Ethical vegan shoes are an essential part of every ethical vegan’s footwear collection. And they can be difficult to find, given the fact that so many shoes are still made of leather. The converse is true as well: even shoes made of vegan leather frequently include problematic components and are produced under questionable conditions. Since people are becoming more and more interested in environmentally friendly products on a regular basis, it is necessary to explore what makes certain shoes more ecologically friendly than others.
Why Leather Is So Harmful to the Environment?
In terms of sustainability, the environmental case for vegan leather is akin to the environmental case for vegetarianism in terms of environmental protection. It is necessary to remove trees in order to make place for pastures, and it is also necessary to feed livestock in a manner that is both energy-intensive and reliant on antibiotics, which end up in the food supply.
Animal skins must be treated chemically, a process called tanning, in order to prevent them from deteriorating further. H2S, ammonia, and chromium are among the chemicals that are often used, and they have the potential to leach into soil and water in quantities that are carcinogenic to people.
What Is Vegan Shoes?
Vegan shoes are ones in which no animals were harmed at any point throughout the design and manufacturing processes. There were no animal byproducts used in the production of this product. Furthermore, it excludes any products that have been subjected to animal experimentation. This has resulted in the exclusion of several of the materials that are typically used in the shoe-making industry. Consider the following examples: leather; glues; fur; wool; and so on.
To be sure, over the course of several years, the variety of ethical shoes has grown and continues to grow in scope. Vegan shoes are available in a variety of materials, including synthetic leather and genuine leather. In reality, material technology has advanced substantially, and totally vegan shoes, particularly in active lifestyle footwear, are now readily accessible.
What Makes a Shoe Sustainable?
In addition to being harmful to the animals and the environment, leather production is also harmful to the individuals who work in the leather manufacturing sector. Those who profit off the sorrow and unhappiness of others are the principal beneficiaries of this system of distribution of wealth. However, the good news is that there is a wide range of environmentally-friendly vegan leather solutions available today that are equivalent to leather in terms of quality while inflicting no harm to the environment or animals in the process. Vegan leather is growing more and more trendy every day.
How To Find Authentic Vegan Shoes?
It may be tough to tell the difference between vegan shoes that are kind to animals and non-vegan sneakers. This is especially true in light of the large number of non-vegan shoes that are currently accessible. The question remains as to whether a company is utilizing real leather or synthetic leather while producing their shoes, notwithstanding this clarification.
In order to give information on the materials that were used in the production of their shoes, the vast majority of shoe brands and manufacturers include labels on their shoes. Therefore, before purchasing the shoes, check to see if the tags are in excellent working order first. By using this method, you’ll be able to chip away at any shoes made of animal skins, feathers, fur, leather, or wool that you may have. Given that vegan shoes are made of man-made synthetic fibers and materials, avoid footwear that is made of leather or suede and instead choose PU, PVC, cotton, rubber, or cork instead.
Conclusion
The vegan fashion sector has undergone significant expansion in recent years, resulting in a proliferation of sustainable and ethical alternatives that are now accessible for purchase on the internet. Many people are just ignorant of the enormous variety of vegan footwear alternatives that are currently available on the market. Your purchase will also contribute to the support of environmentally friendly businesses, which will, in turn, contribute to the preservation of the health of our world!
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
