We were born out of a relief project that helped to rebuild livelihoods of those devastated by the
Tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004 and brought a dreadful end to 40,000 lives.
Dr. Bronner’s involvement in the aftermath to rebuild cottage industries that were thus destroyed was
the stepping-stone to establishing Serendpol in 2007, facilitating the shift of its agricultural raw materials to Fair Trade and Organic (FTO) sources.
Serendipol is the flagship of Serendiworld projects that now supply FTO raw materials to Dr.Bronner’s.
The operations commenced on an overrun, dilapidated Desiccated Coconut Mill and two shipping containers converted into office space. During the initial years, many had reservations about the sustainability of organic farming, fair trade and would tout the projected to be “another fly by night operation’’. Born from devastation & naturally resilient to challenge, we overcame many of these trials and tribulations to become one of the leading global producer’s cum exporters of FTO Virgin Coconut Oil within an incredibly short span of time.
We are located in the coconut triangle of Sri Lanka, 80 kilometers from the city of Colombo and home to a state of the art processing facility assuring high standards of hygienic and food safety practices.
All waste and by-products generated by the facility are used for various value-added applications showcasing the use of the coconut palm as a renewable resource. The coconut husks are sold and then processed into fiber for mattresses, floor mats, vehicle seats and erosion control. Coconut shells as waste are utilized in generating energy and are even sold for the production of activated carbon. The seed cake is made use of as animal feed and coconut water is sold for the production of energy drinks to numerous local exporters.
Our virgin coconut oil is one of the leading brands in both the natural and mass markets in the US.
Banana, pineapple, ginger, cinnamon and other inter crops grown between coconut trees to increase biodiversity, reduce pest pressure, and promote sequestration of CO2 into the soil.
Because crops are planted more densely, also generates additional income per acre for farmers.
Bee keeping to encourage pollination of main and inter crops and to support natural habitats.
Productive seedlings placed in between existing trees to receive sufficient sunlight.
Once seedlings are old enough to produce nuts, the neighbouring ageing trees are removed.
Produced and supplied >33 million kg of compost to our farmers at subsidized prices, spending over $450,000.
With our support, some farmers now produce their own compost on-site.
Over half of our farmers allow cattle to graze on their coconut estates—helping to convert weeds and grass into manure, stimulate growth of plant roots, and sequestration of CO2 into biomass.
Vegetative cover with a ground canopy of perennial grasses and other cover cropping species.
Mulching with weeds, leaves, coconut fronds and coconuts husks.
Adding contour drains/bunds.
Burying spongy coconut husks in pits around trees.
Some of our farms have thick canopies, high species diversity, and high biomass generation reducing soil erosion.
In such farms, we observe recycling of leaf litter, sustainability of soil fertility, reduced soil erosion, and improved food security.
Our innovative and comprehensive agroforestry project.
Ensuring traceability of product through personal, verifiable, and transparent relationships with farmers.
Maintaining organic integrity through stringent measures-e.g., GPS-monitored lorries-to avoid commingling at farm, in transit, or in storage.
To help our contract growers improve the fertility and profitability of their estates through natural methods. To be a catalyst of rural development in our host community and our entire project region-in respectful cooperation with our staff, growers and the community at large.
To conceive, develop and produce novel, high-quality value added coconut based products that demonstrate the versatility of this renewable resource. To demonstrate to customers and consumers that operating under our “organic and fair trade” mandate is compatible with the professional and profitable operation of a business.
To be the world’s foremost supplier of certified organic and fair trade coconut products, thus giving our shareholders and customers a reliable, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible source of raw material for their food and body care products.