The Green House That Marley Built
With pirated images of Bob Marley raking in millions of dollars for merchandisers around the world, the Marley family has been reclaiming his name and image for the greater good with products that give back not only to the Marley family, but also to the planet. Marley Coffee (www.jamminjavacoffee.com)
To date, Rohan Marley, Bob Marley’s son with Janet Hunt, has been one of the most productive entrepreneurial Marley family members.
In 1999, he purchased a plot of land in the Jamaican Blue Mountains as the first step towards realizing his father’s dream of one day returning to farming. Then in 2007, Rohan finalized this dream by co-founding the Marley Coffee Company, which specializes in organic, fairly traded, gourmet coffee and tea products.
Unlike many other fairly traded coffee brands, Marley Coffee does not hold the fair trade certification mark. This is because the company holds itself accountable to its own ITAL product standard, so that the company can support farmers working on any size of land, including small farmers in the poorest of areas. Fair trade certification would otherwise be prohibitively expensive for these small farmers and the Marley Coffee brand is dedicated to fighting for what the company believes is pure, true and vital.
Marley Beverage Company
(www.marleysmellowmood.com / www.marleysonedrop.com)
In addition to the coffee and tea sold by Rohan’s company, the Marley family has collaborated with Viva Beverages in Southfield, MI to create the Marley Beverage Company. This company manufactures Marley’s Mellow Mood beverages, a range of natural, healthy relaxation teas and sodas, which are made using blends of natural, botanical ingredients from around the world, such as chamomile, lemon balm and valerian root. They also produce Marley’s One Drop, an all natural coffee drink, which is made using gourmet Jamaican coffee beans, considered by many to be the best coffee in the world.
House of Marley (www.thehouseofmarley.com)
The House of Marley is another company founded by Rohan on the principles of superior quality, earth-friendliness and being cause minded. The company produces bags, headphones and audio systems, which are highly stylized, fashion-conscious, and have the ability to produce impeccable sound while having been created with the safety of both the planet and the consumer in mind.
The products, named after some of Bob Marley’s most beloved songs, are made of natural, renewable, lasting resources that are sustainably sourced, organic or made from recycled materials.
For example, the Get Up Stand Up audio system is made from FSC-certified walnut and birch wood, which is responsibly harvested. The enclosure, dock and trim rings are made from recycled plastic, and the packaging for the product is made from consciously reduced amounts of pulp, recycled plastics and recycled paper.
1Love (1Love.org)
All three companies: Marley Coffee, Marley Beverage Company and House of Marley donate part of their merchandise sales to a variety of charities, one of which is 1Love.
The 1Love charity was founded by the Marley family to carry out Bob Marley’s vision of “creating a united, caring and hopeful global community”[i]. 1Love focuses on the youth, the planet and on peace through influence and action, and aims to inspire acts of kindness, love and community in Bob Marley fans. 100% of the money raised by the 1Love charity goes to its partners, which include Save The Children, Every Mother Counts, Charity: Water and the Bob Marley Foundation.
In addition to working with monetary contributions, 1Love also connects like-minded individuals trying to make a difference in the world, no matter how small, through social media campaigns.
Ziggy Marley Organics (www.ziggymarleyorganics.com)
Not to be outshined by his half-brother Rohan, Ziggy Marley has also created a line of products that hold themselves to a planet friendly standard.
His personal brand is called Ziggy Marley Organics and his products are USDA certified organic. The line sells flavored coconut oil and roasted hemp seeds, which are labeled as GMO free.
Ziggy Marley has dedicated his brand to the ‘Just Label It’ campaign (justlabelit.org), which is continuing to fight to label genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food. This campaign was recently highlighted by Prop 37 in California this past presidential election, and continues to work towards having all food with GMOs labeled for the safety of consumers.
People Get Ready
As Bob Marley’s music continues to inspire people around the world, the Marley family is committed to doing the same with their 1Love charity and high quality, planet-friendly merchandise.
Their innovative products and clever marketing ideas not only keep the memory and spirit of Bob Marley alive, but also continually remind us of his vision for a world filled with love, hope and unity.
Check out 1Love.org to find out what you can do to help further Bob Marley’s vision for the world.
Photos: jamminjavacoffee.com/in-the-media/our-picture-gallery
[i] 1Love.org/aboutus2.php