Yes! Ground wallets contain no animal products, nor were any components (like dyes) tested on animals. Our founders are both vegan as well (for 10+ years).

We use Piñatex because it’s the most sustainable material commercially available as an animal-leather alternative. If you have recommendations or a contact with a different materials manufacturer—get in touch! We’re interested in mushroom, cactus, and other bio-based leathers, but at the moment, these are either less ecological (Piñatex utilizes byproduct waste!) or the material is not available due to brand licensing or minimum order requirements. For instance, some big corporations pay for an exclusive license to a material to prevent competitors, even if they don’t produce a comparable product. These businesses prioritize profit over what’s best for the climate and animals—including us—and behave anti-competitively.

Ground wallets are not 100% biodegradable. However, they are significantly more sustainable than cow leather wallets, which are also not biodegradable. Animal leather, including vegetable-tanned leather, does not effectively biodegrade because the tanning process stabilizes the proteins in the hide, making them resistant to microbial breakdown. Ground wallets utilize agricultural waste, recycled materials, and renewable resources. This process reduces environmental impact and promotes a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather production, which is resource-intensive and polluting. However, we are actively working towards biodegradability (we wish YKK still offered their biodegradable zipper line). If you have a materials tip, please contact us.

We ship globally! Shipping is calculated at checkout and varies by destination. If for whatever reason our local courier refuses or is unable to ship a package to your country, we will refund your order in full. Please note that we are not responsible for customs, tariffs, and duties charges that you might encounter. For instance, if you live in the European Union, you will likely need to pay a Value Added Tax (VAT) and customs handling fee (~5–6%) in order to receive your order. We recommend using a tool like SimplyDuty to calculate your estimated international import costs, which vary wildly by country.

In short, we will be. Everything we do from our operations to the products themselves qualifies us for these certifications and labels right now, but sadly, they come at a literal cost. Having these certifications costs thousands of dollars, which we simply would rather invest in the brand, our partners, our mission, and in reducing the cost of the goods to compete with less-ethical mainstream products. We absolutely support these organizations and everything they do, but at this early stage, we can’t justify going into debt for these literal stamps of approval.

Longer than you’d think. Here’s a photo of the original prototype we’ve been using daily for five years. As you can see, it patinas like any other leather wallet, while maintaining its structure and functionality thanks to the durability of the high-quality materials.