read the full article'We Got This'
With a volunteer force of Bristol Station residents, Pacha Soap has started toward its goal of filling 18,000, 12-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer as part of the company’s “We Got This” initiative. Pacha is giving hand sanitizer to organizations on the front line fighting the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Pacha received assistance from local businesses such as Thomsen Oil, Kelly’s Supply, Sapp Brothers, J&M Steel and Krueger Contracting to make the hand sanitizer operation a reality.
Read the full articleLocal Soap Manufacturer begins producing hand sanitizer
Pacha Soap of Hastings is working to help solve the shortage of hand sanitizer brought about by the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. Pacha founder Andrew Vrbas said Thursday afternoon Mary Lanning Healthcare contacted Pacha to see if the company would make hand sanitizer.
Read the full article‘Sleep Supporters’ Are the Next Big Thing in Beauty, Here's Why
You’ve heard of beauty sleep (and have tried more than a few tricks to achieve it). But the one product to help you achieve that well-rested glow may actually be in your pantry. According to a new trend report from Whole Foods, “sleep supporters” (think warm milk-like nighttime drinks, sleep-enhancing supplements and “sleep soaps”) are the next big thing for beauty in 2019.
Read the full articleWhole Foods' Annual Beauty Sale
What's better than unwinding with a warm bath? Unwinding with a warm bath spiked with this salt block, made with Brazilian purple clay, lavender essential oil, and chamomile flowers. The scent isn't the only thing that will make you rest easy: Each purchase from the brand helps fund clean-water initiatives and small-scale soap shops in developing countries.
Read the full articleSecret Room Events Is Proud to Present a Hawaiian Style Retreat in Honor of the Nominees for the 2019 Golden Globes
Open to only celebrities and media, this event will host some of today’s most unique, fashionable and luxurious companies, products and services. From trips, to Hawaii. American Luxury Tours will be gifting 7 night stays to the Nominees and special media & Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa will be gifting 2 night stay including breakfast and massages. High end jewelry, to hip and trendy baby and pet products and luxurious skin and hair care products, the Secret Room is a total pampering experience.
Read the full article10 Beauty Products Everyone Bought At Whole Foods In 2018
We can’t tell you the number of hours (or the amount of money) we’ve spent at Whole Foods Market this year and — honestly — we think it’s best if we didn’t know the exact numbers. But of all our time spent perusing the aisles of the grocery store/wellness chain, we’ve experienced very little buyer’s remorse, especially when it comes to our finds from the beauty aisle. Pacha Soap Co., Earthen, and Virtue to turn our winter-hating friends into bona-fide seasonal enthusiasts. Shop our favorites below.
Read the full articleThe Sister Project Holiday Gift Guide
We are thrilled to once again be partnering with our favorite dirty hippies over at Pacha Soap Company. Since it also happens to be the season of giving and, let’s be serious, receiving too, we are spreading some holiday cheer with the hope of inspiring you to give the gift of goodness this Christmas. Pacha Soap is a company with a mission that wholeheartedly believes in spreading goodness around the world, which means, every time you purchase a Pacha product you are giving back too! ‘Tis the season!
Read the full article15 Stocking Stuffers For Under $15
If your loved ones adore the smell of apple pie or warm apple cider, this soap is sure to please. Pacha’s bar soap has notes of fresh apples, cinnamon, cloves and citrus.
Plus, Pacha puts its profits to work supporting initiatives including clean water, hygiene education and small business opportunities.
Read the full articleGift Guide: Best Gifts For Mom
Things are really getting festive around here as we kick off the holiday season with our Holiday Gift Guides. We featured the clickable must-have gifts for kids and now it’s time to focus on the ladies! We are taking all the fuss out of holiday gifting with our easy-to -shop clickable holiday gift guide.
Read the full article19 Best-Selling Beauty Products You Can Buy at Whole Foods
Whole Foods is for many a paradise of organic produce, fancy pantry staples, and a kick-ass salad bar. And though you probably don’t think of it when you’re in the market for makeup and skin-care products, you may want to pass by the beauty aisle on your way to checkout.
But who wants to buy beauty products at the grocery store? Well, a lot of people, as it turns out. Many Whole Foods shoppers are popping makeup and shampoo into their shopping carts (literal and digital) right next to their almond milk and pints of tomatoes. We found out which ones they’re going for the most. These are 19 of the best-selling beauty products at Whole Foods. (Note, prices may vary depending on where your local Whole Foods is.)
Read the full articleCollege Trip to Peru Sparks World-Changing Nebraska Soap Business
Six years ago, Andrew Vrbas was a budget-strapped college student making soap in his college apartment. He had an idea for a business that would help change the lives of people around the world.
After just five years in business, his Pacha Soap Co™ enterprise is already doing that.
Read the full articleHEARTLAND BANK - THE PACHA COLLECTIVE
You can buy Pacha soap simply because you need a bar of soap. Some customers do just that.
But, the team at Pacha Soap Co. ™ wants you to know the rest of the story.
Pacha Soap Co. ™ produces natural soap and experiential bath products in its downtown Hastings, Nebraska, shop. It uses premium plant and essential oils; and each batch, from bars to bath soaks, is handcrafted.
Read the full articleDON'T LAUNCH A PRODUCT, BUILD A BRAND
When barriers to market entry are lower and competition is higher, building a brand—not just a product—is key to survival. Brand building done right can be the secret sauce for long-term success and a magnet for VCs. In this session, we’ll explore how brands that sit at the heart of a company become true catalysts for innovation. From connecting your offer with consumers to attracting top talent, we’ll look at how building a brand can help you shine in this crowded startup nation.
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ANDREW VRBAS
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF PACHA SOAP COMPANY
Andrew Vrbas has lived the start-up lifestyle and guided others to do the same for more than 5 years. He was inspired to found Pacha Soap Co. after volunteering as a teacher in Peru and learning about the need for sanitation education and better economic opportunities in the country. He knew soap was the answer and went on to teach himself soap making in his college dorm room to be sold at farmers markets. His passion to help led Andrew and his wife Abi to start the company, which now employs 40+ team members who handcraft premium bath products sold in 750 stores across the U.S. and Canada, including Whole Foods Market. Pacha is also a leader in social entrepreneurship and has helped over 235 entrepreneurs start their own businesses in countries like Peru and Burundi, Africa. Andrew has helped these soap makers utilize local ingredients and labor to provide sustainable careers, soap and hand washing education for their fellow countrymen.
#MakeDoSay
Startups & Brands are more than what they say, they are what they #MakeDoSay.
Download the Worksheet from the SXSW presentation featuring Maria Pazos, strategy director at Colle McVoy, and Andrew Vrbas, our founder of Pacha Soap Co. here.