Veja 'Volley' Trainers Review
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Trainers that help fight against deforestation? It seems like a bizarre claim. How could this size six green and white trainer, we wondered -- which looks so similar to other classic 70s styles from Puma and Green Flash -- possibly be good for the planet?
But this is no ordinary shoe. First you've got its unique sole, made with latex from the Amazon jungle -- the only place on earth where heveas (wild latex trees) grow naturally. A Fairtrade certification for rubber does not yet exist, but Veja rubber is bought according to fair trade principles from a cooperative of rubber tappers who are paid twice as much as the global market price. Producers are able to live on their harvest, which prevents them from being tempted by the financial opportunities of land clearing. Using this wild latex theoretically increases the value of the forest and helps fight against deforestation -- surely a reason to commend the Veja crew.
On top of this people- and planet-friendly sole is the canvas shoe itself, made from organic cotton sourced from a co-operative of small producers in Taua, in northeast Brazil. Again, producers are paid twice as much as the global market price and Veja has long-term commitments to the co-operatives. The organic cotton has been audited by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) and respects its criteria -- and is in the process of gaining Fairtrade certification.
The trainers are made in factories in south Brazil in a factory that Veja describes as "respecting workers' rights". Veja says it undertook "an independent audit by a Brazilian company, to make sure that the workers' rights and working conditions were good." Plus, Veja ships its trainers instead of using airplanes.
All in all, we're impressed, even though they're not cheap at £60. But since you're getting an ethical, eco trainer that feels good and looks good -- we love its simple but cool V-sign -- we'd gladly pay up. These are shoes to wear with pride.
Quality
Value
Ethics
Green
