As a minimal footwear maker, "walking lightly on the Earth" is not just about better joint health for our knees and ankles. Walking lightly also is about buying sustainable footwear to reduce our carbon footprint. Here are our top five considerations for making shoe purchases eco-consciously:

1. Reduce Consumption. Is this a pair I really need? Can I buy or sell secondhand?
2. Buy for Value. Quality over quantity. How many times will I wear them and how long will the shoes last? Can I repair them and/or re-sole them?
3. Look at the Ingredients. Am I confident the materials used in the shoes are body safe? Will they biodegrade?
4. Support made-to-order purchase models. Fast fashion often means flooding markets with more product than needed to encourage overconsumption. Am I buying from a company that overproduces with poor quality, low durability shoes?
5. Purchase from companies who invest in their communities. Am I buying from companies that care about labor and environmental standards?

Reduce Waste Post-Purchase

In addition to purchase considerations, there are many things we can do to reduce footwear landfill waste post-purchase. For example, by tending to the footwear we have we can extend their life. A few ways to improve the durability of your shoes is to regularly wipe your footwear clean and condition leather shoes. Keep your shoes our of hot cars or wet and dusty locations that can accelerate deterioration.

Another tip to save money and reduce your environmental impact is to repair your shoes when possible. Seeking help from a professional cobbler not only supports your local community partners but can double or triple the life of your hard-working shoes.

Even with the best intentions, we sometimes might purchase shoes that just don't suit us over time. Maybe they were too big or small, or just not working out. You can support your community and the environment by donating your shoes, trading them with someone, or selling them secondhand at consignment shops or online. Additionally, see if the manufacturer offers "fit & comfort" guarantee, like Softstar does, that seeks to repair or resell lightly worn shoes if possible.

Finally, use your voice (or pen) to ask, advocate and vote for eco-friendly regulations and take-back programs when possible. Look for shoe recycling centers, and ask for them at local stores. Some organizations and recycling centers such as gotsneakers.com and terracyle.com specialize in breaking shoes down into raw materials, and then repurposing the materials which can support you in this work.

Sources

Staikos, T., & Rahimifard, S. (2007). Post-Consumer waste management issues in the footwear industry. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part B, Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 221(2), 363–368.

Tonti, L. (2024, January 18). ‘It’s the industry’s dirty secret’: why fashion’s oversupply problem is an environmental disaster. The Guardian.

C.Elf.O Tricia

Trish has been an entrepreneur, marketer and maker ever since she crushed her first lemonade stand at age five. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, she spent many summers running barefoot with her sisters. These early memories later inspired her to build a brand which embraced the joy and freedom of childhood with the health and science of minimal footwear.

Trish relishes evolving the company to grow stronger and more competitive with each passing year. She is a frequent expert panelist for both e-commerce and entrepreneurship conferences. Trish enjoys spending time with her family, dogs and ducks on their property in Oregon and loves the proximity to both surf and snow. She has a background in Engineering Physics and an MBA from the University of Chicago.