The typical shoe has 50 components, virgin plastic, toxic glues, and is complicated to put together. All that means that the average shoe is far from eco-friendly. Fortunately, there are a number of shoemakers, large and small, who are offering plenty of eco-friendly choices.

high fashion and eco-friendly

First, let’s dispel the myth that eco-friendly shoes have to be ugly. Quite the opposite in fact. There are some selections that would make a fashionista clear out her closet. Shoemaker Terra Plana is offering up some hot heels made from vegetable tanned, non-toxic leather and a recycled memory foam lining. In addition to eco-friendly materials, these folks design the shoe to have as few pieces as possible, lightweight, and strong.

new shoes from old stuff

Old carpet padding, recycled bike inner tubes, and discarded water bottles are not what usually come to mind when you think about the materials in your shoes. But, if you’re wearing Simple Shoes, that’s just what’s between you and the street. These folks got their start in 1991. They were determined to counter the “over-hyped, over-marketed, and over-teched sneakers.” From their ethical supply chain guidelines, to their shoe boxes made from recycled paper, Simple Shoes has made it clear that they’re not green washing! And we love their tag line: Shoes for a happy planet. To the left is one of their men’s “vegan-friendly” offerings. The sneaker is made from certified organic cotton, the sole of the shoe is biodegradable, and they use water-based glue (instead of the petroleum-based glue most of the industry uses).

one shoe for me, one for you

If you haven’t heard of TOMS shoes, then perhaps you’ve been away to the jungles of Africa. Oh wait, they have TOMS shoes there too! These shoes are not only good for the planet (they are made of organic canvas and post consumer recycled plastics) but they are also great for humanity. For each shoe purchased, another TOMS gives away another pair.

big guys go green too

Of course, the big brands haven’t overlooked the chance to make some cash from eco-friendly shoe shoppers. Keds introduced their Green Label line made from organic cotton and recycled rubber last year. We’re guessing it’s not a hot seller since you can’t find it on their website unless you know what you’re looking for.

Timberland’s Earthkeepers shoes, sandals, even work boots are made from recycled PET linings, organic cotton, and leather from eco-friendly tanneries. What’s more, with their new Earthkeepers 2.0 collection, they’ve designed all the footwear to be easily disassembled and recycled when their worn out. For example, on this work boot, after you’re done with it, you’d return it to a Timberland store or mail it back to them. Then leather upper removed, cleaned and made into new footwear. In fact, 90 percent of the shoe will be recycled. Now that’s thinking things through.

wait, don’t toss those old shoes in the trash

If you’re like many American’s no doubt you have at least a few pairs of shoes that you’re not going to wear anymore. We’d like you to consider one of these shoe recycling options.

If the shoe is still good enough to wear, the best thing is to donate it to a good cause. For dress shoes, there are plenty of local organizations, such as Working Wardrobes in Southern California, collecting your old shoes. They clean them up and give them to someone who’s working on improving their life and trying to find a better job.

Other organizations collect shoes to give to the homeless, or ship them overseas to places like South America, Africa, and elsewhere. No doubt there’s a worthwhile group in your area that would love to take your usable shoes off your hands.

Of course, sometimes a shoe isn’t fit for anyone’s feet. Nike has an answer for that. Their Reuse-a-Shoe program has  recycled more than 25 million pairs of athletic shoes since 1990. At the recycling plant, old shoes become new athletic surfaces for running tracks, basketball court padding, or foam tops for tennis courts. The great thing is that they take all brands, not just their own.

The ballpoint pen was invented in 1938. In the mid-1950s the first good, cheap pens were on the market. And up to now, they’ve been far from eco-friendly. Since then, more than 100 billion disposable pens have been sold. And, while you may think most of them are tossed in the bottom of your desk drawer, they’re actually buried in landfills. Beyond the problem of  mountains discarded plastic pens, most of the ink is toxic and leaking into the landfills and groundwater. Clearly, there’s opportunity here for a green alternative. And we found a few suggestions for you if you’re looking for an eco pen.

bio-plastic and non-toxic ink

DBA in New York has created a ballpoint pen that’s not harmful to you or the planet. Their DBA 98 Pen is 98 percent biodegradable, and the only one of it’s kind. From the bio-plastic, to the non-toxic ink, to the sustainable wind-powered factory, to the packaging, this is one eco-friendly pen.

DBA 98 Biodegradable Pen from DBA on Vimeo.

The one drawback is that the DBA 98 is not cheap. A three pack will set you back $8. We’re also curious to know more about their ink and how well it works.

compostable and charitable

Another eco-friendly alternative to the virgin plastic pen is GLO Pen. This one is made from corn-based “plastic” and is also compostable. Not sure about their ink, but proceeds from each $2 pen help fund education scholarships around the world.

remarkable for their upcycling

Lastly, Rebinder’s ReMark pen also caught our eye. These are made with plant resin composed of sustainably harvested wood and organic cotton. One thing that’s different about Rebinder’s eco pen, is that when the ink is gone, they don’t want you to put it in the compost–they want you to send it back so they can make new pens out of the old. Nice! Up-cycling is good. Best of all, these pens are the most reasonably priced of the three, at 50¢ a piece.

While we haven’t actually used any these, we’re pleased to see more and more sustainable choices for everyday products such as pens. Fortunately, not all of the choices are pricey, perhaps one of these will find their way to your pen holder?

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Shopping for eco-friendly products isn’t as easy as it should be. We’ve seen disposable diapers claim to be “natural” but what does that really mean? How about those “nontoxic” cleaning supplies or the patio set with the big “sustainable” sticker on it. What do these labels mean? Which ones show us the way to green products and which ones are just greenwashing so the manufacturer can charge you more?

Good Housekeeping has a quick rundown of 11 apparently eco-friendly labels. The cheat sheet is handy because terms such as natural, don’t mean the same based on the type of product, and some don’t really mean anything. Here is a sample from the list of labels you’ve likely seen, if not purchased:

Source: Good Housekeeping

Did you realize that “nontoxic” doesn’t have any actual regulatory definition? Neither does “sustainable.” Be an educated consumer and check out the full list.

Did you know that spring is a popular time for renovations? Must be that we’ve all been cooped up in our homes all winter and are sick of the “same ole, same ole.” So, if you’re thinking about new paint, flooring, or furniture, we’d like to offer a few sustainable product suggestions for your home.

green flooring

There are quite a few choices on the market for sustainable wood floors, our favorites include cork, bamboo, or re-claimed hardwood floors from an old house. But what you may not know is that carpet can be sustainable too. Two companies who are working on environmentally friendly rugs and carpet are Shaw and FLOR.

Did you know that more than 5.6 billion pounds of carpet were discarded? The carpet industry is working on programs to encourage recycling. One of the many carpet companies who want to make sure all those tons of carpet are reused or recycled is Shaw. They have created carpets made from Nylon 6 that can be recycled repeatedly while keeping it’s aesthetic and performance properties.

We love FLOR’s modular carpet tiles–they’re creative, beautiful, and eco-friendly. FLOR’s founder is committed to sustainability and has designed the tiles from renewable and recycled content. Plus when you’re ready to update your room again in a few years, you can return your carpet tiles for recycling.

less-toxic paint

Household paint is full of harmful chemicals. It contains formaldehyde, pesticides, and other potential carcinogens. These are commonly known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. In the past, low-VOC choices have left quite a bit to be desired as far as quality is concerned. But they manufacturers have been hard at work improving the paint in response to tougher regulations and consumer demand.

In the March Consumer’s Report article on household paint, they found some top-quality low-VOC choices fared quite well. And these paints are easy to find now too. Home Depot  carries a variety of low- and no-VOC paints. Don’t forget to choose eco-friendly paint brushes and rollers too.

sustainable furniture

It’s so tempting to rush out to Ikea and pick up a new living room complete with sofa, chairs, coffee table, lamps, and doodads, for $299.99. But we all know throw-away furnishings is just another one of our planet-killing habits.

Naturally, the best option is to reuse. Check out craigslist before you head to the retail stores. I picked up a great craftsman-style entertainment, complete with glass doors and lighting for $200. You can’t beat that! While I got lucky, my piece only needed to be dusted, you may have to use a bit of imagination, elbow grease, and a trip to the fabric or paint store. A little recovering can go a long way.

Of course, if you just have to have something new, buy a piece that’s going to last and is eco-friendly. Look for sustainably-harvested wood such as bamboo, oak, maple, and others. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is a great way to spot “green” furnishings. Or find a shop that makes new pieces from reclaimed wood, like the table here from Brooklyn Farm Table. If that’s not possible, avoid pieces made with toxic foam, fabrics, and finishings. Alternatives include natural latex for cushioning and hemp or recycled PET for fabric.

Now that you’re informed: get ready, get set, decorate! We’d love for you to share links to your favorite stores with us here. We’re always looking for more eco-friendly resources.

Yes, we know, there are lots of “green” gifts out there to choose from. And we know that money is tight this year. But we think that two of our retail licensees make extra special, eco-friendly and affordable gifts you’ll be proud to give to family and friends this holiday season.

Both of these companies offer products that are made from recycled materials and can be recycled yet again! How’s that for sustainable? No green washing here. Our partners A Lot To Say and JulieApple are the real deal.

Here’s what they’re offering to kickoff the season with an extra green start…

eco-fashion with a powerful message

We’ve told you about A Lot To Say’s great t-shirts before. They’ve also added scarves, undies, umbrellas and tote bags–all made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles (and yet so incredibly soft!) and dyed with AirDye technology. They are offering their biggest sale ever with 30 percent off any purchase, of any size. The sale ends Monday, and you’ll need to use promo code: ALTS30.

long-living handbags that never stop

Julieanne Applegate’s adorable bags line just keeps expanding. I just noticed the Make It Up bag and it’s only $38! But, best of all, if you’re quick you can win a free Hardworkin Hobo bag. All you have to do is tweet about JulieApple or become a fan on Facebook. The deadline is noon ET on Tuesday. Full details are on their blog.

We’re pleased to see our partners doing so well and being part of eco-friendly businesses. Support them and a sustainable world, but be quick, the sale and give-away won’t last long.