When it comes to many of today’s earth-friendly footwear products, many are also healthy for feet and make a great holiday gift choice. As shoppers continue shopping for the perfect gift this season, many are trying to “go green” and shopping for items that are healthy for the environment. This year consider a gift that offers benefits, health and environmental benefits!
“From the materials used in making the products themselves to the packaging and creation processes involved, several footwear products rise above the rest when it comes to being both friendly to feet and our environment,” said Ronald Jensen, DPM, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
The APMA’s Seal of Acceptance Program recognizes products that have been found to be beneficial to foot health and of significant value when used in a consistently applied program of daily foot care and regular professional treatment. The following products, created using green materials and practices, have been granted the Seal of Acceptance:
Shoes and Socks Awarded American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance:
Eco-Friendly Shoes:
Reebok Kid’s Green Easy Footwear. This collection of toddler and infant footwear is designed with both comfort and the environment in mind, with much of the shoe collection’s materials made from recycled resources. In addition to the lightweight, flexible materials employed in the shoe’s construction, all of the packaging for the Green Easy collection is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, 100% recyclable and printed using soy-based inks.
Bobux Originals Footwear. Not all leather footwear is created equal—especially when it comes to footwear suitable for infants. Bobux’s Eco-Leather footwear materials meet rigorous environmental safety standards and are completely bio-degradable. In addition to flexible, natural rubber soles, these high quality shoes also feature padded insoles, leather linings and full leather uppers.
Dansko’s Golden Gate Collection. All of the footwear choices in Dansko’s Golden Gate Collection are created using vegetable-tanned leathers—generally considered a more eco-friendly process than standard leather tanning practices. Veg-tanning uses tannins that occur naturally most commonly from tree bark, in contrast to conventional mineral tanning processes that utilize heavy metals such as chromium.
Eco-Friendly Socks:
Injinji® Performance Series™ Coolmax® EcoMade™ Toesocks. A combination of earth-friendly and performance enhancing, Injinji’s EcoMade Toesocks are created from recycled resources. Created using a highly evolved, raw polyester fiber created from repurposing recycled plastic bottles and post-industrial waste, EcoMade Toesocks’ unique design eliminates skin on skin contact between your toes to prevent blisters from developing.