FeetUp takes pride in building eco-friendly yoga products to support healthy and sustainable practice.

Have you stopped to think what “sustainability” or “being sustainable” actually means?

Andrew Beattie, author of The 3 Pillars of Corporate Sustainability, offers the following definition:

"Sustainability is the capacity for our generation to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to successfully meet theirs".

In more simple terms, a sustainable practice does not sacrifice long-term vitality for short-term gain.

Not only is this great advice to consider for the physical practice of yoga, it's the core focus of FeetUp’s business model. "Good" does not mean faster growth and bigger numbers at the expense of excess waste or scorched earth. We believe that the value of a healthy business practice (or a healthy lifestyle, for that matter) far exceeds the cost it takes to embrace quality over quantity.

FeetUp uses recycled and renewable materials in all of our products.

Since the beginning, our goal is to create a product that helps people without ruining the planet. Our wood frames are made entirely by hand in our family-run factory in Romania using only FSC certified wood.

What does it mean to be FSC Certified and why is it important?

The Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible forestry that certifies forests around the world, ensuring the highest level of environmental and social standards. Products that bear the FSC mark are made with wood that comes either from FSC-certified forests or post-consumer waste. By using FSC-certified wood, FeetUp® wants to make sure that forests will continue to grow as steadily as we do.

FeetUp cushions are made from recycled foam and vegan leather.

We’re committed to using high-quality recycled products instead of cutting costs by creating wasteful material from scratch or harming animals. Next time you use your FeetUp, allow your shoulders to rest a little more comfortably knowing their supported by the most eco-friendly cushion possible.

We use minimal packaging and recycled material whenever possible.

From the shipping boxes to the paper in which each cushion is hand-wrapped to the card stock for our printed media, we’re continually sourcing as much material made from post-consumer waste as we can find.

Made in accordance to EU Standards.

Instead of outsourcing production to far away countries with dubious regulatory oversight and lower costs, we’ve invested time and money into building our own manufacturing facility from the ground up. In compliance with the highest standards of the European Union, we are fully aware and in control of every part of the production chain. From materials to human resources, we only work with the highest quality ingredients.

Through a partnership with Trees for the Future, FeetUp has planted at least one tree for every Trainer sold since day one!

Their Forest Garden Program seeds a variety of fast-growing trees and food crops over a four-year period, yielding forest powerhouses that provide farming families across six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with sustainable food sources, livestock feed, products to sell, fuel wood and a 400% increase in annual income! Check out Trees.org for more information about this amazing project.

We keep our engine finely tuned and regularly maintained.

Each FeetUp Trainer we build has passed through the hands of no less than twenty skilled artisans and craftworkers. Every FeetUp team member is treated with the same respect we have for the practice that we aim to support and the community we wish to serve… regardless of age, gender or capability. To cut down on wasted time and fuel usage, we encourage working remotely whenever possible and do our best to keep excess down to a minimum.

When it comes to sustainability, the job never ends.

FeetUp’s commitment to creating a fully sustainable company across the board is constantly refining as our production rises to meet the needs of community growth. We do our best to maintain a mindful approach to operating an international business with lofty goals to support healthy movement for generations to come.

How do you define sustainability in your life… your practice… your community? Share in the comments below!