Fashionable Eco Friendly Shoes

Have you ever stopped to consider the environmental impact of the shoes you wear? I thought I'd take a minute to share some facts with you. But before we get started I just need to say - I am by no means perfect. I probably have shoes that aren't so eco-friendly - and I have shoes that are. I say, do your best but don't stress about it. Eco friendly shoes can be cute but sometimes a girl needs a pair of fashion boots in a wacky color... it happens. :)

Depending on the company and the type of shoe, the manufacturing process can have lasting environmental impact that we can lessen by making better choices.

How many sneakers, for example, do you buy each year? I ran a marathon and had to replace my shoes at least once during the training process. And, I know I am not the only one who buys multiple pairs a year. It all adds up.

The bottom line is that sneakers are often made with either hazardous materials or non-renewable resources. Leather, for example, can be treated with hazardous chemicals. This is just one example.

There is a ton of information online. I urge you to gather some information about your favorite companies and shoe types just to get a feel for the manufacturing process and what that means in terms of the environment.

Companies Evaluate Eco Impact of Shoes

I found out that several major shoe manufacturers - including Nike and Timberland - rate the environmental impact of their shoes. They measure things like emissions given off when making the shoes, toxic chemicals used during the process, etc. If you want to view the data, you can contact the individual companies.

Companies want to show consumers that they are making an effort to lessen their carbon footprint.

Here are some ideas to help you make good "green" decisions concerning your footwear.

• Check with the manufacturer. Gather data about your favorite shoes directly from he company.
• Look for eco-friendly materials. Things like organic cotton, hemp, and other natural fibers are amongst some of the good choices.
• Recycle your shoes. Instead of throwing them away - recycle them. Companies like Nike have recycling programs.
• Buy eco friendly shoes. When I first started caring about this, the green options were rather limited. Now, there are definitely some cute choices!
  

Next time you need to get someone a gift, why not give them something that is eco friendly? Even though this page is about shoes, it doesn't need to be shoes that you give them. How about some eco friendly clothes, such as a fun t-shirt? Or what about some eco friendly makeup?

In the next section I gave some choices for eco friendly shoes for toddlers. What about give them away for a baby shower gift? This is a great way to show people that green things can be high quality and beautiful.