Why Vegan Shoes Are Better for the Environment
Are you concerned about the impact of your choices on the environment? Have you ever considered the impact that your shoes have on the environment? Studies have shown that adopting a vegan lifestyle is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment. This lifestyle can help to reduce your individual carbon footprint by up to 73%.
Vegan fashion alternatives are now making it possible to choose fashion that is sustainable. An online search for ‘sustainable sneakers womens’ will bring up alternatives that you can choose that have been made in a more sustainable way.
What is vegan leather and is it more sustainable?
In the past, if you were vegan and didn’t want to wear shoes made from animal leather, you would have to settle for plastic shoes. Plastic shoes have been around for decades. While they offer an alternative for animal leather, they are still not a sustainable option. Plastic is one of the biggest sources of pollution on the planet.
Vegan leather offers a sustainable alternative. This leather is made from plant products that mimic leather. Vegan footwear is therefore made without any animal byproducts or ingredients. They are a great alternative for those that are searching for sustainable products even if you don’t practice a vegan lifestyle.
Raising animals for their skin taxes the environment. Trees have to be cleared to create pastures on which these animals can feed. Feeding can be energy-intensive and antibiotics used to treat the animals can find their way into the food chain.
The processing of animal leather is a major source of environmental pollution. Animal hides must be treated with chemicals to prevent deterioration. These include chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and chromium that can leach into the soil or find their way into the water. These chemicals have been shown to be carcinogenic in high enough volumes. In fact, leather tanners have been ranked in the top 10 toxic polluters in the world.
Many brands that manufacturer vegan leather and vegan shoes are careful not to include animal ingredients or byproducts in the production process. Many brands are also conscious of their impact on the environment. They minimize the use of chemicals considered harmful to the environment in the production process. However, this is not true for all brands. Some brands make use of ingredients such as polyvinyl chloride. This contains phthalates. These chemical additives have been linked to a wide variety of health problems.
If you’re searching for ‘sustainable sandals womens’, be sure to learn more about what materials were used to make the shoes. Purchase vegan shoes from brands that are committed to sustainable production.