How to Go Green: Shoes for Men

A common misconception surrounding green or eco-friendly clothing - shoes included - is that style and fashion need to be sacrificed in order to be a socially aware consumer. It's easy to imagine shoes made of leather to be classy and elegant, but a pair made from hemp or cotton might be too intimidating to wear to a cocktail party. The great news is that our fashion industry has survived decades and eras of various styles and consumer demands, including the increasing social awareness of smart consumers. Lucky for socially aware consumers like you, you can be green and stylish.

If you aren't aware of how much environmental damage your shoes are contributing to our world, it's time to read up. If you are about to buy a new pair of shoes, consider these web sites to help you in choosing the perfect pair of eco-friendly shoes:

1. Simple Shoes. This is by far a personal favorite when it comes to Green or Eco-friendly Shoes. With their casual, cool, and intelligent approach to creating their products and likewise explaining the process of creating them to their customers, it is hard not to like Simple Shoes. It is a delight to know about all the various materials they use to make their shoes: from recycled car tires for the soles of men's shoes, recycled paper for their shoe boxes, to the water plastic bottles they recycle that goes into their shoelaces! You should definitely check out their Materials Page and learn some awesome facts about how they go about making sustainable shoes. For men, Simple Shoes offers five collections: EcoSneaks - stylish sustainable sneakers made from recycled tires, hemp, 100%organic cotton, and other sustainable materials, Green Toe - a variety of shoes that are rated "best," in terms of sustainability, helping you more on your green decision-making, Heritage - only two eco-friendly pairs are listed in this collection, both rating "good," which basically means less sustainable (but still is) than their other pairs, Collegiate - the name itself says what this collection is about: sustainable shoes for the cool and comfort-loving college student, featuring college and university logos, and House Shoes - for comfy, guilt-free padding for your paws while lounging in your house. The cost of a pair of sustainable shoes from Simple Shoes ranges from $70-$90.

2. Zappos Men's Eco-friendly Shoes. Zappos, the popular internet store for bargain shoes, is definitely not lagging behind. Under their Men's Shoes, you can select eco-friendly athletic or casual shoes. Under the eco-friendly athletic shoes, options range from canvas sneakers to rubber shoes, with prices from $40 to $300. Under the eco-friendly casual shoes, there are loafers, boots, and trekking sandals to choose from as well, with prices ranging between $30 and $120. A pair that seems to never go out of style, these eco-friendly Converse sneakers might be something you'd want as a green staple ($80 a pair). And don't forget, these shoes ship from Zappos for free! (Great return policy as well.)

3. Pristine Planet. This website will come in handy if you are having trouble deciding just which green pair of shoes you should get. Describing itself as a website for "eco-friendly comparison shopping," Pristine Planet makes it easy for you to view green shoes side by side, with their prices and distinct characteristics. Using their tabs for men's shoes, you can choose from athletic shoes, boots, casual shoes, dress shoes, flip flops, sandals, and slippers. For dress shoes, the first page features four different pairs of eco-friendly dress shoes from Ecolution and Ethical Wares, with prices ranging from $75 to $114. Pristine Planet also suggests the websites where you can get the shoes they feature. Each comparison page features all the products you can choose from under the category you select, and includes an image of the product, price, and sustainable specifications.