Our Planet Isn't Disposable, Why Should Our Society Be?

Reuseit Reusable Set

Unless you grow your own food or dumpster dive, grocery shopping is sort of a must.  A friend of mine has the habit of throwing everything -- including produce -- into her cart and then into her car; no bags of any kind.  I just can't wrap my brain around that.  The way I see it is that I just spent precious money on this food and I need to keep it safe and protected until it can be safely stowed away in my kitchen.  For me, this requires so sort of capsule to store it all in.

Yes, this entry is about reusable shopping bags.  Reusable shopping bags are a great way to cut down your plastic impact on the environment.  With the use of reusable bags, less plastic bags are ending up in landfills where they pollute the ground and never break down.  Also, if your concerns are a little bit closer to your own comfort than the environmental impact of plastic, look at it this way:  reusable bags are meant to last which means they are not going to rip and tear like plastic bags.  Less hassle.

Grocery stores carry reusable bags.  Trader Joe's, has one design that is only 99-cents per bag.  My roommate has about ten reusable bags from Walmart that she uses for her grocery shopping.  If you want something that fits your personality or style or perhaps you are looking for specific materials, whatever the case may be, I recommend Reuseit.  They even have a thermal bag to keep frozen items cold.  Genius.  Many of these bags are made out of recyclable materials and even come in sets for your convenience.  Reusable things are the easiest way to limit your negative impact on the environment. 

For our own convenience, we've created this disposable culture and now we're drowning in it.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to be disposable.

Vegans Need Shoes, Too.

For a lot of people, I think the challenge with being vegan comes not from food choices but life choices.  What do you wear?  This may sound like a stupid question, to some.  Just wear cotton shirts and jeans; don't wear leather, wool, or silk.  There, dilemma averted.  It's really not that simple, though.  Yes, don't wear leather, wool, or silk.  Just like with food, however, other animal parts and fluids find their way into the fashion industry through products besides leather, wool, and silk. 
The biggest problem is shoes.  Finding vegan shoes can be a daunting task for a lot of people.  Even if you manage to avoid leather, you are still dealing with potential glues made from animals and then there is the issue of sustainability.  How were these shoes made?  What was the impact on the environment?  Was a sweatshop used?  There are so many questions to ask.  There is one, however, that never needs asking:  do I have to sacrifice fashion for compassion?  No, you don't.

There are a lot of great brands that have vegan and sustainable lines.  So, if you're interested in How To Find Fashionable Vegan Shoes, follow me.

The article above, courtesy of One Green Planet, lists international shoe sellers.  There are lines from London, the UK, Portugal, and Brazil.  If, like me, you would like to stay a tad bit closer to home and/or don't want to have to deal with the dollars pathetic translation, there are great options in the states.  In New York, there is a place called MooShoes.  It is kind of like a one-stop-shop for vegan shoes.  I recommend the sale section, unless you're used to spending $100+ on a pair of shoes.  Follow your heart.

If you want something more readily available where you are, I recommend olsen Haus.  Now, I know what you're saying... these are still pretty expensive.  I know that.  Here's the thing.  Shoes get a lot of use; a lot of wear and tear.  These are quality shoes made from quality materials manufactured in a sustainable, reusable way.  These aren't Old Navy's $2 flip-flops.  For something more affordable, check out TOMS vegan line.  Out of everything you wear, shoes are one thing you definitely shouldn't cheap out on.  They protect your feet and endure the most abuse. 

Check out the One Green Planet article and the next time you're out buying shoes, think about what they're made out of, how long they will last, and if it's really worth what you're paying.