Last Friday, we had the pleasure and immense pride of being among the three finalists for the 2019 Madrid Emprende Women Entrepreneurs Award , sponsored by the Community of Madrid. Entering this competition not only motivated us to continue with more strength and enthusiasm than ever , but it also allowed us to evaluate the work we've been doing so far and gather objective data in one place . Today, we want to share this data with all of you so you can get to know us a little better .
We will start with the general context of the footwear market: a study carried out in 2016 1 estimated that on average more than 23 billion pairs of shoes are produced worldwide each year . Of those 23 billion, more than 86% are produced in Asia , making China the world's leading shoe manufacturer . Of all this mass production, more than 87% is polluting , that is, not does not take into account ecological or sustainable values.
Fortunately, we live in a time when we seem to be increasingly aware of the origin of our clothes. One in three consumers already considers the social and environmental impact when purchasing . And more than 60% want to know where they come from, how they're made, and who made them. Thanks to this new awareness, a wide variety of materials are emerging, presenting themselves as sustainable alternatives to conventional products .
'Ananas Paprika' sandals made from Piñatex, a vegetable-based leather derived from pineapple.
At Momoc the change has been gradual, but now we are very clear: from now on, every new model we release will be vegan …and sustainable, of course! We hope to continue growing, informing ourselves, and learning.
Something important to keep in mind is that when we talk about vegan clothing or footwear, it doesn't necessarily mean sustainable . Often, many of the vegan materials used are polluting—think faux leather or polyester. For this reason, it's essential for us that all materials are sustainable, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and GRS certified, and recycled whenever possible (60% of the materials we use are recycled).
Our packaging is conscious (we use organic, reusable cotton, recycled paper and cardboard, meaning 100% plastic-free packaging). As a result of all these actions, Momoc currently saves 12,000 grams of CO₂ emissions , 8,000 liters of water, and 0.02 kWh of electricity for each pair of shoes .
At Momoc, we value economic and social responsibility in the same way we value environmental responsibility. Our production is local and ethical , respecting workers' rights. All shoes are made in Elda by manufacturers who have been in the sector for more than 25 years .
Furthermore, we are committed to Km 0, which is why most of our suppliers, the manufacturer, and the warehouse are located in the same area, in Elda.
The most valuable motto of an entrepreneur is to improve what is within our reach : That is why we donate 2% of the profits to reforest and animal sanctuaries .
We want to thank you for all the support we've received following this news, but also for the support we receive daily. It encourages us to continue improving and moving forward, and gives us the little push we need when things get tough. So for all that and more:
THANK YOU!
1 Shoe magazine, year 2016
2 Consumer Survey Report by Fashion Revolution, to European Consumers, November 2018
