As the rainy season starts, we remember about wellies or rain boots, because it’s very important to stay warm, dry and happy. We want our planet to stay happy as well. So, is it possible to go and buy any random boots and forget about it or is it necessary to do a research firstly? Why is it important to know what they are made of?

COMPOUNDS

As intelligent consumers, we did a research. It turns out that rain boots can be made from three different materials.

PVC

• the most common material used for rain boots, both kids and adults (aka vinyl)
• lighter than rubber and more affordable
• sharp and harsh at the edges, causing discomfort against skin
• less durable
• the most toxic plastic (during its manufacture; to the plant workers and to the end consumers)

Vinyl is a major environmental pollutant. When pure, vinyl is 57% chlorine. Chlorine ends up in our water, soil, etc. Also, when PVC is burned, this chlorine produces extremely toxic and persistent dioxins that ends up in soil, fish, animals, water, air, and ultimately in our bodies. According to Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, “the entire lifecycle of vinyl is nothing short of an environmental nightmare.” During its manufacture, besides carcinogenic dioxins, many other toxic substances get released into the environment, including vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, dioxins, mercury, and PCB’s, to name a few.

SYNTHETIC RUBBER

• a type of plastic made from petroleum (toxic)
• chemical, electrical, heat and lower temperature resistant
• becomes harder with time

Synthetic rubber is a type of plastic derived from petroleum. It is highly toxic.  Manufacturers use many toxic additives, including solvents, pigments, and plasticizers to name a few.  The industry is toxic to the environment, its workers, and end users.  As with all plastic, nobody ever explains what goes into its making.  

NATURAL RUBBER

• made from the sap of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) grown in rain forests (with no harm for the trees)
• flexible and naturally comfortable, moving with you
• highly durable
• becomes softer with time
• non-toxic

Natural rubber is a renewable natural resource

1. Atmospheric Air Renewal

Studies shows that rubber trees planted worldwide can remove 363,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, replacing it with 264,000 tonnes of oxygen through photosynthesis.

2. Renewable and sustainable resource

Backed by more than 75 years of hevea brasilliensis species has been bred to the most efficient source of rubber. It is planted a density of 450 trees per hectare. At the end of each lifecycle of 30 years, the trees are fell for timber and the area is replanted.

3. Biodegradability of natural rubber

Natural rubber and its products are biodegrade through a natural biological process. Incineration of products made of natural rubber does not result in harmful gas emission, unlike those made from synthetic rubber.

 

 

Turns out, your choice of rain boots can be one of the most important things of your life ;))) And we are only half-joking.

Here’s a list of sustainably made rain boots:

https://www.nokianfootwear.com/

https://eu.tretorn.com/tretorn_journal

https://www.aigle.com/uk/en/

https://www.vikingfootwearuk.com/

https://www.lechameau.com/us/

The source: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/non-toxic-rain-boots/