Our planet is subjected to continuous stresses that make the future increasingly uncertain for the next generations. The use of plastics and polluting materials is creating irreversible damage to the environment, and the only contribution we can make is to make more informed choices.
One of the starting points is to change the way we make our purchasing decisions. In recent years, many people have started turning to greener companies and have adopted sustainability as a lifestyle.
It is all about choosing products by focusing attention on the raw materials used and the production process. Price and quality, therefore, no longer have to be the only factors determining what to buy.
This process can be triggered for every item we decide to purchase, from food to cosmetics, from clothes to footwear.
Even a simple pair of shoes can make a difference.
Choosing eco-sustainable shoes is not an end in itself. When you buy organic shoes, you become part of a virtuous circuit that has a great impact on the environment.
An eco-friendly shoe is not just for walking well. It is a product that does not harm the environment, allows the reduction of CO2 emissions, and does not add to the mountains of waste that are already invading the planet.
These are products made with natural fibers and materials, without the use of parts of animal origin. The production of organic shoes uses sustainable technology and recycled elements such as plastic and rubber to reduce pollution.
By purchasing an ecological shoe, you make a choice that safeguards nature, respects animals, and gives well-being to the body.
If you want to contribute to the well-being of the Earth, read on. You will discover why choosing an eco-sustainable shoe is a step towards change.
What are eco-sustainable shoes
Eco-sustainable and ecological shoes are produced with vegetable fibers. To be considered organic, shoes must not contain any product of animal origin.
The absence of materials of animal origin does not only concern the shoe, but also embraces all stages of production, from manufacturing to packaging.
The raw materials used to make eco-sustainable shoes are fibers of plant origin, such as organic cotton or fabrics extracted from hemp leaves. Contrary to what one might think, these fibers are extremely strong and do not wear out easily.
As an alternative to these materials, the uppers can be produced with leathers of vegetable origin, obtained from the processing of corn, pineapple, or apple peels.
To make the sole of a sustainable shoe recycled materials such as plastic or choose natural rubber are used.
Another feature of eco-sustainable footwear is how the sole and the upper are joined.
Traditional footwear is pre-formed, joined with seams or chemicals. This procedure makes disassembly difficult and, consequently, it is almost impossible to differentiate the various materials that compose them.
In organic shoes, the upper and the sole are joined by a process called vulcanization, which is based only on heat and pressure. Without glue, therefore, it is much easier to recycle the materials and reintroduce them into the production process.
Starting from the design, we choose to create a circular economy, in which the product, once its life cycle has ceased, is disassembled, reworked, and used again.
In addition to the production process, great attention is also paid to the choice of packaging.
Traditional packaging, made with plastic materials, is among the most polluting products on the market. To reduce the accumulation of waste, environmentally friendly shoes are sold in packages made with recycled cardboard.
Investing to save the planet
For some years now, consumers have been increasingly mindful to safeguarding the environment in which they live. So, even when making a purchase, one of the factors that affect the choice the most is the environmental impact of the product.
Although price and quality are always among the factors that affect the most, sensitivity to issues concerning pollution is becoming a driving factor.
Other elements that people consider before buying an item are health and safety. Compared to five years ago, therefore, the perception of how some companies are harmful to the planet is making itself felt more.
According to a recent Accenture research on shopping habits, it emerged that 83% of people believe it is important that the production process and the product are carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.
The need for environmentally friendly products also makes consumers more willing to spend more. This is in the hope that companies will adopt a more ethical behavior and produce to higher standards, responsibly.
Therefore, the need to review the production system is accentuating and spreading. Change is no longer seen as an expense or a step to be postponed. Having environmentally-friendly production policies is turning into a great growth opportunity.
Innovation and agility have become a must and over time, only those who will be able to accept this challenge will have a competitive advantage.
Consumers are evolving and companies should start taking the same direction, giving concrete answers to their needs.
Many brands are starting to use products of natural origin, to choose recycled materials and to reduce CO2 emissions. With this in mind, adopting a model based on the circular economy favors the growth of brands, doing a great favor to the environment.
The environmental impact of chemicals and plastics products
Today, people's interest is no longer just in the item they are buying. Companies are evaluated for the way they produce, for the policies they adopt, based on their mission and their ethical principles.
Consumers are also starting to feel the need for packaging materials that are less harmful to the environment. Every time we buy an item, consume something to eat, or shop at the supermarket, a large amount of plastic waste accumulates.
And this does not escape (thankfully) people's minds, who are gaining greater awareness of how products are packaged. The feeling of consumers is that the chemical industry does not communicate and is less interested in favoring a change of course towards the environment.
The production of plastics is a driving force for the chemical industries. This precludes the possibility of opening up to new types of packaging, which are environmentally friendly and less polluting. The collective perception is that it is precisely from the chemical industries that a brake on the production of plastics, one of the major global pollutants, could come.
A conversion or, simply an opening, towards materials such as paper or more environmentally friendly packaging, would increase jobs and create a huge business.
To date, the cost of these alternative materials to plastic is very high. So choosing to pack products with environmentally friendly packaging is a cost that affects companies a lot.
The hope is that the chemical industry accepts change and understands the importance of producing sustainable materials at more competitive prices. This would stimulate the adoption of a circular economy and spread its benefits.
What are the advantages of buying eco-friendly shoes?
By purchasing ecological shoes, you not only improve the life of your feet but also make a choice that has a great impact on the environment and the world in which you live.
This is a real investment in the future, as you support companies that make ethical choices, encourage producers to make less polluting items, help reduce carbon emissions, and conserve natural resources. The planet, at this moment, is in a very critical situation due to choices that have involved enormous exploitation of the available resources.
If everyone started protecting natural resources, reducing waste, or managing their consumption with greater awareness, we would give hope to future generations.
The use of recycled raw materials has a huge impact on environmental protection. Creating new products starting from waste or scraps allows you to:
- reduce waste to be sent to landfills and waste materials to be disposed of;
- conserve natural resources;
- safeguard animals;
- reduce CO2 emissions;
- save electricity;
- decrease water consumption.
Choosing eco-sustainable shoes also helps support local suppliers and the ethical market. Factors that also influence the working and living conditions of staff and communities.
When you buy ethical shoes, you also transmit an important message to those around you and the economic system. By doing so, you stimulate the birth of a market oriented towards the production, sale, and purchase of green products. So, in your small way, you activate a circuit in which the environment is safeguarded, attention to eco-sustainable products rises, companies can put greater pressure on suppliers to make eco-sustainable packaging and raw materials accessible, new jobs are created.
Wearing eco-sustainable shoes also reduces allergies, decreases sweating, and prevents the appearance of fungi.
Conclusion
Choosing eco-sustainable shoes is a gesture of great attention and awareness towards the world around us.
It is a product made with raw materials of natural origin and recycled materials that do not harm the environment and allow you to save the planet's natural resources.
ACBC's eco-friendly shoes are produced with raw materials of vegetable origin. They range from organic cotton to hemp leaves, which are resistant and long-lasting. Thanks to sustainable technology, we also use leathers of natural origin from waste from fruit and vegetable and wine companies.
The eco-leather, with which we make the uppers, are produced starting from plants of cannabis sativa, corn, pineapple leaves, apple peels, waste from wine production.
As for the soles, we have opted for recycled plastic and natural rubber.
In this way, we have reduced CO2 emissions and the production of waste. Shoes with recycled materials also save on water consumption and require less energy for production.
Our company has embraced this purpose in every aspect. The choice of eco-sustainable production affects the entire production cycle.
Even in the design phase, the idea is to look to the future. Our ecological shoes, in fact, once used, can be taken apart and recycled again. The upper and sole are attached through the vulcanization process, which does not involve the use of chemicals and seams. This facilitates the disassembly process and ensures that the materials are fed back into the production process.
In the catalog, we also have models that allow you to reduce waste. An example is the Zipshoes, the modular shoes in which the upper can be replaced once damaged.
If you want to pursue an ethical and environmentally friendly lifestyle, discover ACBC's Italian eco-sustainable shoes.