No Impact Week - Day 6: Giving back

I've been putting off writing about day 6...

The No Impact Project has a list of registered partners you can volunteer with in the States, and probably other places in the world. It is with zero pride that I say that we didn't manage to complete this part of the project. We tried to Google some places to volunteer but one-day opportunities were not plentiful...and I wasn't even sure what to Google. I hope to find a solution for this before we do the second segment of NIW in the Spring.

In the meantime, I had written to a company to complain about some pretty new shoes I'd bought which were already falling apart. They wrote me back and offered to send me a new pair for winter. I struggled with the idea because a) they would be new and b) it was still no impact week even if I'd receive them after. I finally reasoned that if I didn't get this pair, I'd have to get another pair eventually and the chances of me finding a pair of really great shoes second-hand was slim to none...and I'd still have to pay for them.
I guess there are still some solutions I do not see possible, like only buying shoes second-hand since the shoes mold to your feet after awhile and if you're not the first to wear them, they mold to someone else's feet.

I do, however, plan on buying more high quality shoes (though the tough part is figuring out the quality ahead of time since price isn't the best indicator anymore... as was the case this time) and having them fixed. I think we should support our local shoemakers since they have a unique type of knowledge that is worth having around. And when you buy shoes, when you can, buy for life. Obviously this is a lot easier to do with a pair of boots rather than running shoes but it's a good concept to think about and research. If you know companies like this, please let me know!

So no, today's post may not be inspirational but at least it's realistic. Sometimes things don't work out the way you intent and you can draw lessons from them, share ideas with others and see what comes up. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions for what you would've done!

Still a long way to go!

In the interest of self-disclosure, I just bought some new flats that have nothing to do with the environment. I pondered about whether or not I should post this but decided I didn't want to come off as someone who does everything right without any effort, because that wouldn't be true. So instead, shoes go on my eco-friendly wishlist for next purchase!



I had seen them weeks, if not months, ago but at 96€ full price, there was no way I was gonna gamble on another pair of flats. Since they went on sale though, and I knew I really loved them, I went back and got them today.
[See my previous post on only buying stuff you love.]

I'd been trying to decide which items get my focus when it comes to sustainable-living and I've decided that I'm of the opinion that shoes should be made for the individual and not bought second-hand. Though I suppose if they're heels or party shoes and you wear them rarely then the fact that they're not shaped to your foot is not a huge problem. Otherwise, I have some issues with the hygiene of it all but you could make sure they're properly sterilized too.
The irony was that when I was trying them on, I looked up at some other shoes. They were really colourful and, I have to admit, pretty ugly, but they were 100% recycled. The guilt hit me a little but the style was so far from what I'd wear that I couldn't even consider wearing them, let alone ever paying money for them. It seemed to me there are lots of options for eco-friendly shoes which are comfortable but they are restricted to more casual styles... that was before I came home and Googled a little and found this article: Top 10 Eco Friendly, Socially Conscious and Vegan Shoes. Okay so it's not the perfect article because those shoes aren't 100% perfect either, but each of them has something sustainable, whether production methods, content or labour. I was thinking more along the lines of Simple shoes or another shoe company which I cannot find right now, despite the last half an hour I just spent Googling...

What can I say? I have a long way to go. I hope they last me forever. My next purchase will be sustainable! I welcome your comments and suggestions.