We had a dream in 2017. To aid the work of those who are disadvantaged by producing valuable products. In 2018, the brand sobi.eco® was created. However, we have ended production and sales by the end of 2024.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced in 2015 and we perceived them as a cross-cutting issue that could lead to positive outcomes. Environmental and social responsibility (ESG) data is being reported by companies today. As a society, we are becoming more conscious of the need to go beyond performance, efficiency, and GDP.
When we established the sobi.eco® our goal was to help sheltered workshops and social enterprises produce value-added products from recycled materials. Our laptop cases were the most successful items we produced, selling them to over 20 countries in Europe and America during the first year alone.
After a year we had a network of distributors, supplied products for small teams and corporate brands. We started giving lectures and workshops at schools, later at various events in Europe, and even presenting at the UN HQ in New York, which was an immense honor for us.
With the year 2020 and the global pandemic associated with COVID-19, major complications came, from production, materials, and distribution. The first negative reviews arrived, dozens of packages were lost somewhere during transportation from Europe to America or Asia. Even after complaints to the carrier, we did not get a solution. It cost us a lot of energy and other costs.
After the pandemic and the measures associated with it, came the war in Ukraine. Another blow that paralyzed normal functioning. We were concerned about the people who were suffering from the consequences of a senseless war, the innocent victims and survivors who were seeking compassion and safety.
At sobi.eco®, we were unable to complete several ongoing projects during this period and were running out of energy. Our capacities also changed over the years, which brought changes, not only related to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the material crisis, but also in our personal lives. And so in 2024 we came to the conclusion that despite we love the brand sobi.eco® and invested in it many late evenings and project nights, a lot of energy and enthusiasm, we must end the production and sales in December 2024.
And what will happen next? The sobi.eco® brand is an internationally registered brand, known in various places around the world with products distributed in recent years to almost 30 countries from North America to South Asia. Customers come back to us, some already have entire collections or special editions, which we have brought from time to time with interesting collaborations. If we find a partner who would like to continue our mission, we would be happy to meet with them and discuss the possibilities. They can contact us at future@sobi.eco
Thank you for your understanding and your continued support.
Founders Alena Horváthová, Tomáš Horváth and Martin Malina
