FOOTWEAR W/ LESS IMPACT

m o r e (steps to reduce and reuse)

My husband still has a pair of Campers he bought probably eight years ago. Two years ago he got them resoled at a little shoe repair joint within walking distance of our apartment. Welcome to a few more years of a great pair.

While I think that's still probably the best route, finding a local business who can slap some new soles on your worn out ones to make them last, it won't have the exact sole from that exact brand of shoe--which sometimes matters a great deal (like for, say, a hiking boot or certain men's/women's dress shoes).

That's why there's Resole America. 

Pretty amazing--you mail off your shoes and they come back to you with a brand new sole that matches perfectly in a little over a week. It works with certain brands as well as categories of styles.

Here's how the math breaks down. I was told by a customer service rep that it usually costs around 40 or 50 dollars, plus shipping. So, if your pair of kicks is still in great condition except for what lies beneath and they cost you a fair amount (a good pair of boots or men's dress shoes would cost up or around 100), then you're still saving money if you resole and reuse. If they aren't looking so great and/or were cheap to begin with, it's probably not going to be a cost effective answer while albeit an eco one.

For your next footwear purchase, here are some eco-friendly options to try on for size:

Even Payless has gotten in on the action with its Zoe and Zac line made of organic  cotton and recycled rubber (and gives a dollar to the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees for Z&Z purchases) though I prefer a company that's less mainstream and more broadly planet-focused.

Simple has a history of going the distance to construct shoes with eco-soul for men, women, and kids (think hemp, think biodegradable).

J-41 has plenty to offer in the way of conscious kicks crafted for adventure.

El Naturalista makes pliable leather walking shoes with natural dyes and pays fair wages to its employees.

Patagonia is always up to something amazing; I like that you can replace the insole of some of its shoes and the recycled rubber and natural materials that abound. I mean, check out this warm winter boot, for example.

You can find a number of brands making significant environmental strides at Planet Shoes.

And good old TOMS has a line of vegan slip-ons made from recycled and vegan stuff and with the same incentive as all the rest--you buy one, someone in need gets a pair, too.

Know of any other sources for shoes that look and do good? Do share!

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