Choosing the right kid’s shoes as they go back to school is always a challenge. You want something sturdy and versatile that will work with most of their clothes, keep up with them no matter how hard they run and play and that will stand up to changing weather conditions.

My daughter starts kindergarten this year and I have to say I’ve been stumped! Do I go with fashion or straight up durability and practicality? Do I choose an athletic shoe or do I go with a sturdy Mary Jane? So I perused my options over at Planet Shoes and I came up with a number of cute styles that will please the parent of daughter or son, girly girl or tomboy, athlete or bookworm!

Keen Coronado: Let’s start with the Keen Coronado’s. This is a cute and durable option from Keen, a shoe maker known for quality and making a shoe that can stand up to just about anything. This sneaker, in particular, is also made with eco-friendly construction in mind, offering a recycled PU and cork footbed and using an eco-friendly vulcanized construction.

The natural canvas is both breathable and strong and the look is classic and works perfectly for boys or girls depending on the size you choose. If you decide to go with the classic Converse inspired sneaker, consider the Keen Coronado for this fall!

New Balance KV993 Running - Do you have a preschooler heading into the hallowed school halls for the first time? One of the best options for an athletic or super active tyke is a great New Balance sneaker, with a Velcro closure. These are made for running around, so they are well cushioned and have reflective detailing for additional safety.

They are made with a suede and mesh upper which keeps the shoe comfortable in any temperature. Easy to get on and off and super supportive and durable, these kid’s sneakers are a great option for little boys or girls on and off the playground.

Simple Macaroon - Do you have a little girl on your hands who is likely to turn her nose up at a pair of sneakers, no matter how cute? Well, I have the compromise for you! The Simple Macaroon is an adorable Mary Jane style kid’s shoe that has the benefit of a rubber outsole and comfortable footbed.

As with all Simple Shoes, these sweeties are also very eco-friendly, using Organic cotton for the lining and the EVA pedbed covering. The rubber outsole used to be a car tire and these shoes ship in recycled boxes. So basically, you’ll be helping your little darling look adorable in the most comfortable and eco-friendly way possible! No downside!

Merrell Jungle Moc - Last, but certainly not least is the Merrell Jungle Moc, the classic Merrell slip on that combines simple styling, extreme durability and water and stain resistant exteriors. These shoes have a ton of benefits for kids – they are slip on’s, which make them easy for all ages, but they also offer fantastic traction and a great, snug fit because of the elasticity.

These shoes are sure to see them through the winter – and maybe you’ll swing over to the grown up section and pick some up for yourself!

One of the challenges in modern shoe design is how to use eco-friendly products as embellishments. In some cases, a shoe can use eco-friendly materials, but the buttons or decorations on those shoes might be made from non sustainable or petroleum products like plastics.

Coconut has provided an innovative and sustainable natural decoration material to a number of shoe makers. To boot (ha ha), some shoe makers are working on how to use the fibrous parts of the coconut plan in the creation of textiles for further sustainable materials.

The coconut shell can be cured and hardened and easily turned into buttons of any shape or size. The natural look and strength and durability make them a great choice – and they can take abuse from the elements!

Coconut plants are highly sustainable and cultivated worldwide. They are used for food, oils, ropes, mats, as a hardwood substitute, musical instruments, as sources for charcoal and even in spiritual rituals. The leaves of the coconut plant are even used for roofing. This is a plant that has been creatively used by countries with fewer resources at hand for years and as a result, there is no part of this crop that is unused. The Coconut tree requires a tropical climate so most of the production comes from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Brazil.

So who among our shoe makers is using Coconut in their shoes?

Simple Shoes – We talk about Simple Shoes a lot in these articles, because this company has really taken the use of and application of sustainable materials in footwear to a different level.

Using eco-friendly fabrics and textiles as well as natural rubbers and adhesives, most of their shoes are not only vegan, but also earth friendly, and Simple Shoes often uses coconut in their embellishments as adorable button details. You’ll also note, Simple Shoes has mastered the art of carving the coconut nuts into charming and detailed buttons.

Rocket Dog - Rocket Dog Eco-Luv collection is another great fashion option using eco-friendly materials like coconut in embellishments and in construction.

You’ll see coconut buttons and fibers incorporated in these creative eco-friendly shoes.

Great looking and good to the earth, Rocket Dogs will add an edge of fashion while keeping your eco conscience clear.

Like cotton, wool is considered a sustainable material and is therefore gaining ground as a material being used in eco-friendly footwear. All wool is considered sustainable as it’s a natural material that can be renewed by sheep farming, but organic wool should be used and cultivated. There are a number of breeds of sheep used in the production of organic wool and they include Navajo-Churro, Columbia, Rambouillet and Border Leicester among others.

Organic wool is certified according to federal requirements. Feed for the livestock must be certified as organic, there can be no use of hormones on the sheep or genetic engineering, it is prohibited to use any kind of pesticide on either the livestock themselves, on the fields in which they graze or on feed. Finally, farmers must raise healthy livestock through sustainable management practices.

Non organic wool allows for sheep “dipping” in insecticides and farmers can raise a higher number of sheep per square acre, which can adversely affect the health of the livestock. Right now, organic wool is more expensive than conventionally produced wool. The organic wool industry is considerably smaller and although they receive a higher price per unit than traditionally produced wool, when wool prices are low, non-organic wool producers will increase the amount of sheep per unit of land in order to make more money, which organic producer’s can’t do.

Organic wool production is gaining ground in the United States and according to the Organic Trade Association is being produced in Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and Vermont.
Wool and organic wool make for great shoe materials for all of the reasons wool makes excellent fabric and textiles for clothing and other products. Extremely warm and insulating, wool is also breathable and helps to manage moisture on the body.

So which of our brands use wool and organic wool in their production?

Simple Shoes - Simple shoes loves using wool because they consider it to be sustainable, warm and breathable – and they’re right!

Often used in Simple Shoes slippers as well as in boots, Mary Jane’s and other shoes, Simple Shoes use wool as an innovative material for its texture, color options and eco-friendly reasons.

Patagonia Shoes – Patagonia shoes use shearling and chlorine free wool in many of their boot and shoe linings.

They rely on the natural properties of wool for warmth, cushioning and heat and moisture management in the shoe linings.

Patagonia loves using sustainable E-Fibers like organic cotton, hemp and wool in their shoe designs.

Rocket Dog Shoes – The Rocket Dog Eco-Luv line offers a blend of sustainable fibers in their shoe textiles.

Including organic wool, these edgy, fun and sustainable shoes are perfect for casual wear for the “green girl.”

Super comfortable and using cool texture, Rocket Dog sneakers and other options love sustainable wool!

Timberland Shoes – Timberland Shoes use SmartWool® lining for added coziness and temperature and moisture control.

Primarily, wool is used in their winter shoe options and Timberland uses wool and fabrics to add texture and fun to their fall and winter options.

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 first read that several of the eco-friendly brands here at Planet Shoes incorporated jute in their shoes, I thought it sounded cool, but I really didn’t know anything about this extremely important vegetable fiber.

For instance, did you know that jute is one of the cheapest natural fibers and comes in right behind cotton in production? Jute is used in an incredibly wide array of applications and its strength and low cost make it a great option in eco-friendly apparel and footwear.

Jute comes from the outer layer and stem of the jute plant and it requires a very warm and wet climate to grow. As a result, the production is focused mainly in India and Bangladesh with China far behind them in production. Jute is not only a natural fiber - its cultivation has little need for pesticides or even fertilizer – furthering its sustainable and eco-friendliness. Additionally, jute can produce massive amounts of cellulose in a short growing period. Cellulose is the inner, woody core of the jute plant, and this means that ultimately jute crops could actually provide worldwide wood needs.

The fibers of the jute plant are extracted in a process called “retting” in which the stems of the jute plants are bound together and immersing them in running water. This loosens the plant material, leaving on the fibers behind.

The fibers are then woven into cloth, some for industrial purposes like bailing cotton, and others are used for things like curtains, clothing and even in footwear! Jute cloth is biodegradable, strong, durable and even UV resistant and makes a great substitute for more expensive cotton.

So which companies among our awesome eco-friendly shoes are using jute in their shoes?

In fact, three of our favorites:

Rafters – Rafters use jute in their outsoles, mixed in with other sustainable materials like cork to reduce the amount of rubber, which is harder to harvest and produce naturally, that needs to be used in the shoe. The strength and natural properties of jute make it a great choice for creating stronger, more durable active sandals.

Rocket Dog – The Rocket Dog Eco Luv line uses Jute fiber in several applications to bring you a full range of super cute, eco friendly shoes From comfy sneakers and simple ballet flats to sexy wedges, the makers of Rocket Dog have managed to make eco-friendly into serious eco-chic.

Simple Shoes – Simple shoes are one of the best known makers of sustainable footwear. They use everything from organic cotton to cork and several pairs of their super cute shoes also incorporate durable and versatile jute!

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.

I knew there were clothes out there made of hemp and recently we experimented with hemp seeds in our whole food cooking, but I had no idea hemp had been used in footwear applications until very recently. Of course, it makes sense.

Hemp is known to make durable and versatile textiles, so many shoe companies are taking advantage of this flexibility and using this eco friendly and sustainable material. In fact, hemp has been used for over 12,000 years as a fiber resource. Sadly, hemp cannot be grown at an industrial level in the United States because of its association with the drug marijuana, which is also from the cannabis family.

Hemp is a form of cannabis but it is the virtually THC free brother of the well known marijuana plant. Industrial hemp has been used in paper products, biodegradable plastics, health food, textiles and apparel and recently, because of the popularity of using sustainable materials, its popularity and therefore its crops are growing fast! In fact, it is one of the fastest growing crops producing tons of raw material that can be used in a wide variety of industries.

The hemp plant’s fibers are commonly called “bast” and when they are extracted that can be a variety of colors from off white to green and gray. Hemp was widely used for its fiber production throughout history because it produces 250% more fiber than cotton grown on the same land. In fact, the name “cannabis,” comes from the word Canvas, which is what so much hemp was used for historically.

Hemp grows quickly and is a hearty plant, requiring little pesticide and no herbicides to grow well. This lends further credibility of hemp being a sustainable and eco-friendly fiber. Currently, hemp is widely cultivated in Australia, Austria, Canada, the UK, Spain and Russia.

So which of the eco-friendly shoes that we carry incorporate hemp into their construction? Just a few that we know of, but we’re sure this number will continue to grow!

• Patagonia – Patagonia shoes use hemp fibers in soles, laces and uppers citing its durability under any circumstances. Hemp fibers are known to be quite strong and long in length so they fit Patagonia’s outdoor lifestyle brand perfectly.
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes has widely adopted hemp in several shoe uppers and in other parts of the shoe. They use hemp because of its softness and its ability to breathe in the summer, to keep your feet cool but to also be warm in the winter when you need your toes cozy.
• Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog incorporated hemp into a number of shoe features in its eco-luv collection which has everything from simple sandals to cute ballet flats.

Many of our favorite eco-friendly brands incorporate cork into their shoes. Primarily, cork is incorporated in the sole of the shoe, for decorative or for functional purposes. The reason is that cork is light, durable and almost impermeable to liquids. The other cool thing about cork is that it is a natural substance that is also sustainable.

Cork comes from the Cork Oak tree, a special variety of tree that grows and lasts about 200 years. Every nine years, the cork is literally stripped from the trunk of the trees and then the raw materials are turned into all kinds of products. Most Cork Oak trees are in Portugal, with Spain coming in second as a cork producer.

Cork is highly recyclable and its elasticity and density are what make it so popular as wine stoppers and in things like buoys. Likewise, these characteristics of cork make them great for shoes. They can absorb shock, maintain the low weight of the shoe, resist water and moisture from your feet or from your environment and now the look of cork is also highly desirable as a contrasting texture in shoe design.

So which of our favorite shoe companies use cork in their shoes, and how?

• Patagonia – Patagonia often uses cork wrapped footbeds incorporated into Patagonia sandals because cork is comfortable against the skin and wicks away moisture to keep your feet comfortable even on the hottest days.
• Rafters – Rafters sandals use cork in a different way – they blend it with rubbers and other recycled materials to reduce the amount of man made and harder to get materials. For instance, you’ll often find cork and EVA midsoles in Rafters sandals, taking advantage of the natural benefits of cork.
• Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog’s Eco Luv collection incorporates cork in several styles, including their higher wedges to keep shoes light and sustainable!
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes uses cork and natural latex to add a soft and squishy, yet moisture resistant and sustainable softness to their great looks!
• Terrasoles – Terrasoles shoes, like many brands, uses cork in many of its midsoles, often blended with eco friendly latex for maximum comfort while taking advantage of all of Cork’s natural properties!
• The North Face – The North Face is a leading maker of eco-friendly active footwear and they also love using a blend of cork and EVA as their midsole to maximize sustainability and comfort!
• Zumfoot – Zumfoot shoes are innovative and interesting and they use cork and rubber to create a flexible and more sustainable outsole.

Organic cotton is all over the place these days. You’ll see it in t-shirts, home goods, cotton balls and even in eco-friendly shoes. Organic cotton is grown according to a set of standards that has been developed to certify methods that have less of an impact on the environment. This means no dangerous pesticides, no genetic engineering and the preservation of biodiversity and the soil.

The push for organic cotton is critically important, because according to some sources, it can take 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for one t-shirt. If you consider the sheer amount of cotton clothing, not even counting all of the other things for which cotton is used, you can imagine how many chemicals are going into the soil and into the cotton and ultimately into the earth and into people.

Organic cotton has a huge variety of benefits. Firstly, organic cotton does use genetic engineering or antibiotics, which means that natural strengths in the plants are cultivated and weaker plants are culled out. Consequently, soil health is improved and species diversity is supported. By protecting the soil and the earth, we’ll have better, healthier land and crops and we’ll be preserving the health and success of future generations.

In 2007-2008, according to the Organic Trade Association, the growth of organic cotton increased by 152% and it is produced worldwide, with India now in the lead in terms of production. The only downside to organic cotton is that is costs more to produce, therefore increasing the costs of consumer goods down the line – but using organic cotton not only preserves the environment from chemicals, it also reduces or dependence on oil and petroleum.

How?

Well, other materials used to create clothing like rayon, polyester, acrylic and nylon are all made with petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are derived from petroleum and petroleum comes from oil. So when you support companies that use organic cotton, and when you wear organic cotton, you are supporting the environment in multiple ways.

We’re excited to offer shoes from a number of companies who have committed to using organic cotton in their construction!

• Simple Shoes
• Chaco Shoes
• Patagonia Shoes
• Rocket Dog Shoes

Want to get the look of People’s sexiest bachelor?

Chace Crawford just keeps getting more popular - starring as Nate Archibald on Gossip Girl and soon to be reprising the role Kevin Bacon made famous in the new version of Footloose. His relaxed and casual style is well known and in this case, we see him sporting a pair of Simple Shoes, one of our favorite brands here at Planet Shoes.

Simple shoes are made from eco-friendly materials in a sustainable fashion so we love to see celebs wearing them and promoting this great brand. We carry a wide variety of Simple shoes for men and women.

A great option for men this season from Simple Shoes is the Tuba sneaker. They look great with a modern organic cotton textured upper and the outsoles are made from recycled tires! Enjoy vegan, veggie and earth friendly shoes all in one from Simple Shoes!