Our Water-Wise Commitment For World Oceans Day 2025
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At Sneaker LAB, we’ve always believed that progress in sustainability lies in the small, conscious decisions we make every day—how we consume, what we throw away, and even how we clean our shoes. Our passion for sneaker care goes hand in hand with our passion for the planet. This World Oceans Day, we’re taking a closer look at one of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges—ocean pollution.
“World Oceans Day is a big day for Sneaker LAB and something we have always spoken about in our communications,” says Jo Farah, founder of Sneaker LAB.
“It highlights the pressing environmental issues of ocean pollution, particularly from plastic waste. As a brand deeply committed to sustainability, we believe in taking active steps to reduce our environmental footprint and protect natural ecosystems.”
“It highlights the pressing environmental issues of ocean pollution, particularly from plastic waste. As a brand deeply committed to sustainability, we believe in taking active steps to reduce our environmental footprint and protect natural ecosystems.”
From the outset, Sneaker LAB has built its ethos on responsibility—toward consumers, communities, and the environment. Our cleaning products are powered by biotechnology, designed to be both effective and environmentally gentle. We’ve always aimed to shift sneaker care from a wasteful afterthought into a conscious ritual—one that supports long-term planetary health.
“When we think about the ocean, we think about the fact that our bottles are made of recycled plastic,” Jo continues. “What could have ended in the ocean is now a Sneaker LAB bottle.” It’s a small but powerful symbol of our commitment: that sustainability underpinned how we can reimagine impact entirely, through science and design.
“When you use Sneaker LAB, you're using a product that was designed with the planet in mind”
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and support the life systems we all depend on. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic enter these vital ecosystems, breaking down into microplastics that harm marine life, disrupt food chains, and ultimately enter our bodies. This is the harrowing truth; despite the ocean being akin to the lungs of our world, in the way that it produces over half of the oxygen we breathe, we continue to degrade oceanic health through relentless plastic pollution, chemical runoff, overfishing, and warming temperatures. These actions disrupt delicate marine ecosystems, weaken the ocean’s ability to regulate climate, and endanger the very life systems we rely on.
Cleaning products—often overlooked in these conversations—play a surprisingly large role. From single-use packaging to harsh chemicals washed down our drains, traditional formulas contribute significantly to waterway pollution.
At Sneaker LAB, we’ve taken a different approach. Our cleaning products use probiotic technology, meaning they rely on beneficial bacteria to break down dirt, rather than abrasive surfactants or harmful toxins. These formulas are biodegradable and non-toxic, designed to keep both your sneakers and the environment clean. They’re also water-efficient—another crucial but often forgotten piece of the puzzle.
Cleaning products—often overlooked in these conversations—play a surprisingly large role. From single-use packaging to harsh chemicals washed down our drains, traditional formulas contribute significantly to waterway pollution.
At Sneaker LAB, we’ve taken a different approach. Our cleaning products use probiotic technology, meaning they rely on beneficial bacteria to break down dirt, rather than abrasive surfactants or harmful toxins. These formulas are biodegradable and non-toxic, designed to keep both your sneakers and the environment clean. They’re also water-efficient—another crucial but often forgotten piece of the puzzle.
“Our long-term goal is to become a truly circular brand—where everything we make, use, and return feeds into a regenerative cycle”
“Our formulas require less water to activate and rinse off, so being water-wise is intrinsic to our vision.” In short, we want to clean up the way sneaker cleaning is done.
Water is a finite resource and yet, the fashion and cleaning industries continue to use it irresponsibly. From the dyeing of textiles to the overuse of detergents, water pollution remains a massive byproduct of the way we care for our clothes and shoes. That’s why our approach is two-fold: reduce water usage at every touchpoint and ensure that the water that does interact with our products is not contaminated in the process. A truly water-wise product is one that respects the entire water cycle—from source to drain and back again.
Though our products encourage a very minimal use of water overall, studies have shown that probiotically enriched cleaning products can have positive effects on waterways. So, if our products do end up in your waterways; according to href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388833926_Biological_Cleansing_Probiotic_Strategies_for_Tackling_Contaminants_in_Water_and_Wastewater">a study by Dr. Seeta Dewali, certain strains of beneficial bacteria used in probiotic cleaners can outcompete harmful microbes even after entering wastewater systems, helping to restore microbial balance and improve overall water quality.
We’re actively exploring the future of what it means to be a sustainable brand—by reimagining the full lifecycle of a Sneaker LAB product. “We’re in the process of adding a digital arm to our products so we can be transparent about sustainability claims,” Jo shares. “We're developing a ‘product passport’—something that gives customers a clear view of the environmental impact behind the bottle in their hand.” To us, our aim is to cultivate trust, accountability, as we empower our community to make better choices. We believe that when people know more, they do better.
For us, World Oceans Day is a reflection of the values we carry year-round.
In previous years, we’ve partnered with the Sentinel Ocean Alliance, a grassroots organisation dedicated to ocean education along coastal communities. Through their Ocean Warriors program, Sentinel is building ocean stewardship among young South Africans, and we’ve proudly supported their mission through sponsorship and joining beach clean ups as a team.
“Working with Sentinel Ocean Alliance has been a pleasure and heartwarming to see the impact the organisation provides,” Jo says. “It’s these kinds of partnerships that help us stay grounded in our mission, and remind us that sustainability is a community effort.”
We see our involvement as a small part of a much bigger movement—one that includes the communities we work with, the customers who support us, and the partners who help amplify our impact.
Sneaker LAB’s mission has always been to build a brand that considers its impact at every level, and water remains central to that vision. We’re convinced that we can harness our position as a growing global brand to provide tangible solutions, and hope, for the future. Whether it’s through packaging innovations, product development, or partnerships with ecologically-focused NGOs, we are continuously learning, adapting, and striving to do better.
“Our long-term goal is to become a truly circular brand—where everything we make, use, and return feeds into a regenerative cycle,” Jo shares. “That’s the future of sustainability, and that’s where we’re headed.”
As we mark World Oceans Day, we invite our community to reflect on their role in protecting this precious resource. Today, can you choose a more sustainable product, pick up plastic on your next walk, or simply be more mindful of water use?
After all, saving our oceans begins with us.
Water is a finite resource and yet, the fashion and cleaning industries continue to use it irresponsibly. From the dyeing of textiles to the overuse of detergents, water pollution remains a massive byproduct of the way we care for our clothes and shoes. That’s why our approach is two-fold: reduce water usage at every touchpoint and ensure that the water that does interact with our products is not contaminated in the process. A truly water-wise product is one that respects the entire water cycle—from source to drain and back again.
Though our products encourage a very minimal use of water overall, studies have shown that probiotically enriched cleaning products can have positive effects on waterways. So, if our products do end up in your waterways; according to href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388833926_Biological_Cleansing_Probiotic_Strategies_for_Tackling_Contaminants_in_Water_and_Wastewater">a study by Dr. Seeta Dewali, certain strains of beneficial bacteria used in probiotic cleaners can outcompete harmful microbes even after entering wastewater systems, helping to restore microbial balance and improve overall water quality.
We’re actively exploring the future of what it means to be a sustainable brand—by reimagining the full lifecycle of a Sneaker LAB product. “We’re in the process of adding a digital arm to our products so we can be transparent about sustainability claims,” Jo shares. “We're developing a ‘product passport’—something that gives customers a clear view of the environmental impact behind the bottle in their hand.” To us, our aim is to cultivate trust, accountability, as we empower our community to make better choices. We believe that when people know more, they do better.
For us, World Oceans Day is a reflection of the values we carry year-round.
In previous years, we’ve partnered with the Sentinel Ocean Alliance, a grassroots organisation dedicated to ocean education along coastal communities. Through their Ocean Warriors program, Sentinel is building ocean stewardship among young South Africans, and we’ve proudly supported their mission through sponsorship and joining beach clean ups as a team.
“Working with Sentinel Ocean Alliance has been a pleasure and heartwarming to see the impact the organisation provides,” Jo says. “It’s these kinds of partnerships that help us stay grounded in our mission, and remind us that sustainability is a community effort.”
We see our involvement as a small part of a much bigger movement—one that includes the communities we work with, the customers who support us, and the partners who help amplify our impact.
Sneaker LAB’s mission has always been to build a brand that considers its impact at every level, and water remains central to that vision. We’re convinced that we can harness our position as a growing global brand to provide tangible solutions, and hope, for the future. Whether it’s through packaging innovations, product development, or partnerships with ecologically-focused NGOs, we are continuously learning, adapting, and striving to do better.
“Our long-term goal is to become a truly circular brand—where everything we make, use, and return feeds into a regenerative cycle,” Jo shares. “That’s the future of sustainability, and that’s where we’re headed.”
As we mark World Oceans Day, we invite our community to reflect on their role in protecting this precious resource. Today, can you choose a more sustainable product, pick up plastic on your next walk, or simply be more mindful of water use?
After all, saving our oceans begins with us.
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