GreenSantaBarbara.com SimpleShoes.com

 

 

 

                 

                    The non-granola guide to

                             ecoETHICS

                                 prepared by your friends at

 

                                         

Geez, there is a lot to this whole green social shift, but it’s important to talk the talk, we are the world leader in sustainable footwear after all… so here is a fun quick guide avoid getting stumped by a hippie or eco-fashionista.

 

Umbrella Terms

*Sustainability – a concept that encompasses economic stability, social equity, and environmental friendliness.

*Environmentalism – advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment.3

*Conservation - preserving and renewing human and natural resources.4

*ecoETHICS - values that incorporate and include conservation and environmental awareness.

*L.O.H.A.S – Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability

 

Clean/Healthy

*Organic – referring to or derived from living organisms.4   They are agriculturally grown without chemical, synthetic, or hormonal input. Several groups including the OCIA provide Organic Certification for the supply chain. Organic apparel ensures that these nasty chemicals don’t infect your skin, and makes as a safer work environment for all steps of the supply all steps of the supply chain.

*Natural – referring to or derived from easy simplicity and freedom from artificiality and affectation.3

*Fair Trade – trading partnership that seeks greater equity, in international trade, based on transparency and respect.5

*Vegan – a diet consisting of non-animal products. The following products are vegan and do not use animal by-products – Play Toe, Sloppy Toe, Toe Foo, Toepeeka, G.T. Jane, CoosToe, Toetem, Vantoe, Loaf – Off Road,

*Locavore – any who consume locally grown and produced food and drink, which means within 100 miles radius.

*Environmentally friendly and Eco Friendly - refers to the degree to which a product may harm the environment.2

Waste Reduction

*Reduce – purchasing and consuming less than normal instead of reusing or recycling later.1

*Reuse – cleaning and/or refurbishing an old product to be used again.1

*Recycle – process of collecting, sorting, and reprocessing old material into usable raw materials.1

*Recyclable – virgin materials that can be recycled.

*Post Consumer Recycling – materials that were initially used for the intended manufactured purpose and then recycled. Example – Office paper or cardboard

*Post Industrial Recycling – materials that were manufactured, but not used for the manufactured purpose. Example - overstock of a newspaper printing mill.

*Biodegradable – material with a naturally-occurring composition that can, when broken down, be absorbed by an ecosystem.1

*Replenishable – To rejuvenate make complete again. In the terms of natural materials, it is a natural process that does not harm the eco-system.  Example - Our crepe rubber, bamboo, and cork are all replenishable.

*Compostable – organic wastes that naturally decompose into a mineral-rich, fertilizing soil.1

*Hazardous waste – wastes that are physically or chemically toxic to the environment and human health.2

 

Energy

*Renewable energy – energy resources that can produce indefinitely without being depleted, Example -  wind power and solar power.1

*Fossil fuel – a fuel derived from the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) organic materials, Example - coal, oil, and natural gas.1

*Telecommuting – working via telephones, computers, and faxes instead of physically traveling to an office.1

*Greenhouse Effect – warming of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases (such as CO2, NOX, SOX, and other gases).

  • Causes Global Warming – increases in global average temperatures on the Earth’s surface.1
    • Causes Climate change – a regional change in temperature and weather patterns.1

 Sources