Shopping ecological is quite difficult when it comes to buying shoes. Apparently nobody wonders what materials are used during fabrication and how shoes are made. Thinking about it… I can’t think of a shoe brand that’s known for their ecological philosophy.
I can’t do it but babies and children can easily put their feet in their mouth. So my first priority is to find good children shoes and slippers. My personal favorites are boots. But I don’t like large pieces of leather. So finding boots is quite a challenge.
Why do I want eco shoes?
Leather
I’m a vegetarian. I don’t want to consume animal products or at least minimize the consumption. And if I do buy leather I want to know where it’s from, how the animals have been living and how the materials are processed in the factory. And those questions can never be answered by the lady in the shop. You should try though… just for fun.
Toxic substances
With children around it’s good to have the least amount of toxic substances in the house. Thinking about that the first thing that comes to mind are the products children get in contact with directly. But doing a little research I found about other children. Children in for example Bangladesh that work in the factories where leather is processed. Leather that’s used for my shoes. Factory workers work under primitive conditions with a daily cocktail of chemicals including chromium VI. The waste flows as the river where the women wash clothes and children.
Sometimes it’s really depressing to face the hidden consequences of your own habits. Who dares should definitely look at this movie.
Fit and comfort
Image, trends and colour are often important principles for manufacturers. But why isn’t my foot the first priority? Most brands don’ty think about the consumer. I can only dream of a world where human and animal health is the starting point without having to give up on comfort. So producers become innovative!
European Eco label
Hurray! Did you know that there is an Europees Eco Label for shoes?
The purpose of this label: to reduce the level of toxic substances and volatile organic compounds, as well as producing more sustainable products.
Photo Shoes by Hanna Cuban – Magasens