Innovation

From day one, Soulful Earth Herbals has focused on positively impacting the environment by creating environmentally friendly options for consumers. Roseanne Parker, Kathaleen’s mother said, “The need for organic and chemical free solutions began about 12 years ago when my grandson had a diaper rash. Kathaleen could not cure it so she researched it and came up with a formula that solved it and from that point on whenever issues would come up where people needed help she would research and formulate a solution.” Kathaleen was asked to develop an all-natural solution that would help heal the diaper rash. Although the development of the solution took time, Kathaleen figured out the correct formula which led to the healing of the rash. Eventually, Kathaleen started sharing her ointment with the natural birthing community. Kathaleen received tremendous amount of positive feedback which led to her selling the cream, which she called ‘Bohdi Balm.' The rapid success of this product resulted in Kathaleen opening the Soulful Earth Herbals store.

Kathaleen received much praise for her organic solutions by many consumers. She felt amazing because she was healing people by helping them move away from products that contained harmful chemicals. Kathaleen spends much of her time still experimenting and developing products that customers are bound to love. Soulful Earth Herbals finds many customers coming back every week just because they use organic ingredients. The innovations of these products stand behind Soulful Earth Herbals beliefs that everything comes from Mother Earth with purpose and it is our responsibility to become educated on how to use her resources without harm to the environment or ourselves.

Corporations using microbeads in soaps are harming the Great Lakes because they slip through many water treatment plants going right down our drains. These microbeads are a major part of plastic pollution harming the Great Lakes and the world's oceans. Fish think these microbeads are food which ultimately ends up hurting the fish in one way or another. Knowing this Kathaleen developed an all-natural solution that is not only healthy for the environment but also healthy for humans. In her, all natural soaps Kathaleen uses oatmeal instead of using the microbeads. Replacing the microbeads for oatmeal is a perfect example of how Soulful Earth Herbals is promoting a positive impact on life below water.

Inspiration

Soulful Earth Herbals began from a journey of connecting with nature, a passion for learning how to create personal products and making simple herbal medicines without the use of chemicals or other potentially harmful ingredients. The idea started with a connection between nature and the ability to listen to our body. In 1999 Kathaleen grew a small herb garden that sparked a desire to study more about the properties and uses of each plant. This research expanded into an interest in making medicine and tropical ointments to replace the commercial products she was currently using.

With every great idea, there is always a trial and error she made her first lip balm and was not satisfied with the outcome, but Kathaleen went back to the drawing board and fueled her interest in creating the best products. Kathaleen is a great label reader and educated herself on the ingredients found in conventional personal care products most she could not pronounce or have any idea what they are. She had the urge of breaking a product down and figuring out how to make it naturally, but still effective. Kathaleen formulates all Soulful Earth products and researches the raw materials she uses to design her products. Most of her time is spent experimenting with different ways to create new formulations when she's not running the shop. All Soulful Earth infusions are made with organic herbs, and no parabens or petrochemicals are found in any Soulful Earth products. Kathaleen started sharing her herbal diaper rash ointment with the natural birthing community through the Birth Center where she gave birth to her youngest son. Many people commented on how well the ointment worked for them so she began selling what would become known as ‘Bohdi Balm’ to more families in the natural birthing community. With this success, Soulful Earth Herbals was just starting and ready to take full effect. Kathaleen formulates and prepares an extensive line of products including handcrafted lotions, healing salves, body scrubs, bath treatments, soaps, deodorants, and more. Great pride is taken in her ability to offer you a truly natural and effective finished product.

Overall impact

Soulful Earth Herbals uses material that is less harmful and the company is always looking for new ways to be courteous of the environment and their local community. Kathaleen makes her soap with no decorative wrapping to eliminate the waste that typically comes from conventional bar soaps. Kathaleen understands how much waste is being produced and wants to decrease that waste which comes from her business and spread knowledge to local consumers to do so in their households.

Kathaleen strives to have an impact on her customers by educating them about the benefits her products have to offer. She is willing to go in depth with a client about the knowledge she has obtained through years of studying of this particular subject. The long-term effects of this innovation of using natural herbal products are that more people are switching from traditional products found in supermarkets and switching to products designed with nature in mind. Through enormous feedback and positive reviews, Kathaleen plans on expanding her shop in REO Town and continuing to spread love and peace throughout the community of Lansing.

Business benefit

Soulful Earth Herbals goes far beyond the demands that consumers expect from organic products. The company prides themselves on values that were the standard when it started back in 2005. Soulful Earth Herbals dream of a better, more sustainable world led to all of the innovations. Not only does Soulful Earth Herbals products benefit the consumers who use their products, but also the world, and its wildlife as well. The company is a leader in the push for more organic options and a better world. Soulful Earth Herbals reaches a certain market of customers who are looking to live more naturally while helping sustain a better world. When looking back thirty years from now, people will realize that Soulful Earth Herbals helped shape a better world for all.

Social and environmental benefit

The benefit of this business in society is that it keeps one of the primary ingredients used in most of her products here in Michigan and that ingredient is beeswax. Keeping one of the main components local, she is creating relationships between her business and other local businesses in the area. On the environmental aspect, all of her products are cruelty-free and are therefore not tested on animals. Organic ingredients that are used in Kathaleen’s products are grown without chemicals and pesticides, both which can pollute the water supply, air, and soil. Natural alternatives to traditional applications might not lead the charge in saving the world, but it supports the major effort.

Interview

Rosanne Parker, Employee