Sustainability is an easy word to use and a harder thing to do. Before we say much about ours, here is what we mean by it specifically.
The plastics
The coloured handle and sleeve on every ooak Uno are made from certified recycled plastics, including fishing nets recovered from the ocean. Fishing nets are one of the most common forms of ocean plastic by weight. They do not break down cleanly, they entangle marine life, and they persist in waterways for decades.
Turning them into something that will be used daily for years is not a perfect solution to a global problem. It is a better use of material that already exists.
The Pio and Kina holders are made from plant-based plastics: materials derived from plant feedstocks rather than petroleum. They are not biodegradable in the conventional sense, but they carry a significantly lower carbon footprint in production than standard plastics. They're also made to order, with zero waste. So everytime you request one, we get printing - right here in Wellington.
The wood
The stem of every Uno is solid hardwood: oak or walnut. Responsibly sourced means we can confirm where it comes from and that it was not harvested in a way that depletes old-growth forest.
We chose hardwood over aluminium or steel primarily because it is a more beautiful material. But solid hardwood also has a lower embodied energy than metal in most comparative analyses, and it is renewable if the forest is managed correctly.
Are you interested in an aluminium stick? Let us know! We're working on new stick designs and would love your feedback.
The foot
The rubber foot at the base of every Uno is natural rubber, derived from rubber tree sap. It is renewable, has better shock-absorbing properties than most synthetic alternatives, and is quieter on hard floors. It will also outlast most synthetic rubber feet before it needs replacing.
Longevity
The most sustainable product is the one you do not have to replace. The ooak Uno is designed to be used for years. The modular components mean that if a part wears, you replace the part rather than the whole stick. The wooden stem, maintained with occasional oiling, will outlast most owners.
The real sustainability story is not any single material choice. It is the idea that making something well, so it does not need to be thrown away, matters more than most other decisions a product company can make.
Ready to find yours? Check out the range now.
