Crepe soles, or crepe rubber soles are widely used in footwear and in boot manufacture. Because of the durability and relatively low cost, crepe rubber has been used for decades, but what isn’t known is how eco-friendly crepe rubber can actually be.

Depending on the process, natural latex and rubbers have a rough hewn textured look although crepe rubbers can vary somewhat in texture and in color. The material is produced through a process called coagulation which combines melted latex with a natural coagulum – shell scrap, bamboo, jute fibers and even tree lace are often used in combination with the latex and the crepe rubber is the product.

The process is fairly inexpensive and the materials used can be entirely natural, making crepe rubber a smart option for casual shoes. It’s hard for organic and sustainable footwear companies to keep costs low, so crepe rubber can be a terrific option.

The color variance in crepe rubber is dependent on the amount of natural dirt or other contaminants allowed to remain in the material. Basically, higher grades of crepe leather have dirt and other contaminants removed during extra steps during production – which therefore adds cost to the material.

Crepe rubber is a great choice for eco-friendly casual shoes. The texture and color can be taken into consideration and actually add to and work with the style of the shoe. The rubber sole can reduce impact on your feet, ankles and knees and, when used properly, crepe rubber soles add traction to minimize slippage in wet situations.

So which of our eco-friendly brands use crepe rubber in their production? Well, a number of our shoe makers use rubbers melded with eco-friendly materials, but only a few specifically cite crepe rubber in their materials.

Groundhog Shoes – Groundhog shoes use crepe rubber made from the Lactae Meva Rubber tree.

The natural liquid latex is actually tapped from the trees and collected and the trees and process are both sustainable practices.

Groundhog uses crepe rubber soles in many of their shoes to offer support, comfort and sustainable materials.

The North Face Shoes – The North Face uses crepe rubber as a mudguard and heel reinforcement for added eco-friendly heel support and extra protection in wet and muddy conditions.

The North Face is working hard to integrate sustainable materials in creative ways into all their rugged shoes and this innovative use of crepe rubber as a support material and trim is a testament to their smart and sustainable design!

One of the most egregious wastes in the shoe industry has been packaging. Between the paper used to stuff the shoes so they look their best to customers, to the paper used to wrap the shoes before they are enclosed in fancy shoe boxes, the sheer amount of paper and pulp used is a little ridiculous.

I mean, really, unless you store your shoes in the shoe boxes, or use shoe boxes for storage in your house, you’re just throwing all that packaging away!

Hopefully consumers recycle those materials, but all too often they sit for decades in a land fill. So it stands to reason one of the first steps shoe companies that want to go green make, it to reduce their packaging, or turn to recycled materials. Some shoe companies, especially those who focus primarily on simple sandals like flip flops, reduce further, using post consumer plastic bags or even just simple post consumer waste recycled cardboard hangers!

Either way, consumers need to do their part, by not buying into packaging. After all, the box a pair of shoes comes in is not going to make them more comfortable, more durable or more stylish. The box is just about the branding. If consumers reject copious packaging and support the companies who are doing their part by producing quality footwear and eschewing the bells and whistles of waste, we could see a packaging revolution and reduce a lot of trash and stop consuming so many unnecessary resources.

Packaging and shipping is an area Planet Shoes, as a company, is also trying to make a difference. We offer Carbon Free Plus Shipping on all orders so customers can opt to pay a little extra money and Planet Shoes collects the donations and purchases carbon offsets from CarbonFund.org. We also use minimal shipping materials to reduce paper waste.

So who among our eco-friendly brands is doing their part in the packaging revolution? Well, quite a few – and we may have even missed some!

• Groundhog - Groundhog shoes uses all recycled fibers in it’s packaging. Additionally, their tissue paper is 100% recycled and unbleached fibers.
• J-41 - J-41 shoes are shipped in 100% recycled and recyclable materials.
• Mion - Mion Shoes are packaged in recycled materials that are designed to reduce the need for glue and use soy based inks.
• Simple Shoes - Simple Shoes use 100% post consumer paper pulp foot forms and in 100% post consumer recycled boxes.
• Sanuk - Sanuk shoes and sandals are actually shipped with no packaging!
• Terrasoles - Terrasoles shoes Uses recycled materials in their packaging as well as in their shoes.
• The North Face - The North Face uses recycled materials in their packaging.

When I think about Bamboo, I think about beautiful, tall, reedy trees and crazy growth rates. I know Bamboo is useful for many things, but until I started researching sustainable materials and textiles, I had no idea how many uses there really were for this amazing plant.

Bamboo is technically in the grass family, but is considered a woody perennial evergreen. In optimal growing conditions, and given the right bamboo type, this plant can actually grow up to 24 inches in a single day. This kind of growth rate makes bamboo a very sustainable crop, especially if one can be creative with its uses!

Bamboo is widely used in Asian cooking as well as in Chinese medicine for treating infections and healing. In tropical climates, because Bamboo is both durable and lightweight, it is actually used widely in construction and in homes. It is also used in anything from furniture to chopsticks, to ornamental vases and canoes. Just like any wood or reed, artisans have used bamboo for any number of products and items.

Ultimately, a process was developed where bamboo fiber could actually be derived from bamboo pulp. This fiber has been made into all kinds of fabrics that contain several natural benefits that come from the Bamboo plant. Bamboo fabric is soft, UV resistant, anti bacterial, soft, absorbent, and can even aid in temperature regulation.

Now, when you hear all those features in one place, what do you think of? That’s right! These are all the features shoe companies look for in a material!

So who among our eco-friendly shoe companies uses this super cool material in their shoe designs? We’ve got three that we know of – you know many of the others are always coming out with new innovations – but let’s look at how they use Bamboo in their eco-friendly shoes!

• Groundhog – Groundhog shoes actually use a bamboo derivative in their fabric linings and socks called bamboo charcoal which contains many of the features we’ve discussed including bacteria resistance, the ability to absorb moisture, thermal insulation features. This makes Groundhog shoes more comfortable and keeps them from developing any unfortunate odors!
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes uses bamboo fibers and fabrics in many of their shoe linings. This is because of the absorbency, anti bacterial qualities and ability to keep annoying foot odors at bay!
• The North Face - The North Face uses bamboo fibers in several of the uppers of their shoes, including the new Mountain Sneaker. The North Face found a way to combine metal-free suede with the bamboo fibers to create a good looking and durable shoe.

Leather within the context of the environmental movement is a complicated topic. Leather has been used for generations but there are two main arguments against leather for shoes, bags, belts and more.

1. Vegans and vegetarians in the environmental movement hate the use of animals for food or products, so leather is unacceptable right off the bat!
2. The typical leather tanning process used in today’s industrial applications is heavy on the chemicals and the industrial waste. This makes many leather goods very eco-unfriendly.

Here is where the complication comes in:

1. Vegans and Vegetarians won’t use leather, but in many cases are willing to wear shoes or carry bags made from synthetic materials. Although these products are considered “vegan” they are, in many cases, not eco-friendly.
2. Leather, although not vegan, is a natural material. When tanned in an environmentally responsible way, its durability and the fact that it isn’t synthetically produced makes it a more eco-friendly option.

So you see, you can get durable, eco-friendly leather which will last you longer and help you buy fewer shoes but that aren’t vegan, or you can cast a sharp eye to make sure you’re purchasing a vegan product that is also eco-friendly and hope that they last!

If you’re going to purchase leather goods, you should definitely know where it came from and how it’s been treated. Likewise, if you choose to purchase vegan goods, make sure they are also made with a commitment to the environment.

We’ve talked about the process of greening leather before. Various large companies are making a concerted effort to follow in the footsteps of smaller shoe makers who’ve already made the commitment to using only “green” leather.

A number of our favorite brands use eco-friendly leather in all or some of their shoes. They include:

• El Naturalista
• Groundhog
• Patagonia
• Pikolinos
• Timberland

Enjoy our eco-friendly leather shoes and stay green this season!

Groundhog Footwear is one of our newer environmentally friendly shoe brands here at PlanetShoes.com.

Canadian based, Bosco Shoes Sales Limited has been in the shoe business since 1976. Manufacturing and distributing high quality men’s and woman’s footwear for 40+ years means they know everything about shoe making and how it effects the environment. Groundhog through Bos. & Co. is a footwear brand with a carbon conscience, not only producing and shipping shoes with environmentally friendly materials and process, but engaging in sustainable business practices in the making of the shoes as well.

First, the shoes! All of the Groundhog styles are simple, comfortable and a little bit funky, offering Mary Janes, loafers, clogs, flats and even boots. With leather uppers in multiple colors and styles, you’ll find plenty of options from which to choose. All of their leathers are treated with vegetable oil which eliminates dangerous chemicals from the process and from the environment. This also leaves the leather supple and comfortable and with the meticulous stitching and simple but attractive details, these shoes will work with multiple looks and through all the seasons.

The soles of the shoes are made up of several layers or environmentally friendly materials. First, the bottom is constructed of molded natural rubber. This Crepe rubber is actually harvested from the sap of sustainable rubber trees and made into a latex compound to offer good gripping tread and water protection. The footbed itself is made of a coconut matting, entirely biodegradable and offering a firm but comfortable cushion for walking and support. Finally, the footbed on the interior of the shoe is a soft fabric made with bamboo charcoal – also biodegradable and offering one of nature’s most effective anti bacterial and anti odorants! This bamboo charcoal fabric also has excellent insulating attributes making Groundhog boots and shoes a great choice for fall and winter!

The packaging materials used by Groundhog shoes are also environmentally friendly, using recycled fibers and materials. Their tissue paper is entirely recycled and uses no bleach. Instead of inserting the typical packet of silica gel in each package of shoes, Groundhog inserts a packet of Nano Charcoal which achieves the same anti-moisture goal, but can be used as fertilizer by the consumer!

Additionally, Groundhog ships by sea carriage, one of the more eco-friendly shipping options, to reduce the carbon footprint of their shoes. As shipping makes up about 2% of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, this practice is quite important. Groundhog shoes also works hard at finding materials for their shoes locally, to reduce more shipping costs and unnecessary emissions – as well as to support local economy, a human friendly practice!

By manufacturing shoes in an environmentally friendly manner and making sustainable business decisions, Groundhog Footwear has created a line of green shoes anyone would be proud to walk in. Check out all of their styles online here at PlanetShoes.com!