Patagonia Footprint

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Where Can I Buy Shoes Made Out of Recycled Materials?

It seems like these days everyone is concerned with being green – and with good reason! Whether or not you believe an environmental catastrophe due to global warming is right around the corner, there is no time like the present to start being more conscientious about the carbon footprint we are leaving on the planet. We should all get into the habit of recycling bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, clothes and other goods. Shoes are no exception. And while they may not be the first thing you think of when you hear the word “recycling”, there is no reason we should not attempt to recycle or find a new home or purpose for every pair of shoes we wear.

In addition to recycling our shoes, certain companies are proudly making their shoes out of recycled materials. Some shoe companies specialize in recycled shoes. The company Worn Again, for example, produces shoes that are made of 99 percent recycled materials. In another life, Worn Again shoes may have been part of parachutes, prison blankets, car seats, scrap leather or the lining and buttons of suit jackets. Jade Planet, another green-conscious shoe company, makes shoes recycled from materials as diverse as soda pop bottles, the cushioning from car seats and tire rubber. Other companies that are worth checking out include Simple Shoes, Vegan Essentials and Planet Shoes.

As far as more familiar brands go, Nike fabricates some of the soles of its athletic shoes (particularly the Air Jordan line) from a material known as Nike Grind rubber. This Nike Grind rubber is a recycled material made from donated and recycled Nike athletic shoes. (Check out www.nikereuseashoe.com to learn how you can donate your shoes.) Kenneth Cole offers you a 20 percent discount on a new pair of shoes if you donate your old pair of Kenneth Cole shoes to charity. Shoe donations are collected at Kenneth Cole retails stores and given to homeless people in need of decent footwear. And finally, Patagonia sells sandals with midsoles that are made of recycled EVA (20 percent) and outsoles that are made from natural latex produced by Hevea trees (70 percent). Patagonia also has a line of cork sandals that have outsoles made of 15-20 percent recycled material wrapped in cork.

Purchasing shoes made from recycled materials is an important step when it comes to keeping waste out of our landfills. Even your old, smelly running shoes can be “born again” as a beautiful pair of flip-flops or sneakers.

About the Author

Oddshoefinder.com, a free site that connects people with odd shoes with people who need odd shoes! Many people with feet of different sizes buy one pair of shoes for each shoe size and use only one shoe from each pair, leaving a closet full of unused shoes. The purpose of this site is to help you get those shoes out of your closet and put money into your pocket.

Patagonia Footprint Chronicles: Stretch Ascent Jacket Design

Patagonia Salt And Pepper

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Ceviche is seafood, which has been marinated, in citrus juice. Nobody is sure whether it originated in Peru or Ecuador but this dish is famous in Mexico and if you like Mexican food recipes you ought to taste it.

The citrus juice "cooks" the seafood because of its acidity. There are various types of ceviche, ranging from the plain and aromatic to the highly spiced. You can use various kinds of fish, such as shrimp, halibut, red snapper, tuna, and sea bass.

So how long does ceviche take to make? Depending on the type of fish being used, ceviche can be ready in five minutes or it might take three hours. Ceviche is a delicious dish and it can be served as an appetizer, snack, or entree.

Ceviche in Central and South America

In Peru, ceviche is traditionally served with corn on the cob or cold sweet potatoes. This ceviche is made with chunks of raw fish marinated in lemon juice, lime juice or bitter orange juice. Chili, sliced onion, salt and pepper are often added and maybe some garlic, chili rocoto or olive oil. This ceviche is marinated for several hours and then served at room temperature. Shark, sole, or sea bass feature in many Peruvian ceviche recipes.

In Panama, it is made with white sea bass and comes in small pastry shells. Other Panama ceviche recipes feature shrimp, squid, or octopus. Ceviche in Panama is made with onion, celery, salt, habanero pepper, and lime juice. The Ecuadorians enjoy their ceviche with thinly sliced plantains or corn nuts and they use tomato sauce and shrimps. Sometimes clams are used in Ecuador to make ceviche, as well as crab, octopus or sea bass.

Chilean ceviche recipes are made with Patagonian toothfish or halibut. Lime and grapefruit juices are used for the marinade and minced chilies and garlic are added too. Cilantro and fresh mint are other popular ingredients. Cuban ceviche is made using mahi mahi, salt, green bell pepper, allspice, habanero pepper, onion, and lime juice. Tuna and squid feature in some Cuban ceviche recipes.

Costa Rican ceviche is spiced with salt, pepper, onions, minced peppers, cilantro and lime juice. It comes with lettuce and soda crackers. Tabasco sauce and ketchup might also be served with it. Corvina, tilapia, marlin, shark, and mahi mahi are popular in Costa Rica. Hawaiian ceviche is made with shrimp, lobster or crab, lime juice, chilies, soy sauce, candlenuts and seaweed.

Ceviche Outside the Americas

Raw fish is cubed and marinated in calamansi juice or vinegar in the Philippines. Onions, garlic, tomato, peppers, and ginger are added for flavor. A lot of people do not know that ceviche is also popular in the Philippines, although the style is different from the Mexican and South American recipes because of the ginger.

Salmon, turbot, halibut, or sea bass are used to make this dish in Spain and lime juice, olive oil, and chilies add the flavor. You can always adjust the amount of chili when making ceviche. Not everyone likes it really spicy.

Mexican Ceviche

Ceviche is very popular in Mexico and it is one of the traditional Mexican foods you might see on a menu if you visit Mexico, especially in the coastal resort areas. Mexican ceviche can be made with shrimp, crab, tuna or another kind of fish and chilies, nopales, passion fruit, Tabasco, lime juice, garlic, and bell peppers might also feature in the recipes.

Fans of Mexican recipes will love the taste of traditional Mexican ceviche. Authentic Mexican recipes such as shrimp and nopales ceviche or tuna ceviche are easy to make because there is no cooking required. You simply have to follow the recipe and combine the ingredients for a perfect result every time.

MexicanFoodRecipes.org When it has to be Real Authentic Mexican Food

China Purchases Hummer

Nearly every environmentalist out there with a blog has at some point or another ranted about the GM Hummer and how horrible for the environment it is.  These boxes on wheels get about the worse fuel efficiency ever, but many people, especially Americans, continued to buy them up through 2008.  In 2009, sales have dropped more than 65%, but it looks like that won’t be the death of the Hummer.  Instead, GM, which is facing bankruptcy, has sold the brand to China.  Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. has purchased the brand and, in addition to bringing it to China, plans to sell the vehicles internationally and continue with the current U.S. marketing and sells plan.

Sichuan Tengzhong also plans on creating its own line of heavy trucks and other vehicles based on the Hummer’s off-road technology.  One of the things that the company has said it plans to do, however, is make the Hummer more fuel efficient and economical.  This is a great idea and certainly will meet with approval if it happens.

However, there are some tricky aspects to this deal.  Sichuan Tengzhong may actually end up facing that 40 percent tax that China places on all imported SUVs if it decides to import US-made Hummers.  Plus, they’re going to have to compete with Raser, another vehicle manufacturer that is working on a hybrid version of the Hummer that they say will be at least twice as efficient as the current model.

It’s very possible that Sichuan Tengzhong will achieve their goal of making a better, more efficient Hummer, but it’s also possible that they will simply increase China’s CO2 emissions.  However, China does have some very strict fuel economy laws and regulations, so the company will have to work within those regulations.

The Caboodle Corrugated Cat Habitat Provides Fun for Your Furry Friends

If you have cats, you know how crazy they can get over things like paper sacks or cardboard boxes.  In fact, sometimes it seems like a cardboard box is a much better toy than the more expensive fuzzy mice and other cat treats.  However, you can’t really leave empty boxes scattered around your home for your cats to play in. You can always buy those plastic cat houses, but most of them are not exactly environmentally friendly.  However, now there is a way to satisfy both your desire to be green and your cat’s love of cardboard boxes.

The Caboodle is a three-level cat house that is made from forty percent post-consumer recycled cardboard.  But it’s more than just a few cardboard boxes stacked together.  Instead, it features cut out holes for your cat to go in and out of, contoured grooming edges for your feline friend to rub against, and punch-out passages between the floors.  You can leave these punch-out sections intact if your cat is older and likes to sleep a lot or open them up if you’ve got kittens who love to romp.

Just because it’s made of cardboard, don’t expect the Caboodle to fall apart.  The walls are made out of extra-sturdy material, and they’re double-walled so the whole thing won’t collapse.  The Caboodle can actually hold up to almost 50 pounds without falling down, so even the largest cats can enjoy it.  Of course, there’s one thing it can’t hold up against: water.

The Caboodle sells for $29.95, and each cat play house comes with three Tumblorz, a cat toy made out of manufacturing offcuts.  If you love your cats and the environment, it’s one of the few recycled cat condos on the market.

Patagonia Fly Away Sandals

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On Location May 07 - Argentina

 

My first glimpse of cosmopolitan Santiago was flying over the partly snowcapped Chilean Andes. Upon arrival, one thing that struck me about the capital was how incredibly green and lush it is, with its beautiful purple flowered Jacarandas and abundant parks. The next thing was the heat! I had packed winter clothes with trekking on the Glaciers in mind so my first stop was to buy sandals!

Arriving in spring, I saw Chile at its best. Considering that it rains in Chile's Lake District most of the year, I felt incredibly privileged to witness the beautiful Osorno Volcano in its true glory. On route to Lake Todos los Santos, I visited Petrohue Falls with its turquoise waters crashing through narrow gorges. Completing part of the lake crossing across the Andes it felt almost strange returning back to the lovely bohemian town of Puerto Varas.

Upon meeting the owner of the picturesque log cabin Quincho, I was cordially invited to an exclusive gathering of riders at the local Chilean Rodeo. To my disbelief, I was fortunate enough to witness a truly memorable traditional pastime.

Arriving in Patagonia was like entering the Wild West. Its rugged mountains and landscape completely took my breath away. The person who coined the phrase 'to experience four seasons in one day' was more than likely in Patagonia at the time! Waking up early at my Estancia in Torres del Paine, I ventured to the window. On cue, the clouds parted and afforded me my first glimpse of the eponymous Towers

It is amazing how such a variety of plants and wildlife can survive in such harsh conditions, from Guanaco to mountain hares and of course the iconic condor! I then embarked on my first real adventure: a horseback ride that tested my limited equestrian skills. Communication was a little difficult with my horse, who didn't seem overly keen on carrying me and at times had me clinging on for dear life. The harsh Patagonian winds and my gaucho's limited English made for a memorable trip.

Crossing from Chile to Argentina, a journey of approximately 3 hours, took me to the shores of Lago Argentino, from where I transferred to the magnificent Hosteria Los Notros at the base of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Opening the curtains the following morning took my breath away. The prospect of a full days trekking on the Glacier was somewhat daunting as all I could think of was the huge chunks which yesterday I had heard crashing into the Lake Argentino. Equipped with crampons, we embarked on a truly memorable day's hiking over seemingly bottomless crevasses and icy blue pools and rivers.

From here I travelled up the Brazo Norte and Braza Upsala past icebergs, only recently split from the front of the Glacier and past the rainbows which seemed to end in the lake. Upon arrival at Estancia Cristina, I embarked upon a 4 wheel drive excursion through Lenga forests up to one of the most magnificent sights I have ever set eyes upon. Three glaciers combined into one, a fluorescent turquoise lake forming from the glacial meltwater mixing with the sediment. To top it all, as I stood there with my pumpkin soup, a condor flew over to complete the setting.

Buenos Aires was the finale of my trip, a lively, bustling city which has so much to offer. The home of tango, the Italian quarter of La Boca's streets are lined with dancers, artists and brightly coloured buildings. Attending the Carlos Gardel Tango show was a real insight into the secretive and soulful history of Tango.

About the Author

Steppes Travel specialise in holidays to Argentina, China holidays and South Africa safari.

Patagonia Essays

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why did the welsh go to patagonia?

i need to do a essay on Patagonia and why the welsh went their.i cant find anything useful on the internet any ideas?

Their aim was to settle in a place where they would be able to live and worship freely as Welsh people, and preserve their language and traditions.

see link below for a website about it

Magical physical moment before an essay~Orquesta Sinfonica de Neuquén, Patagonia,

Patagonia Catalog

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The Chicken Scratch Path: Decision Making Based On Native American Wisdom

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is the largest of its kind in the world. Every hotel in Tucson is taken over. Glamour of the biggest and most expensive gems in the world, everything that glitters under the sun. What I see when I walk in there is a slag pile, miles long and who knows how high. Besides the environmental damage, how much ill treated labor was needed to create this mess?

It is just like going into a supermarket and seeing all the meat wrapped in plastic without the visit to the slaughterhouses of Greeley Colorado, or going to the gas pump without seeing the caskets come back from Iraq. Jewelry is no different than any other commodity.

We're certainly far more eco-friendly, fair trade and responsibility minded than the average jewelry company, which is not difficult because the bar is so low. We have fair wages at home and support a Fair Trade manufacturer as a main supplier. And we run a clean shop. We have carbon offsets. We recycle. We use green energy. But it is nearly impossible to be totally green as a jeweler selling main stream, given our industry's current state.

We are not anywhere near as ecologically responsible as I would like.

How far can we push the edge and how fast can we do it?

Let's assume that the refiner and manufacturer, Hoover and Strong will take care of my precious metal needs. I have a source, then, for responsibly mined metal.

What are the obstacles? The main obstacle has to do with our resource base.

Suppose I had unlimited resources. I could purchase my own mines and stone cutting factories around the world. Then I could implement fair trade practices and environmental stewardship.

Not being able to afford the above, suppose that we started producing jewelry that had only fair trade gems and used only recycled silver?

We would have to drop our Indonesian supplier, who works on a fair trade basis. Fair trade is generally tied to high eco standards. Our guy in Indonesia tells me that most of the metal he buys is recycled, but the rest is bought on the open market. It could come from anywhere.

Then we would have to toss out close to a hundred percent of our gemstone choices. We get these from suppliers out of Jaipur, India. They meet a particular price which makes our pieces affordable to the middle class. These stones are simply not available as a fair trade item... yet.

Essentially, we would be starting a new company. Given that there is no strong market established for our perfect eco, fair trade jewelry, our chances of survival would be slim.

As I mentioned in my circle-based business article, our economy depends upon relationships that are built upon fair and equitable exchange. If there is no established structural basis for this exchange to take place, then survival is tenuous. Too much change can destroy the circle. Such a move would be irresponsible for my employees and the customers we have built a relationship with.

The one way out is to gradually begin to shift our company in the direction that we want to go.

One of my teachers, Paula Underwood,
spoke of the "Chicken Scratch Path." She would draw a diagram on a circle, like chicken feet. She explained that ultimately, every decision is a binary decision that is leading one direction or another.

Suppose you go five hundred miles, more or less toward the north east. Then you realize that you really want to be in the north west. You have to begin to chicken scratch your way over toward your idea. This is done by making small, every day decisions for the most part. Sometimes, however, you make a large decision, as we did when we dropped our manufacturing in India and Thailand. These companies did not work on a fair trade basis. This move made our hand woven chains cost between 20% and 30% more, but it was the right decision.

I spent a long time with Paula before she died. These were some of the most enjoyable, exciting times in my life. From Paula's point of view, there is no way to always be on your "true path." Life is never straight forward. Compromises are at every step. You zigzag your way, trying your best to move in the direction of, as she would say, "mainly who you want to be."

"How do you know whether you are on your true path," I asked her.

She explained that her ancestors had created a path of a certain width. She could zigzag within those edges. If she crossed them, her ancestors would let her know.

Who are my business ancestors? Patagonia? The Body Shop? Ray Anderson? They were all at the beginning of huge waves-but there are major differences, too, between what they did and what we are trying to do.

We have chicken scratched our company in the direction of our eco and labor values. But there are huge challenges to being who we want to be.

I have an idea: we could offer a fair trade jewelry line. Helen is working on a new series right now.

This morning we had a conversation that went like this:

"Why don't we make this new line totally with fair trade gemstones?" I asked. "Then it could be a totally eco-line."

"I want to offer it with tourmaline," she says. Helen loves tourmaline. We know of no fair trade tourmaline sources.

"Hmm," I say. "Well..."

"Why are we not printing our catalogs on recycled paper?" she asks.

(Let me pause here for from meta-analysis. Anyone married for a long time might recognize the logic behind this last conversational leap. Friends call it, "The Helen and Marc Show." But it is also indicative of the strength in our company. We both are passionate and we both push each other. Plus, Helen has a solid bullshit meter, which is highly calibrated for me.)

"Our sales rep at the paper company told us it could at least double the cost. That's forty thousand dollars instead of twenty. We have not even been able to afford to give raises this year. I am thinking that we can donate money for tree planting to offset our catalogs."

I do not know how these things will work out. But you see, there are difficulties every step of the way. Even simple decisions are easy for many companies, for us to become major philosophical expressions of core beliefs.

Thus, we zigzag, trying to chicken scratch our way-trying to be "mainly who we want to be."

It comes down to shifting sands: what are the compromises you are willing to tolerate? We moved to a fair trade jewelry manufacturer but I choose not to pay extra for the paper? Does that make sense?

What may be learned from this? How does a business chicken scratch their way without getting lost and without ancestors?

About the Author

Marc Choyt is President of Reflective Images, www.celticjewelry.com, a jewelry company that practices socially responsible business.Marc authors www.fairjewelry.org a movement website for consumers and jewelers supporting green and fair trade jewelry. He also originated The Circle Manifesto, www.circlemanifesto.com, a business model based on indigenous traditions.

Good Online Clothing Catalogs?

Looking for a few online clothing catalogs..

1. Outdoor/recreational clothing. (North Face, Patagonia, etc.) I already use REI.

2. College. (Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, etc.)

How about this one http://www.myoutletshopping.com which is my favorite website

Patagonia Video - Yosemite: Ground Up Perspectives

Patagonia Case

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Green Print and Packaging Materials- More Than Just ‘recycle, Reuse, Renew’- Dig Deeper!

What green printing really all about?  When we think 'green printing' the terms 'recycled', FSC Certified, and 'soy inks' come to mind, but is that all there is?  Are these things really enough?  One ton of recycled paper still consumes up to four trees, 18,000 BTU's of energy, creates up to two tons of solid waste, and creates thousands of gallons of contaminated waste-water? Certainly FSC, SFI, and PEFC are important designations and diverting pulp production from irresponsibly managed forests is critical, but at what point will we begin to tip the balance of FSC paper production versus FSC forestry growth toward the negative? 
Many packaging designers turn to soy inks to tell their story.  Soy inks have been used by offset printers for years but are they really beneficial for use on labels, tags, and packaging? (contact me for more info on the real truth behind soy inks for labels and flexible packaging.)  The point here is that print buyers, green marketers and brand owners have gotten lazy.  It’s commonplace these days to market a package with recycled paper, and include the ‘please recycle this package’ .  Most consumers simply assume that today’s packaging IS recyclable.   Brands focus on ‘recycled’ and recycling because it’s easy, cheap and everybody understands it.  What I'd like to see is brand owners, printers, and consumers focus in on the 'green issues' that are going to matter most going forward- sustainability (sourcing print and packaging from more abundant, renewable resources), and carbon footprint. 
Sustainable Paper Options vs Traditional Tree-Pulp Papers   
Tree-free papers made from rotting plant waste such as banana, papaya and coconut trees, bamboo, and bagasse are an option here.  There are a few companies that focus on tree-free paper production, and though the performance of these papers as a label/packaging material is limited in some cases they have successfully replaced tree-pulp papers. 
Stone paper made from natural chalk (calcium carbonate) is made from an abundant resource and is one of the high performing options for green printing and packaging materials with a superior sustainability story.  FiberStone™ tree-free stone paper is one of the more popular, high performing papers in this category and has been used on wide variety of printing and packaging applications including labels.
Carbon Footprint- 'What Does it Actually Take to Produce and Supply Your 'Green'/Recycled Paper?
This is the 'real' issue that brand owners and marketers need to be concerned with.    By using recycled (post consumer waste) papers we certainly preserve our most significant carbon storage resources but at what point will our forests' carbon storage capacity fail to keep up with our carbon producing activities?  Pulp production and processing of recycled fibers are the real culprits here- each requiring a significant amount of energy. This massive consumption contributes to an enormous amount of Co2 emitted into our atmosphere.  You can see how an argument can and should be made for using low carbon footprint materials (lower energy consumption) over recycled papers for printing and packaging.
Identify and Promote Your Eco-Vision Statement
The first step to creating and promoting/marketing a brand’s sustainable packaging is to create and publish a solid eco-vision.  Start by taking a look at your competitor’s websites and those of companies that have been on this path for some time.  Any eco-conscious brand will have an eco-vision and/or eco mission statement.  Your own statement should include which aspects of sustainability and environmental stewardship are important to your company.  Be specific here- it is absolutely okay to choose a specific cause such as water conservation, landfill reduction, carbon emission reduction, etc… and to leave out those that don’t fit your company or brand.
From here you’ll need to spell out your environmental/sustainability goals and how you plan to get there.  If source reduction, lean/efficient manufacturing production processes, or sourcing more eco-friendly packaging materials is part of your plan then make sure to say so.  Recent studies show that a company’s eco-vision is important to consumers.  A savvy consumer who identifies with your vision will not only purchase your product and become a loyal customer but will become an advocate for your company!
One such company that has been successful with this strategy is Patagonia.  Part of Patagonia’s eco vision involves the following statement: “We acknowledge that the wild world we love best is disappearing. That is why those of us who work here share a strong commitment to protecting undomesticated lands and waters.”  In choosing water conservation (among other issues) Patagonia has chosen a clear path and makes sure that when sourcing printing and packaging water conservation is a prime focus and part of the selection criteria.
So what’s next? You can start by educating yourself and your customers about the real threats to a cleaner planet- carbon emissions and depletion of non-renewable natural resources. Stop ‘buying into’ the oversimplified ‘recycle, reuse, renew’ mantra and dig deeper! Educate yourself and about these concerns and the options that help counteract them.  Using recycled packaging and asking consumers to ‘please recycle’ isn’t enough folks- dig deeper, learn…and focus on the right green message!

About the Author

President of Label Impressions, Inc. "America's greenest resource for labels, tags and flexible packaging." Label Impressions, Inc. is the only flexographic label printer in the US to be FSC Certified and Carbon Neutral (through non-profit Carbonfund.org). Jeff Sits on the Tag & Label Manufacturer's institute of environmental best practices and has consulted for several fortune 500 companies on green printing and packaging. Label Impressions, Inc. has also won several quality awards.

Do you know about a place that matches dazzling nature with some civilization around?

Ciao!

I'd like to get to know about some place with astonishing nature where one can live with simplicity and happiness, but that has some civilization around, in case you get ill or something like that and then you get needy of something that just civilization is able to give you.

What do you say about those places:
- Siberia
- Costa Rica
- Patagonia
- Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland)
- India

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I live in Norway. I have lived here all my life, and I'm not planning on leaving this place anytime soon. Although I am used to being surrounded by mountains, forests, fjords, lakes and just generally breathtaking nature, it never seizes to take my breath away. I love this place.

If you wanna go to the Scandinavian countries, (Sweden, Norway and Denmark,) you should have in mind that the winters can get very cold. Logically, the further north you go, the colder it'll get. What people in America, (don't know where you are from, though,) call snow storms, here in Norway we just call normal snowy weather. This winter, a place in Norway called Røros, had -40 degrees. It's quite common for it to get around -25 to -30 degrees, so you should be prepared for that if you wanna move to a Nordic country. (The Nordic countries consist of Iceland and Finland, along with Norway, Sweden and Denmark.)

Most of Norway consists of mountains, and there are gigantic fjords all along the shoreline. I'll put a good pic of it in the source(s). Sweden do have some mountains too, (as you can see in the picture), but not as much as Norway.

If you go above the arctic circle, not only will you experience the midnight sun in the summer but also polar nights in the winter. The arctic circle goes through Norway, Sweden and Finland. (More info in the source(s).) Northern lights are also very common in the Nordic countries, so you will also experience that. (Just remember that the further north you go, the bigger is the chance that you'll see some.)

There are towns of all sizes in all of the Nordic countries. I live outside a small town, in Midt-Norge. ("Middle(-of)-Norway"). The town is close to being allowed to defining itself as a 'city' but not yet. We have 2 big malls, several grocery stores, a big hospital, cinema, but still a lot of untouched nature surrounding. So you should try to stay away from the biggest cities, and rather try to find small towns that have the things you need the most. (Malls, hospitals, bus station...) If you want help you can simply just ask around in the country you wanna go to, and ask them if they have any good recommendations for you! (This goes for all the countries on your list, really!)

I wish I could help you with the other countries on your list, but to be honest I haven't traveled that much. But hopefully I've helped you on your list of Nordic countries.

Patagonia plea

Patagonia Eco Friendly

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Eco Friendly Sneakers, Tennis Shoes and Trainers - the athletic shoe alternative to save the earth

The Skynde from adidas by Stella McCartney:
The Eco Friendly Child of the Barricade V

Clothing and shoe production is damaging the planet too!

It seems that in the last few years, the environment has forced it's way into most people's consciousness from the sheer weight of bleak predictions about the implications of rapid global temperature rise.

The gas-guzzling motor car has been in the firing line for longer, but now there is a growing awareness that everything we buy has a greater or lesser effect on the well-being of the environment, our fellow human beings and animals.

The clothing and shoe industries have long escaped any negative scrutiny, but recently it's become clear that their environmental impact is as damaging as any other. Many chemicals traditionally employed to treat and dye fabrics are carcinogenic and serious pollutants if allowed to escape to rivers and streams. This equally applies to the chemicals used to tan leather in shoe uppers and the petroleum based rubber used in the soles.

Consumerism and the move to the east

The problem has worsened with the gradual shift in production from the relatively controlled, (but costly), working environments in the West, to the low labor cost 'sweat shops' of some Asian countries. Here, human and animal resources can be exploited beyond the reach of the umbrella of compassionate and humanitarian health and safety legislation many of us take for granted.

The explosion in 'consumerism' in recent decades has fueled these changes as people, quite reasonably, want to enjoy the benefits of as many competitively priced products as possible. For example, if you're a woman tennis player, and you see your favourite tennis player, Ana Ivanovic wearing adidas' Barricade V women's tennis shoe on television, and your friend at the tennis club buys a pair, you are naturally inclined to want to buy a pair for yourself, (at the best possible price), to keep up.

The enormous multi-national companies catering to this demand know that to stay in business they must compete in every area, not least price. They must be keenly aware of their rival's like-for-like athletic shoe pricing.

The 'Big Boys' respond to heightened public awareness

However, with the sudden leap in the population's awareness of ecological issues, 'normal' business considerations for these companies have subtly changed, as evidenced by the recent almost simultaneous declarations by the 'big two' sports apparel manufacturers, adidas and Nike, that they are ceasing to source leather and other raw materials from any country where any collateral damage has been done to the rain forests. There's no point in designing, producing and marketing a fantastic sneaker at a great price, only to throw away many of these 'positives' by being associated with practises people now perceive as seriously detrimental to the planet and eventually even their own health and well-being.

To better align themselves with public opinion, both adidas and Nike now produce athletic shoes with eco-friendly considerations. The pressures have probably been slightly greater on adidas as it's a German based company, and Germany has one of the most powerful green movements in the world. In fact Germany's 'Blue Angel', formed in 1978 and composed of a group of 13 people representing diverse views across the media, industry, unions and the environment, was the world's first body that attempted to label products and services according to their eco-friendly, (or otherwise), content.

'Reuse a shoe' to recycle, reform and replace

However, Nike were the first off the mark with their 'Reuse a shoe' program in 1993. They collect old worn-out athletic shoes to disassemble and then to recycle and reform into a material suitable for the construction of running tracks, court surfaces and playgrounds.

They also manufacture the 'Trash Talk' shoe composed of shop floor off-cuts, leather and synthetic leather compounds and shoe soles composed of reformed rubber from recycled old athletic shoes.

The Stan Smith Grun Shoe, (German for green), is one of adidas' contributions to the growing demand for environmentally friendly shoes. It is a much greener version of an already successful mass-produced shoe.

How Green Can You Be?

Unfortunately, for any manufacturer aiming to be 'totally' eco friendly in their shoe production, the nature of the process is very complex and a wholly 'green' shoe is unrealistic for most, as the 'natural' alternatives would make the venture uneconomic. Many high volume shoes are produced with a combination of traditional raw materials with the more economically viable greener ones, which is a step in the right direction. (Excuse the pun).

A natural 'by-product' of concern for eco friendly shoe production is vegetarian or vegan shoes, as toxic leather treatments are replaced by less dangerous plant- based synthetic leathers. Indeed it could be argued that as 'animal agriculture' is the largest single contributor to global warming, these shoes are the only alternative to those serious about preventing it.

Certainly, farmed animals require a disproportionate amount of resources for the meat/leather that they produce compared to the plant alternatives, and the methane they readily produce is 23 times more efficient at storing the sun's rays than carbon dioxide.

Panda Food, Lady Bugs and Rice Husks provide some answers!

There are a number of smaller shoe companies that by their very nature are able to create products with next to no environmental impact. They use materials such as tree-tapped rubber, (not chemical), bamboo, hemp and organic cotton.

Bamboo and hemp are fast growing hardy plants that don't need careful nurturing or rich soils. Their natural fibers can be woven to produce materials that are hard wearing, water resistant yet breathable, lightweight and easy to clean. Organic cotton is produced without recourse to pesticides that eventually pollute many of the world's watercourses. Organic cotton farmers use natural pest control methods like introducing Ladybugs to their crops!

Boston based environmentally conscious shoe company, 'New Balance' even add rice husks to their soles to reduce the rubber requirement, whilst similarly aware 'Keen' add natural cork. New Balance also score environmental 'plus points' for keeping shoe production wholly within the US despite probable cost advantages of production overseas.

Some Seriously Earth-Friendly Businesses

Some shoe manufacturers center their entire businesses around an environmental awareness. A few worthy of note include 'Patagonia' who give 1% of their income to help preserve and restore the environment. 'Chaco' purchase wind-powered green certificates to cover their entire yearly electrical usage, and 'Toms' donates a pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair bought from them!

All these companies seem to have core considerations that the earth must be protected, the people producing their products must be valued and cared for, and the end product must be built to last, to counteract the 'use it up, throw it out' culture that has prevailed lately.

It is vitally important that the trend towards earth-friendly consumption is not just a fad, and that some of the shortcomings of plant-based clothing and shoes can be overcome, like the difficulty in infusing strong colors in vegetable-based fabrics without recourse to nasty chemicals.

Even now eco friendly athletic shoe alternatives are mainly confined to sneakers and general use sports shoes, whereas specialized running, basketball or tennis shoes are still made the old way.

The mechanism of change, if it happens, will stem from informed individual decisions, which when taken en masse, will change buying patterns and reward companies brave and enlightened enough to give us the choices we want and need, to minimize the daily damage we are doing to our fragile planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Cheri Britton is dedicated to highlighting all that's best and new in women's tennis clothes, women's tennis shoes and tennis bags for women and any and everything of interest to a women who wants to look stylish and fashionable on court.
She's particularly interested in eco and animal friendly tennis clothing and footwear, especially the creations of fashion designer Stella McCartney.

What do you call the kind of people who wear eco-friendly brands, chacos, and other brands like patagonia.?

Also they like activities like mountain biking, kayaking, and climbing mountains. And please do not say hippie.

Fred?

Eco-friendly fibers: inside Patagonia headquarters

Patagonia Ventura

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Additional Resources for: Patagonia Ventura

Patagonia: Lessons in Accountability and Corporate Culture

Based out of Ventura, California, outdoor equipment and clothing company, Patagoina, is involved in a variety of environmental initiatives. Focusing on accountability and transparency, Patagonia is an accredited member for the Fair Labour Association, committing to International Labour Standards and social responsibility. Throughout periods of rapid expansion, Patagonia has successfully maintained their unique corporate culture.

Many companies can learn a lot by examining the culture, labour practices and environmental commitments that shape Patagonia.

Patagonia's Culture

Patagonia began as a company operating out of a tin shed. In the mid 80's, Patagonia had undergone significant growth and was one of very few companies in the US offering on-site day care services. Employees are passionate about the company, as well as the sports the company dresses and equips athletes for. Surfing, running, paddling, skiing, rock climbing and many other "quiet" outdoor sports are practiced by Patagonia employees. One of the things I find the most intriguing about the culture at Patagonia is the commitment to the preservation of the original company values and mission. When reading the company's history on their website, they write:

"We have never had to make a 'break' from the traditional corporate culture that makes businesses hidebound and inhibits creativity. For the most part, we simply made the effort to hold to our own values and traditions. We can't bring ourselves to knowingly make a mediocre product. And we cannot avert our eyes from the harm done, by all of us, to our one and only home."

At Patagonia, many of the decisions are made as a team.  In regards to offering flexible work hours, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard told Inc. Magazine:

"Our approach to flexible work hours also came out of discussions with employees. Blurring the lines between work and play worked for us, because it was part of the core reasons we came to work every day. I honestly can't remember ever having a problem with an employee taking advantage of our flexible hours. When your employees care about the mission of the company, they work harder."

Fair Labour Association Member

In 2001, Patagonia decided to become a member of the Fair Labour Association (FLA). In 2008, the company was granted FLA accreditation for fulfilling all of the necessary requirements. Patagonia joined the FLA to increase transparency and accountability with their commitment to social responsibility. Becoming a member means Patagonia has committed to the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct. The Code addresses issues including forced labour, child labour, harassment/abuse, nondiscrimination, health & safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, wages, benefits, hours of work and overtime compensation. On Patagonia's website, they have posted a list of all of the manufacturing facilities used to make their products. They have also posted responses to a number of social responsibility questions regarding factory selection and working with factories to improve conditions for employees.

Patagonia also has to adhere to the Principles of Monitoring- Obligations of Companies. Company obligations include

• Establishing clear standards
• Creating an informed workplace
• Develop an information database
• Establish a program to train company monitors
• Conduct periodic visits and audits
• Provide employees with opportunity to report noncompliance
• Establish relationships with labour, human rights, religious or other local institutions
• Establish mean of remediation

The FLA strives to improve working conditions through the promotion of international labour standards. The FLA uses a process of independent monitoring to ensure member companies adhere to the FLA Code of Conduct. The information collected during the monitoring process is then passed along to shareholders and members of the public, allowing them to make responsible purchase decisions. As outlined on the FLA website, joining the initiative adds value to companies by providing:

A collaborative process that allows industry, civil society organizations, and colleges and universities to sit around the same table and discuss matters of common interest.
A system to perform due diligence on companies' internal compliance programs through unannounced independent external monitoring and verification.
Innovative and sustainable strategies for improving compliance with labor standards.
Public access to all independent external monitoring reports via the FLA Web site.
A mechanism to address the most serious labor rights violations through our Third Party Complaint process.

Environmental Contributions

At Patagonia, they recognize that there's no need for their product if there's no land, rocks or water for people to explore. This understanding is the basis for the sustainability and environmental initiatives taken on by Patagonia. Environmental ethics have been engrained in the company's culture from a very early stage. As the company grew, they continually worked to reduce any damage done to the environment through the creation of their products. Whether it's modifications to distribution centers or selecting organic materials for clothing, Patagonia has remained on the cutting edge of environmentally friendly manufacturing.

1% for the Planet is an organization Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard launched in 2001 with Craig Matthews. Participating companies are asked to contribute 1%of their sales to the organization, which then distributes the contributions to 2080 environmental groups around the globe. Patagonia has been contributing 1% of their revenues to environmental causes since 1985, which has equated to over $34 million in donations to grassroots groups.

About the Author

i-Sight is a case management software platform designed to simplify your process and provide outstanding reports. It's primarily configured to manage customer complaints and corrective actions, or employee relations, HR & ethics investigations. It's also used for a variety of other customized case management solutions. We blog at i-Sight.com, providing advice and tips to HR managers and investigators in regards to managing internal investigations.

"One Track Mind" Facebook.com Premiere, Patagonia, Ventura, CA

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