A message from Edmonton Global:
It all began on the icy trails of Mount Everest. In 2005, while trekking to Everest basecamp, Kori Chilibeck met a barefoot man carrying a heavy load of Coca-Cola cans, who was being paid a meagre $0.25 USD per day. This stark contrast between the wealth of major corporations and the extreme poverty of local workers left a lasting impression on Chilibeck.
"Some of the biggest companies in the world are making money off the backs of the poorest people on the planet," Chilibeck reflected. He returned home with a question: Why couldn't a company compete with the giants, make great products, and also give back to those in need?
That was the birth of The Earth Group, a social enterprise with a unique mission. The Earth Group sells products like Earth Water and Earth Coffee and is the only company in the world with the United Nations World Food Programme label on its products.
For every product sold, a portion of the profits funds school meals and education for children in need worldwide. Since its humble beginnings with just a van and a laptop, The Earth Group has expanded its impact to more than a dozen countries, providing support for hundreds of thousands of children annually.
The company started with Earth Water, sold in its distinctive and environmentally friendly aluminum bottles. Chilibeck explored selling them in grocery stores and on campus at the University of Alberta, where he was a student. Eventually, he discovered a strong market in food service for places like hotels, restaurants, and offices.
The Earth Group's products can be found in high-profile establishments like IKEA and Hilton Hotels across multiple countries, and the company serves every major production filmed in Canada from Netflix, Paramount+, and HBO.
Learn more about how this "20-year overnight success" came about and why the Edmonton region has been a strong home base.
The "Trade Heroes" series highlights companies in the Edmonton region that have 'exportitude' — the mindset and commitment to think globally when it comes to their business.