| In a world where one individual can own up to | | | | energy use and material waste have been |
| fifty pairs of shoes, the footwear industry has | | | | reduced in their manufacturing processes. |
| begun to see the need to adopt eco-friendly | | | | Green Textiles: |
| practices. Shoe manufacturers are improving their | | | | - Recycled Wool |
| production methods to reduce the size of the | | | | - Recycled Polyester |
| carbon footprint they leave behind. However, | | | | - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) |
| recognizing that green assembly is not enough, | | | | - Organic Cotton |
| the industry has incorporated recycled and | | | | - Bamboo |
| biodegradable materials into their production of | | | | - Hemp |
| eco-friendly footwear. | | | | Recycled Textiles |
| Eco-Friendly Shoe Manufacturing | | | | Making a shoe entirely out of recycled materials is |
| In the late 19th century when factories sprung up | | | | nothing new. In 2008, Nike released its Trash Talk, |
| in the United States, domestic footwear | | | | the brand's first-ever basketball sneaker made |
| manufacturing boomed. Due to inexpensive | | | | entirely from manufacturing waste. |
| overseas production practices in recent years, | | | | Because the average textile mill consumes about |
| shoe manufacturers have largely vacated the U.S. | | | | 35 million kilowatts of electricity per hour, it is |
| However, the creation of green footwear is | | | | easy to see the benefit of reusing the materials |
| bringing some of that business back home. | | | | that were initially produced. Some green footwear |
| Less Energy, More Profit | | | | manufacturers have bypassed textiles entirely, |
| Shoe manufacturers can actually save money by | | | | using plastic bottles or old tires as main |
| going green! The following production practices are | | | | components in producing their footwear. |
| becoming more and more popular in | | | | Other Eco-Friendly Practices in the Footwear |
| manufacturing because of their ability to cut costs: | | | | Industry: Streamlining Processes, Green Packaging, |
| - Wind energy | | | | and Overstock Donations |
| - Solar energy | | | | Functioning as a successful shoe company can |
| - Waste-to-energy conversion | | | | take a toll on the environment simply, but today |
| - Energy conserving machinery | | | | manufacturers have choices and economic |
| Environmentally Friendly Materials | | | | success does not have to come at the expense |
| The use of green textiles and post-consumer | | | | of the planet. |
| materials within eco-friendly footwear | | | | Eco-friendly footwear companies are applying the |
| manufacturing has already made a significant | | | | green initiative to all aspects of their business by |
| impact on reducing the negative effects of the | | | | implementing sustainable corporate policies and |
| industry on the Earth. Around since the late | | | | green packaging methods. Boxes are being made |
| 1800's, St. Louis based Daniel Green Company is | | | | out of recycled materials and catalogs are being |
| one American shoemaker keeping pace with the | | | | printed on post-consumer paper with soy ink. |
| green times. Their women's Callie and Kenzie | | | | More and more companies are choosing to |
| slippers are made from 100% recycled wool, | | | | eliminate waste by donating overstock and |
| more eco-friendly styles are expected soon, | | | | outdated shoes to organizations round the world. |