Sustainability

Business We're Proud Of

Sustainable at the Source

Kyrgyz Wool

Kyrgyz wool is special. We love it because of its unique texture, its perfect color, and the way it feels on your skin when you wear it close to the body. It’s not only beautiful but also sustainable. Our wool felt is Oeko-tex certified. Our wool comes from Kyrgyz sheep that are all mulesed-free. It’s a product of a traditional way of life that has been passed down through generations – and we are honoring it every single step of the way.

Vegetable Tanned Leather

Our vegetable tanned leather is the product of plant extracts in the tanning process rather than the toxic chemicals used in conventional leather tanning. Because of this, it is better for the planet, but that’s not all—vegetable tanned leather has its own advantages too, including a greater ability to age gracefully and a unique natural patina.

The Magic of Wool Felt

Wool felt is a naturally low impact material to work with. It comes from centuries of tradition because it is so simple to create with organic materials. The key ingredients in our wool felting process are: wool, water, and vegetable based soap.

Reducing Waste

Minimal Packaging

Part of being an environmentally-conscious company is reducing every little bit of waste we can. One thing that Kyrgies thinks about a lot is how much packaging we use in delivering our products to you safely. Single pairs of Kyrgies typically mail in a paper envelope with at least 50% recycled content and water-based inks. These are the best envelopes we've found that are both made of recycled materials and durable enough to safely ship our dear Kyrgies to you.

Orders with multiple pairs of Kyrgies ship in polybags made from 100% recycled materials, at least 50% of which is post-consumer content.

Not One Gram of Wool Wasted

Wool is a great material, and our factory does not waste any of it. One of the best things about it is that it's extremely versatile. Any scrap of felt left over from making a pair of Kyrgies can be reprocessed and reused. Sometimes it's used as extra padding in our Tengries or Molded Soles. Other times it's reused as building insulation.

The Future of Fashion is Cyclical

We love to see gently loved Kyrgies find new forever homes. Treet is a great platform that facilitates the resale of lightly used apparel. Buying and selling gently used products is a great way to reduce your footprint. Please check out our Treet store here. There are also other great brands on the platform (and good deals to be had).

Sustainable Memberships

1% for the Planet

Kyrgies has been a proud member of 1% for the Planet since before we even sold our first pair of slippers in 2017. This means that we’ve donated 1% of our gross sales every year to charities working to protect the planet. We’d like to encourage you to learn more about the organization and to look for the 1% for the Planet logo on products when you consider making purchases of anything, not just slippers.

Over these years, Kyrgies has donated to such great causes as One Tree Planted and Earth Guardians. We have also been involved with the International Rescue Committee, which is not an environmental organization, but it does great work for people in need.