Since When is Formaldehyde Not Toxic!??
Healthy feet are our passion at Soft Star - and one of the ways that is manifested is on our insistence of sourcing only formaldehyde-free leather. As this is no easy task and something unique about our shoes, I was surprised the other day to run across a claim of a major soft-shoe competitor's website that their shoes are made using non-toxic leathers.
Further inquiry with their customer service revealed that their definition of "non-toxic" included leather processed with formaldehyde. Their claim is that the levels of formaldehyde in the leather are within "safe standards," but there is no safety standard for formaldehyde use in children's footwear. Also, the environmental impact of processing with formaldehyde is severe enough that even the U.S. outlawed it years ago. Not only does formaldehyde smell horrible - it can cause contact dermatitis, be absorbed transdermally (through the skin) and is a major environmental contaminant of tanneries that use this process. Personally, I would not want my child putting leather in their mouth that has formaldehyde residue in it. 99.8% of the shoes sold in the United States today are imported from countries which unfortunately have little or no regulation around the safety and environmental guidelines on leather production or usage. If you are not sure about a shoe brand, ask their customer service if the leather in the shoe is processed using formaldehyde. Many major brands that comply with the British and US safety standard BS 5665:EN71 still use formaldehyde.
Trish has been an entrepreneur, marketer and maker ever since she crushed her first lemonade stand at age five. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, she spent many summers running barefoot with her sisters. These early memories later inspired her to build a brand which embraced the joy and freedom of childhood with the health and science of minimal footwear.
Trish relishes evolving the company to grow stronger and more competitive with each passing year. She is a frequent expert panelist for both e-commerce and entrepreneurship conferences. Trish enjoys spending time with her family, dogs and ducks on their property in Oregon and loves the proximity to both surf and snow. She has a background in Engineering Physics and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
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