«Conventional condoms smell acidic because they contain animal-based ingredients»
4.10.2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
Not all condoms are made without animal products. With her brand Feelgood Condoms, Martina Hammer produces vegan, environmentally friendly condoms for anyone on the hunt for alternatives.
Last year, Martina Hammer and her husband poured all their savings into their first condom order. It was a brave move for the couple, who financed their vegan brand Feelgood Condoms completely independently. Taking financial strain, mental stress and sleepless nights in their stride, they trusted their gut. The risk paid off. Today, their condoms are available in selected supermarkets and organic stores, pharmacies, drugstores and on online shops such as Galaxus.
Conventional condoms contain animal-based ingredients. I have to admit, this information’s new to me. What’s that all about?
Martina Hammer, founder and CEO: Casein is often used in condom manufacturing to make the latex smooth and flexible. It’s a milk protein that producers extract from cow’s milk through microfiltration. Although you won’t find any traces of the protein in the finished product, condoms containing it aren’t allowed to be labelled as vegan.
What about your vegan condoms?
To produce vegan condoms, we use a plant-based alternative: lupin protein.
Does that increase your manufacturing costs?
Using vegan production methods and a sustainable supply chain involves about 30 per cent higher costs compared to conventional condoms. These days, we know that higher price tags present the biggest obstacle for consumers when choosing to buy sustainable and vegan products. We were aware of that challenge when we brought our products to market, so we didn’t set our prices higher than our competitors. The knock-on effect of that is that we need to accept lower margins. However, it also means our products are affordable for young people and lower-income households.
Source: Feelgood Condoms
When you founded Feelgood Condoms in 2023, it was the first Swiss vegan-certified condom brand. But vegan condoms already existed before that. What market gap were you looking to fill?
When I was a new mum, I’d stand in the condom aisle, looking for a vegan-certified, environmentally friendly brand. Unfortunately, though, I couldn’t find anything that met my expectations. So, I decided to create my ideal condom brand. Our products are officially certified by The Vegan Society. It’s often difficult for customers to get a good grasp of all the vegan labels out there, some of which are created by manufacturers themselves. That’s why certified vegan safety was important to us.
So it’s not just about animal welfare?
We’ve tried to make our entire supply chain as sustainable as possible. For instance, we take environmental and social aspects into account when acquiring latex. Our condoms are made from 100% FSC-certified natural rubber latex. Not only that, but we also power our manufacturing process with green energy, select short transportation routes and use environmentally friendly packaging. We’ve been able to halve the amount of plastic used in our condom wrappers compared to conventional products.
Speaking of transportation, Feelgood Condoms is a Swiss brand, but your products are manufactured in Germany. Why’s that?
There hasn’t been a condom production centre in Switzerland in many years. Otherwise, we obviously would’ve chosen Switzerland as our manufacturing site. With this in mind, we opted for Germany. The good working conditions, high quality standards and short transportation routes to Switzerland are in line with our values. They also ensure we can guarantee the highest level of ethical production and sustainability. Only a few brands still make condoms in Europe. When you’re buying condoms, it’s worth checking out the country of origin.
You mentioned earlier that you’d halved the plastic content of your condom wrappers. How did you manage that?
Condom wrappers are usually made of plastic, but we went for a paper one instead. This isn’t just more sustainable, it also feels nice and reduces that annoying crackling sound when you’re opening it. Considering the state of technology right now, that’s as environmentally friendly as we can manage. Condoms are medical products, subject to strict requirements. Quality and safety have the highest priority. Fully sustainable packaging might, for example, jeopardise the robustness of the condom, meaning the expiry date couldn’t be guaranteed.
Source: Feelgood Condoms
Are vegan condoms as safe as non-vegan condoms?
Yes, they are. Vegan condoms undergo the same stringent quality tests as all other condoms. Each one is tested electronically for leaks, and to ensure perfect quality.
But you don’t have latex-free products in your vegan range?
No. Latex-free condoms made of polyisoprene or polyurethane have a petroleum base, which is out of the question for us. Our condoms are all made from natural rubber latex. Interestingly, though, many people who believe they’re allergic to latex are, in fact, sensitive to the cow’s milk protein casein. It’s casein that gives condoms that acidic latex smell. Incidentally, it’s also why our condoms don’t «stink».
But that doesn’t mean everyone with a suspected latex allergy can go ahead and use vegan condoms, does it?
No. If you really are allergic to latex, you should switch to latex-free products. On the other hand, many people think they have a latex allergy, although their symptoms are actually caused by other things. In cases like this, it’s worth clarifying the real cause.
Any future plans for the brand?
We want to get Feelgood Condoms established on the Swiss market and be seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to leading manufacturers. We’ve also recently launched a vibrator. Over time, we want to develop the brand into a comprehensive love-life brand. One that combines quality, safety, responsibility and fun for a fulfilling sex life in every phase of life. And, of course, I also want to keep setting the record straight when it comes to old-fashioned eco-warrior, vegan stereotypes. I want to show that sustainability and choosing vegan products can also be really sexy when it comes to contraception. Regardless of whether you’re a plant lover or a meat lover.
Source: Feelgood Condoms
Header image: Shutterstock
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.