If you’re in the market for new footwear, why not try environmentally friendly shoes. From sneakers, to flats, to heels, there’s likely to be one that’s just right for your liking. You don’t need to give up style and comfort in order to become a friend of the Earth.

When people hear the term “environmentally friendly shoes,” the first things that enter their minds are Birkenstocks or moccasins. This should not be the case, because modern eco-friendly shoes don’t sacrifice style for their lower carbon footprint.

Environmentally-friendly shoes are made of organic or recycled materials. Their linings can be made from bamboo or recycled yarn. The outer layer of the shoe may be made from hemp, organic bamboo, or any other sustainable material. Their soles are often recycled from old tires, while their laces can be made from recycled plastic.

There are several companies that manufacture environmentally-friendly shoes. These companies make a conscious effort to decrease their carbon footprint with regards to their operations, including their processing, manufacturing, and shipping activities. Even big companies are restructuring their processing methods in order to conserve energy – thus decreasing their carbon emissions.

Consumers should be well informed and should read the labels to find out whether the pair of shoes they’re considering buying are environmentally friendly. Some labels contain information about the total environmental impact of the pair. Some manufacturers have a rating system with regards to the carbon footprint a pair has. If the product is said to be organic, then it should have an USDA label. This certifies that the product was made from materials grown and was processed without any chemicals. The health of the ecosystem where the sources of materials were grown will also be considered.

Fair trade is another matter which people should consider when buying shoes. Farmers are among the worst treated professionals in the world. “Fair trade” means good working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable treatment of the environment. Fair trade also gives farmers the freedom to choose whom to trade their goods with. And with fair trade, toxic pesticides and GMOs are out of the question.

Most environment-friendly shoe manufacturers use minimal and biodegradable packaging, to keep their carbon footprint low. Some companies also donate a portion of their profits to organizations that help the environment.

You can go online and do your research to find out where you can buy green footwear. Some retail stores have entire “green lines” because of the demand for such products. Buying and using environmentally-friendly shoes is one easy way to help care for our planet.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Environmentally Friendly Shoes is a post from:

Ten Simple Steps to Greener Living

As awareness of the civilization’s impact on the environment increases, people are becoming more willing than ever before, to accept clean lifestyles. But some aren’t exactly sure where to begin.

One doesn’t have to start out with leaps and bounds.  Installing a full solar power system on one’s home or switching to a hybrid car would be great. But large steps require planning and financing.  Small steps can be taken right now.

In some cases, your choices might depend on several factors: where you live, the natural resources available to you, your lifestyle, and others. Therefore there is probably no “one-size-fits-all” solution to going green (or at least, greener).

But there are many simple things you can do to live a greener life, through your day-to-day activities, and most of these apply to just about anyone.

1. Learn more about sustainable living

This is the first and most important step in going green. You should read up on the subject of environmentalism, and how your personal carbon footprint can affect global pollution levels. There are plenty of resources available online, and you can visit your local library for books on related topics.

2. Save energy

The most effective way to cut down on your carbon emissions is to conserve on energy in your home. Install energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, turn off the lights when they aren’t in use, ensure your house is properly insulated and windows are properly sealed, and keep your energy consumption to a minimum. You will save energy and money at the same time.

3. Conserve water

Every drop of tap water you use consumes energy – for transport, filtering, and purification. It might just be water, but a lot of fossil fuel is consumed in processing it. In some places, water itself is scarce. You can turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, switch to more efficient washers and dryers, and collect rain water for use in your garden.

4. Use less fuel for transport

If a hybrid car is not an option at the moment, you can take other steps; walking or biking to work, or whenever you have to travel a short distance. If your work place is too far for a daily bicycle commute, consider using mass transit. You can carpool with a friend or coworker if that works. For long trips, consider the fuel efficiency of your different options.

5. Eat greener food

Eating is one thing everyone has in common. But did you know that eating the type of food can make an impact in the environment? The food industry contributes substantial carbon emissions in the process of shipping their products around the world. When you eat seasonal, local, and organic food, you help to conserve the environment – as well as improve your own health.

6. Buy smart

Instead of buying brand new wooden furniture for your home, you can search for good used furniture online, or even visit garage sales to find what you’re looking for. Think before making a purchase, no matter how big or small it is. Buying grocery items in bulk can save money and conserve on energy and packing materials. Also, be sure to buy high-quality products that will last for a long time and not just wind up in a landfill a year from now.

7. Shop Online

Shopping online is another good way to conserve on fuel. When you receive a purchase by post, the amount of fuel used to ship that purchase is no where near the amount of fuel you would have used to drive to a store and buy it offline. Furthermore, you can also save a considerable amount of time and money by shopping online, and many online stores offer free shipping.

8. Proper waste management

Years ago, many considered waste management to be the main environmental issue of concern. As long as you reduced, reused, and recycled, you were a friend of the environment. Things are not that simple these days, but waste conservation is still a big part of living green. It takes a lot of energy to process and dispose of waste, whether it’s recycled or dumped in a landfill. So conserving on waste is important, even if you do recycle. You should also compost your biodegradable waste materials.

9. Wear the right clothing

Your choice of clothing can make a big impact on the environment. One of the most heavily sprayed crops across the globe is cotton. Chemicals which are used as insecticides harm the environment, and harm people’s health. Fortunately, there are other alternative fabrics available in the market; such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and flax. Try to find and purchase clothing that uses these natural and nontoxic materials. Wearing such clothing is also better for your health.

10. Avoid toxins and chemicals

If you look carefully at many of the products you use every day, such as cleaning and personal care products, you might be quite surprised at the harmful chemicals they are made from. Use products made from natural and nontoxic ingredients.

They aren’t hard to find – even Amazon has an entire section dedicated to green products. This section is called Amazon Green and it includes many household, personal care, home improvement, office, clothing, and grocery items. By shopping at Amazon Green you can find nontoxic and environmentally friendly products more easily, while also saving money and conserving resources by doing your shopping online.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit How to Go Green in Your Day-to-Day Life is a post from:

How many times have you sorted through a pile of papers looking for a phone number you jotted down? Or looked, horrified, at your kids after they decided it was more fun to draw on the wall than the paper you gave them? Not to worry – now you can encourage creativity and communication with Ideapaint which lets you write, draw, or scribble directly on any number of surfaces, walls included.

With just one coat of Ideapaint, you can transform any smooth surface into a dry-erase board. The paint can coat anything from a tabletop to a refrigerator door.  Feel free to get imaginative; there are many uses for Ideapaint around the house. And the best part is that it’s both kid and adult friendly. Kids can doodle away, and parents can jot down important phone numbers, appointments, grocery lists, recipes, you name it. Families are brought together to play games, inspire creativity, or share ideas. Ideapaint is also available in a variety of colors, most of which are relatively muted except for a striking orange which could be a bright and fun choice. Ideapaint is not only more fun and flexible in its use, but is also a more sustainable product than your conventional dry-erase board.

As Ideapaint points out, they are the “most environmentally friendly dry-erase product on the market.” They eliminate the extraction of virgin materials such as steel, aluminum, resin, vinyl and wood used to manufacture conventional dry-erase or chalkboards, and they use less energy. Ideapaint is stirred where as manufactured dry-erase boards need to be baked and cured, a process that consumes a greater amount of energy. The paint is also better for air quality as it is formaldehyde-free, and once it is completely dry, does not produce any harmful gases. That said, while you’re painting, make sure to ventilate the space until the paint is completely dry. If you get tired of having a dry-erase board, or you are re-doing a room, simply paint over it and you’re done. Ideapaint helps keep dry-erase boards or chalkboards (and the raw materials they consist of) out of landfills.

Though Ideapaint has been praised for encouraging innovation and collaboration in our professional and educational systems, I think that it’s just as easy and fun to use around the house. Why not paint a patch of wall, put a frame around it and inspire your own masterpiece? Or paint the bottom of a tray and bring someone breakfast in bed with a personal note? Forget the piles of sticky notes and the scraps of paper, order a sample of Ideapaint and get creative.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Write on the Walls: Dry-Erase Boards with Ideapaint is a post from: