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When lifelong friends Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos founded Amway in 1959, they simply wanted “to do the most good for the most people.” As World War II veterans, they believed helping people was the right thing to do—and the right way to do business.
After more than 65 years, their legacy has grown into a global community that helps people live better lives. “Across 100+ countries and territories and nearly 6,000 acres of certified-organic farmland, we are 14,000+ employees and one million+ Amway Business Owners (ABOs) strong,” said Will Templeton, Director, Amway Brand. “Each of us believes we have a responsibility to use our talents to make the world a better place by caring for the communities where we do business—and finding joy and hope in supporting them.”
Amway’s enduring efforts to affect positive change have impacted the world over. For these reasons, DSN is pleased to name Amway as the winner of the Bravo Global Good Award, which recognizes companies that take a proactive approach to environmental, philanthropic and social responsibility issues.
For the Planet
Amway’s commitment to doing good environmentally can be boiled down to one word: sustainability. As a large-scale manufacturer and distributer of nutrition, beauty, personal care and home products, Amway’s commitment to environmental sustainability is trifold, starting with plants as a foundational element of its product creation.
“We see sustainability as an opportunity instead of an obligation,” Will explained. “It’s part of who we are—and we’re determined to find ways to keep reducing our footprint. Amway owns and operates certified organic farms in the US, Mexico and Brazil, where we grow and harvest plants using sustainable, regenerative farming methods. From building up healthy soil to increasing biodiversity and conserving water, we seek ways to be rebuild and restore the planet.”
Amway also focuses on sustainable product choices, designing formulas and packaging with consciously chosen ingredients, reduced packaging waste and increased recycled content. They help enforce and advance their sustainability progression with a strong commitment to tracing key ingredients and every step of product creation, giving customers transparency into their products and the information they deserve to make informed purchasing decisions.
The third tier of Amway’s sustainability initiative focuses on operations—from their offices to their manufacturing facilities. “Our ever-evolving approach to operations focuses on reduction—specifically in emissions, water and energy,” Will said. “By intentionally cultivating green practices, we aim to preserve nature while reducing waste.”
For the People
When it comes to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Amway focuses on three target areas: health and wellbeing, empowerment and engagement. These categories help the Amway team identify strategic opportunities to effect change across the world.
“Our focus on health and wellbeing enables us to support access to critical nutrition, health and wellness education, which helps children and families live healthier lives,” Will explained. “We then empower individuals to become agents of positive development for themselves and their families as they build a path toward long-term financial stability. Finally, we drive a culture of engagement and volunteerism that helps employees and business owners connect and contribute to their communities.”
In 2024 alone, Amway contributed over $14 million dollars in corporate giving initiatives, including disaster relief, grant programs and in-kind donations around the world. Additionally, Amway employees contributed more than 29,000 hours of volunteer time to support hundreds of nonprofits globally.
For the Future
Amway’s leadership team is keenly aware that social responsibility is not simply an attitude towards being a conscientious corporate citizen—it’s defined by action. It’s a combination of supporting the planet and the people who inhabit it that makes a lasting impact, and Amway is determined to keep growing in both areas.
“While Amway is a leader in direct selling, we’re continually learning,” Will shared. “We maintain a proactive mindset toward social responsibility practices—pushing the boundaries in environmental sustainability and targeted philanthropy. It’s part of our DNA, and it’s always been that way. More than just providing quality products and business opportunities, we aim to multiply our global impact by supporting the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. We are committed to being the change for a better world, and that is our path forward. In the words of Co-Founder Rich DeVos, ‘The best is yet to come!’”
He concluded, “We gratefully accept the Bravo Global Good Award as a reflection of the progress we’ve made and a rally cry to ‘do more good’ for generations to come. We are honored to be in the company of others who create a global community of responsible citizens. Together, our impact is magnified.”
Congratulations to the entire Amway team on their Bravo Global Good Award.
From the May/June 2025 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
