All natural, all recyclable and all biodegradable, Feelgoodz flip flops are anything but conventional. Made from 100% natural rubber, the sandals are a breath of fresh air from the traditional petrochemical material used in flip flops, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
Thailand is one of several countries that makes Asia the world’s largest producer of natural rubber. Inspired to give back to the city of Phitsanulok, Thailand, where he once taught English, Feelgoodz CEO Kyle Berner knew that if he set up production of natural rubber sandals he could not only bring an eco-friendly product to the US market but also give back to the local Thai community. That idea developed into the Feelgoodz three part charitable mission: 1% for the Planet, 1% for the People, 1% for Phitsanulok. Truly committed to his cause, Berner emphasizes that his business goals aren’t driven by profit, “I’m not here to buy yachts. What matters to me is that I can give back to Thailand.”
Beyond his philanthropic ideals, Berner is concerned with producing an environmentally friendly product and the business of natural rubber flip flops allows him to achieve both goals. Most flip flops sold in the US are made from EVA foam because, as Berner puts it, “it’s cheap and quick [to make].” But EVA is also a man-made petrochemical that is associated with a lot of waste that can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Opting for a more environmentally friendly material, Feelgoodz is “the only brand in America that has 100% natural rubber” in its flip flops.
Natural rubber is sustainable for two reasons: the material’s inherent biodegradable qualities and the trees that it comes from. Once a rubber tree is planted, it takes about 7 years before rubber is able to be cultivated, but rubber can continue to be cultivated for another 30-40 years. When the rubber tree has reached its lifespan, the tree is cut down and where the roots are uprooted another tree is planted. As we all know, more trees means more carbon dioxide is absorbed, benefiting the environment. In Thailand, fallen rubber trees are used to make furniture, further extending the utility of the tree. Because of the cyclical nature of growing and tapping rubber trees, Berner adds that “there’s really no footprint [for natural rubber cultivation] whatsoever.” When exposed to natural elements, the rubber sandals biodegrade in about 5 years, light-years from the conventionally used EVA; once a pair of natural rubber flip flops has run its course, they won’t remain in landfills for hundreds of years to come.
When he first brought the natural rubber flip flops to the US market, Berner teamed with the environmental conscious business alliance 1% For the Planet as well as micro-lending organization Kiva in order to prove his company’s commitment to the environment and the local community in Thailand. Now he is in the beginning phases of a partnership with Ashoka, who is affiliated with both organizations. Adding up the three part charitable mission (planet, people and Phitsanulok), 3% of all Feelgoodz revenue will be donated it to Ashoka “to spur environmental, fair trade, and micro-finance programs in Thailand, and one day, globally,” says Berner.
Eventually Berner also hopes to establish a fair trade certification for natural rubber. “There are trees everywhere [in Thailand] but there aren’t enough farmers to cultivate it. This would ensure that children aren’t working the farms, that rubber farmers are paid well and it would create employment opportunities,” says Berner. Currently Feelgoodz is talking to Transfair USA to establish such a certification, but doing so isn’t simple; the biggest hurdle for a small company like Berner’s is showing that there is a big enough demand to source fair trade rubber on a large scale.
Berner’s environmental and philanthropic goals are noble, and yet what makes him a competent green businessman is his understanding that in the sustainability world, no matter what your efforts are, no one company is flawless. “We are importing, it’s not a perfect system. We’re not environmentalists, but we feel like we’re doing our part.”
To learn more about Feelgoodz and the organizations that it works with check out Feelgoodz.com.
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