Two Degrees

OUR MATERIALS

WHAT’S WRONG WITH SUSTAINABILITY?

We would like to ban the word "sustainability". By their very nature, companies are environmentally unsustainable. The more stuff they sell, the more resources they consume. Fashion has become one of the most resource-intensive (both natural and human) industries on earth, and its complex global supply chain has far-reaching effects that are almost impossible to quantify. It produces stupefying amounts of waste on both sides of the producer/consumer divide. Clearly, we have a long way to go in terms of making a meaningful impact on these issues.However, we believe we can do a lot better and we want to be part of working towards the solution. That is why we don't use the word "sustainability" - a vague and misused blanket term highlighting what is wrong with the industry.

PRODUCT LIFECYCLE

We prefer the term "product lifecycle". This is the approach we use to understand the environmental cost of making a product at a holistic level - from raw materials to end of life solution. We don't sensationalise or isolate. We carefully assess every step of the lifecycle and make improvements - sometimes game-changing, sometimes very small, but always important.

 

 

The product lifecycle is never finished. We keep learning, we keep evolving and our work is never done.  

TRANSPARENCY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY

We will always be honest about where we are good and where we need to improve. Our doors are always open and, if you have any questions, please get in touch.

 

OUR IMPACT ASSESSMENT

THE HIGHLIGHTS

BIO LEATHER

All of our leather is bio-degradable and tanned using on innovative bio-process free from heavy metals.

RECYCLED SOLES

We combine SBR with recycled materials including old car tyres and waste shoe outsoles.

PLANTABLE PACKAGING

Officially the world's first plantable shoe box. Made from one sheet of recycled cardboard.

 

 

THE GREATEST MATERIAL ON EARTH

WHY LEATHER?

1. Extremely durable

Leather is extremely durable. Whereas synthetics and weave based shoes can fall apart after several months, a good pair of leather shoes can last you anywhere from 3-10 years. Less stuff being made, less stuff being wasted.

2. Naturally breathable

Leather is animal hide. As a result, it has natural pores that promote breathablity in the summer but can also insulate in the winter. Sometime the old really is the new, it just works.

3. Waste product of the meat industry

Until people stop eating meat, leather will continue to be a waste product of the meat industry that will either be used or go straight to landfill. Why not use it and avoid the consumption of a new virgin material?

+ ADITIONAL BENEFITS OF OUR BIO-LEATHER

4. Hypoallergenic & kind to your skin

Our bio-tanning process (without the use of heavy metals) creates a hypoallergenic material that is is safe for your skin. So much so, that only leather tanned in this way is recommended for babies to wear.

5. Safely bio-degrades in landfill in 15 days

We have worked with one of the industry's leading pioneers to develop an ecological tanning process without the use of heavy metals which has been tested to safely bio-degade in 15 days. Compare this to the majority of leather used in footwear which is tanned using Chromium, taking +50 years to bio-degrade and can dangerously pollute ground water.

6. European sourced and always a waste product

We have worked with our partners to source our leather from European farms (primarily in Spain in Germany) with suitable grazing and ethical livestock practices. All the leather we use is 100% the waste product of the meat industry.