THE PROBLEM
Of the 20 billion pairs of shoes made each year, an estimated 300 million end up in landfills in the US alone. There, shoes can leak toxic chemicals and take anywhere from 40 to 1,000 years to decompose. We're just not ok with that.
That's Where We Come In
"Sustainability" is such a buzz word these days and everyone seems to be trying to get there, but we were eco-focused from day one, even before it was a trend.
“We look across the product lifecycle — from the materials to the manufacturing process to the longevity of our products and where they will end up." - Sara Irvani, Oka-B CEO
Waste is not welcome here. Used shoes sent back by customers and scrap materials from production are ground up to be recycled.
We call this "regrind" and we use it in all of our newly produced shoes, saving nearly 100 tons of scrap material from reaching landfills every year.
Our materials are something you can feel good about, too. Our bio-based material is combined with recycled material to create new shoes. Our proprietary blend is made up of approximately 40% US-grown soy.
Oka-B shoes contain 25% recycled material on average. We've made millions of shoes (and just as many friends) and we're not slowing down anytime soon.
No Waste Here
While others strive to become "zero waste" brands, we started that way! We believe it's important not to create unnecessary waste in our factory and shoe designs. We do not use glue, and any scraps that are created in manufacturing are reused and made into new products. Neat, huh?
What We're Made Of
Oka-B shoes are molded from a proprietary, recyclable material that is 45% US-grown soy by weight, making them both vegan and cruelty-free. Our materials is also BPA, latex, and phthalate free, and is made in the USA for a lower carbon footprint.
Located in Buford, Georgia, our factory allows easy distribution throughout the United States. This drastically reduces our carbon footprint since our shoes travel 93% less than the average imported shoe.
Here For The Long Haul
Our shoes last longer than those "other guys". Durability is one key for overall sustainability. Our 2-year guarantee ensures you'll keep your new shoes for longer. Typical disposable flip flops are cut out of sheets of foam that takes hundreds of years (or more) to decompose, and more often than not ends up in landfills or oceans. Yuck.
Oka-B sandals and ballet flats are super comfortable and built to last so you can enjoy them year after year.
Ready To Recycle?
The majority of shoes sold in the United States aren’t recyclable, and most that claim to be are really just shoe redistribution programs. At Oka-B, we believe in closed-loop recycling to reduce the use of virgin material and to keep old shoes from becoming environmental waste. The average pair of Oka-B shoes contains 15-25% recycled material.
If you return your well-loved and worn Oka-B shoes to our factory, we will recycle them for you and use them to make new Oka-B products or other non-apparel goods.
As a thank you from us (and from the planet), once we receive your shoes we'll email you a 15% off discount code to be used on your next Oka-B purchase.
ATTN: RECYCLING PROGRAM OKA-B
4823 ROY CARLSON BLVD.
BUFORD, GA 30518
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