THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH

What THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH does

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH is a privately held German limited liability company (GmbH), registered in Reutlingen with its primary address in Dürmentingen, that designs and sells vegan sneakers and complementary socks under its own DTC brand and through wholesale channels. The company's core product is the OPEN21 sneaker, a handcrafted shoe priced at €159 per pair and produced in family-owned factories in Elche, Spain and Porto, Portugal from bio-based and recycled materials: a corn-waste BIO PU upper sourced from Northern Italy (47% corn waste), an outsole containing rice husk waste from Spanish paella farms located roughly 40 km from the sole supplier (5% rice waste, 50% Bio TPU, 45% other recycled content), organic cotton linings, and an insole co-developed with an orthopedic shoemaker that incorporates gel-based air chambers for spine relief during prolonged wear. All products are PETA-Approved Vegan, the sole supplier is Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified, and the lining fabrics are GOTS certified.

The company generates revenue through two channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via its own storefront (thericesociety.com), which ships globally from a logistics center operated by Locema GmbH in Schwerin, Germany, and a B2B wholesale channel accessible through a dedicated portal (thericesociety-b2b.com), with additional exposure via the Avocadostore sustainability marketplace. Pricing is flat and one-time (no subscription component), with sneakers at €159 and the AVY Organic Cotton Crew Socks, launched in February 2025 and produced in Portugal, priced at €16 per pair. The customer base consists of sustainability- and vegan-conscious individual consumers across Germany, Austria, the wider EU, and international markets, with no enterprise or wholesale anchor accounts disclosed.

Operationally, the company runs on a very lean team of 1–10 employees, sources 100% of its materials from European suppliers, and relies on solar-powered production (100% of sole production, at least 50% of full-shoe finishing) and a low-waste cutting technique where sole-cuttings are melted and reused. Louisa Sanchez serves as the legal representative. There is no disclosed external equity, debt, or institutional backing, and no revenue figures have been publicly reported.

Name

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH

Legal name

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH

Website

https://thericesociety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH is a privately held German company that designs and sells vegan sneakers (OPEN21) and organic crew socks made from corn waste, rice husks, and recycled materials, primarily through its own DTC e-commerce store with global shipping and a B2B wholesale portal, targeting sustainability-conscious consumers in Europe and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821), Footwear Merchant Wholesalers (42434)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB), Footwear Components & Materials (Uppers, Soles, Laces, Insoles) (CRAAACAK), Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing) (CRAMAMAK)

Keywords

• Vegan sneakers
• Sustainable footwear
• Recycled materials
• Bio-based fashion
• Organic cotton socks

Headquarters

HQ city

Reutlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of sneakers (€159) and socks (€16) through own online storefront with global shipping. One-time purchase model with no subscription component.
2. Wholesale B2B: B2B wholesale channel through dedicated portal for retail partnerships, enabling wider distribution of products through third-party retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH designs and sells vegan sneakers and organic cotton socks made from recycled, upcycled, and bio-based materials (corn leather, rice husks, organic cotton). Its flagship OPEN21 sneaker is handcrafted in family-owned factories in Spain and Portugal and retails at €159 per pair, while AVY Organic Crew Socks retail at €16 per pair. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer via thericesociety.com with worldwide shipping, with a wholesale channel for retailers.

Product overview

THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH operates an online e-commerce platform specializing in sustainable, PETA-approved vegan footwear and accessories. The core product offering consists of the OPEN21 Sneaker line (available in White, Beige/Ecru, Green/Ecru, Ecru/Orange limited edition, and Triple Black variants), handcrafted in Spain and Portugal using innovative bio-based and recycled materials including corn leather, rice husks, and organic cotton. The portfolio expanded in February 2025 with the introduction of AVY Organic Cotton Crew Socks, a complementary accessory line produced in Portugal that matches the brand's sustainability standards. All products emphasize environmental protection through upcycling and recycled materials sourced from Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sneaker OPEN21 Handcrafted vegan sneaker made in family-owned factories in Spain and Portugal, featuring a corn-leather upper (47% corn-waste BIO PU from Northern Italy), rice-husk outsoles and insoles (5% rice waste from Spanish paella farms), organic-cotton laces and lining, and a gel insole with air chambers developed with an orthopedic shoemaker for spine relief and all-day comfort. Priced at €159 per pair, available in multiple colorways and EU sizes 36-46, targeting eco-conscious and comfort-driven consumers globally.
• AVY Organic Cotton Crew Socks Organic crew socks made in Portugal from 78% certified organic cotton, 19% recycled polyamide for durability, and 3% elastan for fit. Feature moisture-wicking properties and an integrated footbed for extra support, designed to match and complement the OPEN21 sneakers. Priced at €16 per pair across sizes 35-38, 39-42, and 43-46 in multiple colorways (White/Purple, Black/White, Ecru/Black, Orange, Ecru/Beige, Ecru/Green, Ecru/Orange).

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of sole production uses solar energy; at least 50% of entire shoe production uses photovoltaic power
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Locema GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFulfillment service provider located in Schwerin, Germany. Handles logistics, warehousing, and order processing. Returns for webshop and Avocadostore orders sent to their facility. Ensures safe and prompt delivery of sneakers to customers.
• CleverReach GmbH & Co. KGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter dispatch service provider for email marketing campaigns. Stores subscriber data on servers in Germany and Ireland. Provides statistical evaluation of newsletter campaigns including open rates and click tracking.
• Amazon EU S.a r.l.supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFulfillment by Amazon service provider for order processing. Personal data transmitted to Amazon exclusively for processing online orders.
• DHL (Deutsche Post AG)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary shipping partner. DHL Go Green service used exclusively to actively reduce CO2 emissions for transportation routes. Provides email address for delivery coordination with customer consent.
• AWIN AGsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPerformance advertising network for affiliate marketing. Stores cookies on user devices to document transactions and allocate advertising success and commission billing within network.
• Google Ireland LimitedsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides Google Analytics (with Signals for cross-device tracking), Google Ads conversion tracking, and YouTube video embedding. Uses cookies for web analytics and advertising optimization.
• Hotjar LtdsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWeb analytics service providing heatmaps, click tracking, and scroll tracking to understand user behavior and optimize website for better customer experience.
• Trusted Shops GmbHsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustbadge and review platform providing Trusted Shops seal of approval and membership offers. Evaluation reminder service for post-purchase reviews.
• Pinterest Europe Ltd.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPinterest Tag conversion tracking and retargeting pixel for personalized advertising on Pinterest platform. Collects pseudonymized surfing behavior data.
• plentysystems AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationOrder processing system provider (plentymarkets) for handling online orders and backend operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nothing New: US sustainable sneaker brand using recycled materials and offering a circular take-back program. Comparable vegan sustainable sneaker DTC positioning.
• Bleed: German sustainable fashion brand producing vegan sneakers and apparel from organic and recycled materials. Closest geographic and philosophical peer in DACH market.
• Ethletic: German sustainable sneaker brand using fair-trade organic cotton and natural rubber, with vegan options. Direct geographic peer with similar ethical/sustainability positioning in DACH market.
• Allbirds: US-founded sustainable footwear brand using natural materials like merino wool, eucalyptus, and sugarcane. Comparable product category, sustainability narrative, and DTC-first business model.
• Saola: French sustainable sneaker brand producing vegan shoes from recycled materials (PET bottles, recycled rubber, cork). Comparable target market, sustainability positioning, and price point.
• Veja: French sustainable sneaker brand using recycled and bio-based materials (wild rubber, organic cotton, rice waste) with similar premium DTC positioning. Most direct competitor in the European eco-vegan sneaker segment.
• Cariuma: Brazilian-origin sustainable sneaker brand using organic cotton, sugarcane, and recycled materials. Comparable premium DTC sustainable sneaker positioning with vegan options.

Broad incumbents

• Adidas: Global athletic footwear incumbent with sustainable product lines (e.g., Futurecraft Loop, vegan Stan Smith variants). Represents the scaled competition that could absorb the sustainable niche.
• Nike: Global athletic footwear incumbent with Move to Zero sustainability initiative and vegan product offerings. Sets industry baseline for sustainable sneaker scale.

Others

• Avocadostore: German sustainable marketplace and distribution partner for Rice Society. Not a competitor but a key distribution channel and ecosystem participant in the German sustainable fashion space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thericeco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rice-society-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/the.ricesociety
• Pinterestpinterest.de/thericesociety
• TikToktiktok.com/@thericesociety

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE RICE SOCIETY GmbH