«At first, I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees…

…then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon forest. Now I know I’m fighting for humanity.»

— Chico Mendes, is a leading activist in the struggle to protect the Amazon forest. Assassinated by landowners because of his beliefs.

Chico Mendes

Xapuri, Brazilian state of Acre, 1988

©Miranda Smith, Miranda Productions, Inc.

House of a seringueiro family

Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, Amazon, 2021

©Studio VEJA

One of the main raw materials for VEJA is Amazonian rubber.

More than 4,382 tons of Amazonian rubber have been purchased since 2004.

VEJA soles are made of 50% of Amazonian rubber.

Amazonian rubber

@ Studio VEJA

The price paid by VEJA per kilo of CVP (semi-processed rubber) is 5 times more than the market price.

In July 2025, the market price per kg of CVP (semi-processed rubber) was R$4.79.

VEJA paid a total of R$25,45 to rubber tappers.

This price includes a bonus for quality and Social and Environmental Services (PSES).

As part of Fair for Life certification, associations and cooperatives receive an additional bonus of R$0.60 per kg of CVP (semi-processed rubber) produced in 2022 to invest in development projects.

This rubber was certified in 2019 thanks to the support of VEJA to improve the living conditions of the rubber tappers and protect the Amazonian forest.

Voir en plein écran

GPS location of rubber producers

Our goal is to enhance the economic value of the forest in order to protect it.

Our rubber has been certified Fair for Life in 2019 thanks to VEJA’s support to continue improving the living conditions of rubber tappers and ensure the protection of the Amazon rainforest.

Fair for Life is a certification program supported by Ecocert. For 30 years, Ecocert has been supporting organizations through training, consulting, and certification.

See our rubber suppliers list

The “Fair for Life” standard guarantees, among other things, long-term and direct trade relationships, fair prices, good working conditions, and the prohibition of forced labor.

In 2022, 22 associations and cooperatives with which VEJA works in the Amazon rainforest were certified.

By supporting producer families, we guarantee the quality of the materials we use in our sneakers and provide them with good working and living conditions.

See our rubber producer contracts

Amazonian rubber bought by VEJA

(kg per year)