Buying vegan shoes could be a first step towards creating a more ethical and sustainable world, but how can you tell if the shoes are really vegan? In addition to choosing 100% cruelty free materials, vegan shoes should be made in an ethically sustainable way and with a low environmental impact. But what requirements should we consider when buying vegan shoes and accessories?
Who hugs someone “vegan” lifestyleyou generally don’t just limit yourself to eliminating meat, fish and dairy products from your diet. It is not just an exclusively food issue, but a change that also concerns the choice of shoes, clothes and accessories. And about that, you know how to understand if shoes are vegan or not?
Please note that our accessories they do not contain animal leather parts it’s not enough, you need to go deeper, to make sure you choose shoes that are truly ecological, cruelty free and eco-sustainable.
Oh yes, because even when we talk about vegan shoes we need to make some important clarifications: a pair of boots may not contain any material of animal origin, but it may have been made without the minimum respect for workersin conditions of exploitation and without any regard even for theenvironment.
Which wouldn’t exactly make them the best vegan shoes around, right?
In this article we will see what vegan shoes are and how to understand if those sneakers you intend to buy are truly ethical and cruelty free, in every respect.
How to understand if the shoes are vegan?
By definition, shoes can be considered “vegan” when they do not contain any type of material of animal originstarting – to give an example – with real leather. But as we have seen this is just one of the requirements that we should take into consideration.
Try to think about it: a product made with production systems that don’t respect the planet (I’m sure that at this moment you can think of several fast fashion brands that are not very green), will affect the lives of animals, destroying and polluting their habitats, devastating their only home.
This is why, when we choose accessories, clothes or any other object, we should prefer companies that make environmental protection one of its primary objectives.
And returning to our question: how to understand which shoes are vegan? Let’s see what requirements we need to take into account when shopping.
Certifications to understand if the shoes are vegan
Usually, vegan shoes are accompanied by special shoes vegan certificationscome:
- PETA Approved Vegan
- ICEA Vegan
- VeganOk
- V-Label
- Animal Free (released by LAV – Anti Vivisection League).
By choosing certified vegan shoes we will be sure to purchase products that truly espouse our values in terms of environmental sustainability, love for animals and ethical treatment of workers.
The choice of materials
In order to be considered vegan, the shoes should be made with materiali 100% cruelty free and eco-sustainable such as:
- Cork
- Cardboard
- Cotton
- 100% recycled plastic
- Fruit scraps: it is possible to make vegan leather shoes with pineapple, apple or other fruit peels
- Corda
- Organic hemp
- Recycled wood.
You can also find shoes and accessories made from materials such as rubber or even 3D printed shoesconfirming the fact that technology can really help us build a society that is more respectful of animal rights and the planet.
Choose serious companies
In the choice of best footwearwe will need to rely on serious companies with a proven commitment to the protection of animals and the environment.
So let’s get back to the question “sustainability”: it is not enough for a shoe to be made entirely of rope and cork. In order to be considered ethically sustainableit must be carried out in full respect of workers’ rights and with minimal environmental impact.
For this reason, it is always advisable to turn to serious and reliable companies, accompanied by the necessary certifications that attest to their commitment and respect for the principles of sustainability.
What is the price of vegan shoes?
There are some cheap vegan shoes? The answer to this question is “no”: if by cheap we mean shoes costing 5 or 10 euros like those you can find in many online shops and in shopping center stores, then the answer is almost certainly no.
Precisely because they do not contemplate it in any way exploitation of workersdo not contain cheap and animal-based materials and come made in an artisanal waywith the least possible impact on the environment, vegan shoes could have a higher cost compared to what we are used to.
After all, exactly the fast fashion (which translates into buying mountains of clothes and accessories at very low prices, then wearing them a handful of times and discarding them without thinking twice) represents one of the greatest threats to our planet.
Choosing vegan shoes (the cost of which can range from 50-60 euros upwards, depending on the different brands) means a first step towards a more sustainable world.
Source: www.greenstyle.it
