My shoe obsession grows up to be a little greener

There’s something about women and a shoe obsession.

I know this, because I’m not an outsider-looking-in.

I often pack more shoes than trip-days. I feel calmly inspired when walking through DSW or Nordstrom’s shoe department. And even though I work at home most days and I’m a mother of a toddler every day, I still like to opt for a cute pair of heels, especially when I’m feeling not-so-hot. (OK, so if it’s not a school day, those heels may be a little more practical for chasing my little boy, like wedge sandals.)

My point: Cute shoes make me smile. And I’m huge into doing what brings happiness.

So what about the shoe obsession growing up part?

That’s why I’m happy/sad that I now know how a shoe obsession can impact the planet.

Happy because our family tries to be a fairly ‘green’… recycling, upcycling, re-using, composting. I like to learn how we can continue to do our part on the planet.

Sad because I just read in Matt Power’s Green Builder magazine ‘Nature Strikes Back’ article that one pair of shoes produces global warming pollutants equivalent to driving a typical car about 17 miles, that 20 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured every year, and that 104 million pairs are thrown away every year.

Big numbers impact us in a big way.

While I still can’t resist admiring gorgeous designs, I don’t think I’ll be able to acquire another pair of shoes without thinking about Matt and his article.

And I think that my wide-eyed shoe obsession has grown-up a little.