Hydrogen is a hotly touted energy source for many, and a form of energy to be cautioned away from for others. It is, however, the focus of quite substantial current development and spending. Hydrogen also has a unique place in the public imagination following its place in the futurism schematics of past decades; put forward as a fuel for for cars and transportation machines, many of us will remember the story of the hydrogen powered car that ‘the corporations won’t let us have’.

Hydrogen (H) is produced from water (H20); when the hydrogen is combined with oxygen (O), it produces energy.

The hydrogen must first be produced from water, then, before it can be used as a fuel. Electrolosis of water is one method of ‘getting the hydrogen out’ of the water; it is paramount that the energy used for the electrolosis process is kept at a low level in order for the whole enterprise to be worthwhile (i.e., so that it isn’t the case that more energy is spent than is gained); the energy used for this electrolosis should also be of a renewable kind, from a green source. Hydrogen, produced in this way, could then be a viable alternative to fossil fuels. But done wrongly, more energy will be spent producing the hydrogen than is gained when the hydrogen is eventually used as a fuel; and if the energy used to produce the hydrogen is from ‘dirty’ fossil fuels, then the whole enterprise starts to look pretty un-green.

Those who wish to promote hydrogen as a fuel of choice in a future green energy economy point to its ‘clean’ nature when used a fuel for cars or engines; there is no volatile, noxeous or pollutive gases in its exhaust, and instead, only water vapour is released. The controversy arises instead from the energy used in its creation and transportation as a fuel- this is where the current development process needs to iron out the problems. One possible option to aleviate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the production of hydrogen is to have carbon capture or carbon sequestration used where the hydrogen is produced: carbon capture, however, is a controversial issue in many people’s books, and hasn’t been resolved satifactorily for everyone. It seems rather a bad and wasteful idea to pump out CO2 willy nilly, with the hope of this gas being ‘captured’.

The use of renewable energy to produce hydrogen from water is a way out of the fossil fuel method of production. A hybrid of hydrogen power with wind or solar is a hopeful option- in this way, the wind (freely available and renewable) can be used not only to create power for the grid, but also to electrolise water and gain hydrogen; the hydrogen is thus made without damaging the atmosphere with fossil fuel pollutants and CO2, and the hydrgoen thus gained can be used as an alternative power source when wind or sunlight is not strong. The energy sources thus bolster each other. The use of excessive energy to store the hydrogen (a very delicate substance), however, would still need to be reversed.

The main argument against using hydrogen as an alternative fuel, then, is that it isn’t freely available (like wind) and needs energy to ‘create’ it- and this use of energy in hydrogen’s production can also have the side effect of producing harmful greenhouse gases and pollutants.
Amongst other issues is the fact that hydrogen is a gas at most temperatures, which requires energy to store and maintain.

Motorised vehicles, for which hydrogen has been historically linked in an optimistic manner, are generally being converted to electricity instead; Ford have dropped all plans to make hydrogen powered cars, and are instead planning only to electrify their vehicles.

Despite these issues and concerns, hydrogen production is nevertheless a large expanding indistry. According to the Chemical Economics Handbook, SRI, July 2001, it is estimated that 50 million tons of hydrogen were produced globally in 2004, next to 170 million tonnes of oil. According to the University of Leeds, the growth rate of hydrogen, worldwide, is around 10 per cent per year

At present, the figures show that barely any of the hydrogen being produced is coming from renewable sources- figures seem to agree on about 5%. The rest is from dirty fuels. The Chemical Economics Handbook puts the percentages of energy methods for procuding hydrogen at 48% natural gas, 30% oil, and 18% coal, water electrolysis 4%- a miserable figure from a green perspective.

Let us hope, then, that if this form of energy will continued to be used in such large quantities, a severe reversal happens in how it is produced; and if not, then other sources of energy are quickly found to replace it.

Posted under Climate, Electricity Generation, Gas & Electricity, Renewable Energy

Wind power is something that most of us are by now familiar with. Wind power- the energy of the raw winds, used to turn mills, whose drive then transfers the energy to a more handy form for us humans- is now so widespread that windfarms are a common sight, and are steadily multiplying across the face of the earth.

But while wind power continues to be a popular form of renewable energy in both the public’s mind and in the policies of politicians and in government acts, a criticism of the medium persists: the intermittent nature of wind power. Coal, as long as it is abundant or easily bought on the market from elsewhere, can always be burnt. Wind, however, is not always so passive and malleable- wind farms consist of giant mills rooted deep into the ground, and are thus at the mercy of the climate and weather, which ultimately produces the aerial currents which are its ‘fuel’.
Wind farms cannot move elsewhere in order to get a better hit of wind, like a surfer who wants to find the best waves, and winds cannot be imported or moved in bulk.

One potential solution that has been proposed is a hybrid of wind power and stored hydrogen. Put simply, the hybrid system works like this: power is harnessed from the wind through mills, and this power is used for the grid (where it heats our homes, lights our buildings, etc) as well as for the additional purpose of electrolysis water, which creates hydrogen- this hydrogen is ‘bottled up’ and stored, and on those days when the wind is lagging, the hydrogen is ‘unbottled’ and used to create electricity and power- either through fuel cell technology or through a combustion engine linked to an electrical generator.

There are many issues that have arisen in the discussion and early attempts at realising wind hydrogen hybrid technology- one major issue is the storage of the hydrogen itself. Underground storage has been investigated, and is often seen as the favoured method in a possible wind-hydrogen hybrid system. Hydrogen storage is tricky because, for one thing, it requires very large tanks to hold it. Increasing the pressure for these tanks would make them smaller, but also denser. Compressed hydrogen takes up a lot of energy for the compression process, making it inefficient; hydrogen can also be kept as a liquid (think the liquid nitrogen of Hollywood films that freezes what it touches). The thing about liquefaction is that the hydrogen has to be kept very, very cold to keep it a liquid- hydrogen boils at -252.882 degrees celsius, so it has to be kept at a lower temperature than that, which takes up a hell of a lot of energy. The delicate insulation for the appropriate storage tanks is also very expensive.

Underground storage, which many would like to see as the main way of keeping hydrogen ready for power creation when the wind is running weak, would involve depleted gas and oil fields, underground caverns, or salt domes- according to Wikipedia, the chemical manufacturing giant ICI has stored gaseous hydrogen in underground caverns for years without any problems.

The Australian company WHL Energy Limited is a key player in the development of this hybrid system, and according to its website ‘is actively pursuing a regional expansion strategy in Latin America and China, in addition to the UK and Australia’. Wikipedia states that test sites for the company’s wind hydrogen system exist across Canada, Denmark, North America, Argentina, Scotland, Greece, and Norway.

A wind-hydrogen hybrid, then, looks like a positive step towards smoothing out the problems with the renewable and freely available energy that can be gained from wind- whether the difficulties of hydrogen storage can be overcome will depend upon the limits of our technology and the unfolding of time.

Posted under Articles, Climate, Electricity Generation, Gas & Electricity, Renewable Energy

The Times of London reported today of a new deal between a small, UK-based tidal energy company, Atlantis Resources, and the government of India, in a plan which hopes to harness the energy of the seas around India for the first time.

The Western Indian state of Gujarat have given the contract to Atlantic Resources, and in particular the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat (both in the Arabian Sea) will be investigated for their energy-producing potential, owing to the extreme daily tides that act within those areas. If successful, the initial study could lead to millions of pounds being pumped into tidal energy.

India is struggling with a power deficit in the face of a rising population and growing economic weight. The need to increase its power production is set against its appearance at the Copenhagen Summit this December, where India hopes to bring positive environmental goals and actions to the table and promote itself as a progressive nation.

India has already established itself as a word-leader in wind power, and has instigated a $19 billion development plan for solar energy. According to indiaenvironmentportal.org, India’s National Solar Mission intends to have a 20 Gigawatt capacity for solar generation by 2020- and 200 Gigawatts of power from the sun by 2050. To put this in perspective, at present the entire world’s solar generators can generate approximately 14 Gigawatts of solar power.

Despite India’s progressive approach and active measures for renewable power sources, the large population and distribution of wealth means that its energy deficit needs to be countered urgently: up to 400 millions are not connected to the energy grid.

Also, India currently imports 70% of its oil and has only a small bank of coal reserves that it uses to generate electricity. According to reports, India will become one of the three major consumers of energy in the world by 2030, third only behind China and the USA- these measures are part of a much-needed plan to become self-sufficient and sustainable as a country.

The environmental need is also recognised as being essential: the Times quotes the McKinsey report, conducted by consultants for the project, in saying that India is likely to produce 6.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases in 2030, compared with 1.6 billion at present.

Posted under Electricity Generation, Environmental News, News, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized

Situated in the eastern chunk of England that verges on ancient marshland and earthy conservation areas, Sarah Green’s family farm possesses 25 acres of organic, Soil Association registered land, where seasonal and organic vegetables and fruit are grown. The kind of venture that is increasingly popular with families, foodies and anyone with an interest in food-miles, the farm’s shop in North Street, Tillingham, sells their varied range of greens, along with their own free-range eggs and plenty of other stocks, including meat, juice, cereals and cooking essentials.

Travelling only half of a mile to the shop, the produce is also available in the form of ‘veg boxes’ (although a lot more than just veg can be bought). Sarah Green can deliver these weekly to pretty much anywhere in the Dengie Peninsula- that’s the area of Essex between the tidal rivers of Blackwater in the North, and the River Crouch to the South.

Ranging in price from £8 to £20, there are five sizes of box available. The food is all seasonal, and a constant, weekly variation will keep the organic produce fresh and interesting. Potatoes and carrots are there as a staple every week- the winter months might see the addition of leeks, cabbage, parsnips, purple sprouting broccoli, curly kale, or celeriac. Summer might see bunched beetroot, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, radish, pepper, fine beans, aubergines, fennel, or many others. The vegetables are all harvested straight into your box.

For those wanting to try out Sarah Green’s produce before they commit to a box, the farm also sells their wares in Green’s shop at 74 High Street, Maldon, Essex and Lathcoats Farm Shop, Chelmsford.

A great way to support local farming in the east of England, and to bring home fresh and natural food without having to leave the house.

Visit www.sarahgreensorganics.co.uk for more details on Sarah’s box scheme.

Posted under Articles, Companies, Corporate, Gas & Electricity, House & Home, Product Innovations

The government of India is to set up a ‘national environment protection authority’- designed to implement and monitor green laws- within two months, the Indian minister of environment and forests, Jairam Ram, has confirmed.

A “whole new direction” is being promised for the government by the minister, and the creation of this authority will be discussed at a meeting of all Indian states being held on November 26.

Ram said that the failure of the executive government to act on environmental issues- despite India’s progressive laws- had resulted in dirty cities, saying that “If a Nobel Prize is given for dirt and filth, India would win it hands down”. The new authority is hoping to push forward the implementation of these existing and new laws in the face of an executive which has “abdicated its responsibility” of governance in terms of green sustainability.

The minister made a bold move forward by saying that instead of the traditional GDP (gross domestic product) figure, a green domestic product figure should be calculated, one which takes into account the costs of environmental degradation; this has apparently been initiated, and India will take environmental issues into account for GDP figures, according to the minister, by 2015.

Ramesh has stated that he wants the maintenance of forest management to be conducted by the public sector and government primarily- saying that the “private sector is interested in plantations, while I am interested in forests”. He also believes that beef should cease to be eaten, in order to reduce the CO2 that is emitted in producing animal feed and in the transportation of meat.

Good news for India, and hopefully a strategy that will, in its boldness, ensure that the large population of India (estimated at 1.17 billion in July 2009) has the benefit of cleaner metropolises and a government that is a leading example in green legislation implementation.

Posted under Climate, Environmental News, News

The environmental defender, Nobel Laureate, and previous vice-president of the United States of America, Al Gore, spoke to the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Greenbuild International Conference and Expo this month in Phoenix, Arazona, in a talk that specified the importance of a bigger green sector for the boosting of the US (and, by association, the world) economy.

In his keynote speech for the world’s largest building conference, with 27,000 attendees, Gore used powerful rhetoric to scare, inspire and congratulate the aydience of architects, engineers, planners and other professionals, saying “This rollercoaster is headed for a crash, and we’re in the front seat”.

But it was not all fire and brimstone- Gore congratulated the attendees for their dedication and interest, telling them that “You have made a very smart choice, because you’re doing the right thing, and you’re going to prosper because of it”. Gore also stressed the power of a green sector in economic and also national security terms, stating that “We’re in a time now where we’ve got to make some big changes. The green movement is growing leaps and bounds across the US and the world–the green movement is not only good for the environment but for the economy and national security.”

He then went onto more specific points concerning these green goals, saying that “I know where we can get at least two-and-a-half million jobs, by building green buildings and retrofitting buildings to LEED standards.” (LEED is a comprehensive, third-party green building code, standing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and developed by the US Green Building Council.) “Yes, it’s important to change the light bulbs and windows, but it’s even more important to change the laws and the policies,” Gore said. “We’ve got everything we need, with the possible exception of political will.”

Gore stressed that we had the tools and power to build and boost this green sector and simulatneously to help the environment: “We can solve this crisis,” he said. “We have the tools we need to solve three or four climate crises and we need to only solve one.”

Posted under Environmental News, News

With the transportation by vehicle of entire film crews, and the disposable props and bottled water of film shoots (not to mention entire large-scale sets being built and thrown away- think of the entire freeway that was built for the Matrix sequels), the sustainability of film-making appears to be a pressing issue.
As part of the BFI’s 2009 London Film Festival, a discussion on the sustainability of the filmmaking was held in association with Time Out magazine, featuring environmental writers and film industry insiders.

Andy Whitaker, of the distribution company Dogwoof, discussed how the premiere for his release of Franny Armstrong’s film The Age of Stupid was a ‘0-footprint’ affair, where big names like Vivienne Westwood turned up on a bicycle rather than in a limo. Next, the Guardian journalist Leo Hickman reflected on the Mayor of London’s recent ‘Green Screen’ report, which examined the capital’s film and television industry. Apparently, 125,000 tonnes of CO2 is emitted by this sector per year (that’s the equivalent of 24,000 households). According to report, the breakdown of the London screen industry’s emissions consists of 40% from studio production, and 17% from location shooting. The report also indicated that London is the third busiest centre for movie production.

Leo picked up on a fascinating project planned for Pinewood Studios, outer West-London, where a ‘living and working community for creatives’ will be created, consisting of 1,400 sustainable new dwellings situated in the re-created streets of New York, San Fransisco, Amsterdam and Paris. This somewhat bizarre place will enable people to live in an atmospheric re-creation of a foreign city, where crews can come and shoot scenes without having to constantly re-build sets or transport a film crew to the foreign city in question. Pinewood hope that the project will bring about a maximum 77% reduction in emissions for the average film or commercial (quite optimistic). A local resident of Pinewood pointed out that, at £300- £400,000 per property, these homes will be far from affordable.

This ‘re-usable set’ concept brought up the ‘Film City’ of Bombay, where a variety of indoor sets exist and are re-used, with slight modifications, by many film crews working on different films. It also brought up slightly humorous memories of the Hammer films and the gothic castle on the Thames which served in many of their 1970s productions.

An interesting company mentioned in the discussion was Green Shoot whose business it is supply green runners to film sets, who are responbible for on-set recycling. They also provide a film set recycling service (currently sets all go to landfill), and carry out green audits for productions. Green Shoot’s founders come from a standard film background, and its creation had more of a financial motivation that a green one, going to show that recycling the elements of film production can be a profitable venture. They’ve greened up productions such as the St Trinians movies, amongst others.

Another issue mentioned was the distribution of films throughout the UK cinema network. At four to eight weeks of release per film, and with over half of UK cinemas still using 35mm film, a lot of large and heavy cans of film (up to seven cans per normal-length film) have to be transported around the country, and indeed the world. The 35mm film is generally thrown away by the cinema at the end of the run.
Nicola Giuggioli of Brightwide.com discussed his own internet platform which streams high-quality eco, green and social film. A great example of a high-quality green film streaming online is ‘Home’, an aerial film of Earth available on YouTube in High Definition.

Despite the emotionally persuasive breed of environmental films ‘emitted’ by Hollywood (excuse the pun), whether they be disaster movies such as The Day After Tomorrow or child-based animation like Wall-E, many factions within Hollywood still stay away from environmetal film-making; one reason for this is that whilst the clients of advertising companies often want to look green for marketing benefits, and will therefore be open to ways to green up their advertisement shoots, larger feature-film companies exist on their own plain and have less to answer to.

However, the talk did highlight the perhaps little-known fact amongst the cinema-going public that Warner Brothers are actually leading the way in recognised, commended green initiatives. What with the wholesale Fairtrade conversion of Starbucks, the weather seems to be finally turning- another omen exists with the rumours of looming legislation, including a ‘landfill tax’ that will make it a financially necessity to green-up film. This pressure is perhaps what is stimulating some of this change.

Although, as one person at the talk aptly put it, if there’s a skip on every film set, why not put a ‘green skip’ there instead?

Posted under Articles, Events, Lifestyle & Fashion

If you’ve been walking the streets of London recently, you might have seen more and more silver Toyotas tucked in amongst the ranks of parked motors. It’s pleasing to see the Prius hybrid, along with other dual and fully-electric cars, infiltrate the transport norms of urban and sub-urban society.  But while the hawk-eyed may have seen these slowly multiplying series-parallel hybrids, they might not have heard them.

For the electric motors used in these cars are notoriously silent; stealthy, in fact. Indeed it is often touted in associated marketing as a good reason to buy one- less noise pollution for your street when starting the car at 6am, lighter on your eardrums, etc.

But just as speedy cyclists can slice into oblivious pedestrians who cross the road without looking, hybrid and electric cars can be a danger. Cyclists at least have the option of a bell; these cars, at present, have nothing. The silence of electric and hybrid cars has in this way been called into question.

Hybrid cars, running on their electric motors when travelling at low speeds, generally don’t make use of their louder internal combustion engines until a higher speed has been reached (this engine is what charges the internal battery).

The United States Congress is already considering legislation that would require an audible warning being built into electric cars to alert pedestrians of their approach. The English Ministry of Transport is also addressing the issue, drawing up a report to be published by the end of the year. The issue of blind persons, who often use their ears to listen out for approaching traffic before crossing a road, is one of the key concerns. The car manufacturing industry, however, is split on how to approach the issue; Nissan, for example, have been developing a range of sounds that could be added to the vehicle (including a ‘chime’, a melody, and a ‘whir’), whilst other engineers are reluctant to spoil the accumulated development of specialised engineering, decades in the making, which has finally seen the results of their ideal made manifest: a silent and smooth car engine.

One possible solution is the inclusion of a sound-emitting device, stimulated ‘on demand’- a built-in noise-maker that emits a personalised sound (perhaps even one recorded by the driver) when a button is pressed: thus allowing drivers to alert oblivious pedestrians if necessary but without creating an uncontrollable, unstoppable noise for the car that might counteract the benefits of a quieter engine.
A ringtone for your car? Let’s hope that instead we’ll be hearing simulated warp-speed and the soft bleeps, hums and clicks of docking spaceships.

Posted under Cars & Transport, Environmental News, Product Innovations, Uncategorized

Is leather green?

As a product, it seems to be- it’s natural, will eventually biodegrade, has a decent lifespan and promotes a culture of natural products, against cheap synthetics which are not bought to last and which often use fossil-based energy or materials to create.
Is its production green? It can be eco-unfriendly when chemicals are used to process it, and farming animals can be harmful to the environment. But chemicals don’t have to be used and farming doesn’t have to be intensive.

Leather is a substance that, as a natural material of durable quality and ancient origins of ritual craft, has regularly intrigued and enchanted this EcoSwitch writer. Synthetic materials- whether they be straps on bags or grip-tape on a cycle’s handlebars- certainly are resistant, but abrasively so- a cut or burn from synthetic fibres sting deeply and seems wholly unnatural; the material will get shabby and unusable without losing its integrity, meaning that it becomes a useless shell; and if and when the item made from synthetic material gets ripped or torn (more the case with less durable synthetics like thin polyester clothing) the thing seems irreparable and as if it has nowhere to go- it wont rot, so what the hell do you do with it?
Leather, on the other hand, doesn’t burn you and wears in naturally. It is strong enough to be stitched (in most cases) and repaired. An old leather belt looks good and feels good. There are other natural materials than leather, of course; but it is a strong and protective fibre. If one has enough green-consciousness, one will keep irrepairable or soiled leather items for some future use, and will not go crazy on purchasing leather items; they will treat each piece of leather as a sacred object (of sorts) and appreciate all the energy, life, craft and time that has gone into each piece. A green-conscious leather-user, then, will exercise respect, care and moderation (one mustn’t forget that over-consumptive non-greens could probably make an environmental crisis occur through the overuse of hemp, or by planting too many trees in the wrong place- the key here is moderation).

Leather, then, seems to have the potential to be as renewable as sustainably produced meat. If organic beef can be cultivated sustainably, with an accreditation system and recognised certification bodies, then the ‘next step’ of extending these systems to the side-product of edible meat doesn’t seem to be an impossible goal. Leather has been used for millennia; think of the heroic characters of Homer’s epics who wore leather circa 1200BC, aside from much more ancient instances (which is not to say that leather production has always been a ‘noble’ trade; aside from perhaps the native Americans, in many civilisations, the trade was considered foul because of the urine and faeces that was used to tan hides).

The fact that leather is most often a by-product makes it seem an efficient and resourceful use of an animal- be it a cow, ostrich or bison; dependent, of course, on the processes and industries that sustain and ultimately kill the animal. The commercial beef industry has been much investigated and rightfully exposed for its many wrongs. Looking at another animal, the ostrich, also highlights the dangers- ostriches were at one point in history hunted almost to extinction, and in the 1700’s were hunted purely for their decorative feathers. Ostrich leather is a highly luxurious item, and is even today used to make handbags for high-class fashion houses- there is, however, a market for ostrich meat, meaning that the frivolities of consumers with disposable incomes has not led, at the present time, to a complete, massive and wasteful hunting of the bird. Naturally-tanned leather, then, gained as a by-product from the sustainable, small-scale farming of animals, will surely appeal to meat-eating greens as an eco-friendly option; with the proviso that such leather items are necessities (this elimnates leather-coated tooth-pick holders, for instance, from the equation), and that a responsible use and purchasing of leather is maintained (buying clothes for life, etc).

Leather can in theory be produced on a small scale, and without ruining land. The analyses of those more thoughtful than this writer have shown that certain animals- e.g. bison- have less of an impact on their environment than cows, the traditional source of our leather: aside from needing less water and grass than cows, bison are said to help till the soil with their sharper feet. Being primarily pastured animals (many cows, in contrast, are kept in cage-like homes) they also fertilise this tilled soil with their waste. Bison are in fact distributed in both North America and Europe (the European species being known as the ‘wisent’); this use of bison would, though, have to be squared with the meat-production of the animal (there would need to be a market for parts of the bison other than its hide to make its farmed life ‘worthwhile’).

Leather can also be produced without hard chemical involvement. Bark tanning was actually a precursor to ‘chrome’ tanning; chrome tanning is an industrial innovation, used because it’s a lot faster than plant-tanning. Amongst many other things, it has been shown in studies to be a human carcinogen when inhaled. The risks for tanning-workers adds to a negative picture of this chemical-intensive process; the chemical tanning of hides also uses fungicides and other aggressive ingredients to preserve the leather.

Natual tanning processes, on the other hand, which use the tannins in plants for the tanning procedure, use only salt water to rid the hide of bacteria. Plant tanning is the ancient precursor to chrome tanning, and was the primary method before chrome came along; it can be found throughout history, whether in early modern western civilisations or, it is speculated, in cultures such as the Egyptian world of 5000BC. Eco-tanneries use sustainably harvested pure plant agents.

If one is an optimist regarding animal farming and its sustainability and small-scale potential- or even if one accepts that people will continue eating meat and therefore feels that the whole animal should be made us of (possibly a controversial position)- then natural leather might well be a material of choice. Plant tanneries and, further down the line, small-scale leather workshops (such as that of Green Shoes, England, mentioned in another article on this site) show that it can be produced effectively without harsh chemical involvement, with low-energy methods and with minimum ecological repercussions when it has finished its use as a serviceable object.

Recycled leather is another issue, and shouldn’t be discussed here; that seems like a no-brainer, seeing as no animals were killed for a second-, third- or fourth-generation item; the ethical issue of wearing dead animal skin is another concern.

Posted under Articles, How To's & Guides, Lifestyle & Fashion

Shoes, in my opinion, should aspire to be like a piece of furniture. Let me explain- I’ve had shoes that wear at the toe, or tear slowly and horribly along funny creases, after fairly short lives. I look for shoes that age well, shoes of substance. Shoes that withstand the rot. All shoes die of course, as will any textile, and as a genus they have shorter lifespans than a mahogany desk, or a marble paperweight- but shoes should at least be repairable. Their parts should be upgradable like a well-built piece of machinery. I think of the ideal shoe as being something solid; something deeply coloured and of an esteemed nature. A practical thing, to be admired like a piece of decorative art. An investment. Looking for a green or ethical pair like this- now that’s a whole other nightmare.
Having scoured retailers on the high street (I caught wind of an ethical Australian shoe maker from a friend, only to find out they’d moved their production to the far east), I found- whilst browsing for an ethical winter coat, having given up hope on the shoe front- a green shoe company that outdoes the rest. Let me set the scene.

England: the present day. In rural Devon, by the banks of the River Dart, there is a workshop. Inside, a small group of artisans work, making shoes by hand. Not only are these shoes handmade, by craftspeople, in the country of their sale, but they are made using materials that would please a range of green-minded people. The reason why these green shoes seem to be a cut above the rest is that you can go for a naturally-tanned leather option, if that pleases your reason, or else, a vegan one. So, depending on the shape of your principles, there will be a shoe that fits.
Further, the soles can be made in crepe rubber, wedge rubber, or Vibram tractor (the toughest-wearing). Further customisation is possible- the crepe can be made into a classic looking sole with heel (E.g. for a smart shoe) or a wedge. You can specify the width of the shoe, and they do half-sizes. Part of the ordering process consists of drawing your foot: and measuring your calf, for tall boots. Now that’s a custom job.

What else makes these green shoes so flexible? You can choose the colour, the shoes can be completely repaired (even the elastic and the eyelets) and re-soled, and the children’s shoes can be stretched to incorporate a growing child’s feet- that might come in handy.

This kind of choice is the kind of thing one would expect from a Jermyn street tailor; to have bespoke shoes made to order like this, and to have this choice for *green shoes*- that’s what makes this company extra special, and why I’ve chosen to write about them here.

(Plus, these are handmade. Not, ‘made with hands coming into the process somewhere’,  but handmade- made with hands, by maker-designers; shoesmiths; William Morris types (stop me here).

Some notes on the materials: the eco-leather option (eco-tan) consists of a soft leather tanned using only plants- as opposed to harsh chemicals and energy-draining methods. The leather comes from a small-scale, artisan tannery in Europe with excellent eco-credentials. The vegan shoes are made from Lorica, which is a Roman word referring to flexible yet protective body armour. Lorica is made from microfibres which are dyed and softened in Italy. The glues, soles and threads in the vegan shoes are also non-animal derived. The rubber for the crepe soles is from renewable plantations in Sri Lanka.

The shoes are made to order, so there is no excess energy used and minimal waste. Leftovers and scraps are used to make accessories and jewellery rather than being thrown away.

This, to me, is what green manufacturing is all about- buying for life, or, at least, for a long time. Unrepairable items end up in a bin, with a massive waste of material, and of money; cheap and unrepairable goods have to be bought again and again when they inevitably break.

Ethics, choice and sustainability. With a thoughtfully designed style that make one feel swish and comfortable while the shoes are doing their job of supporting their owner and repelling the aqueous and earthen elements. Head through to the Green Shoes website to have a look at the footwear designs on offer.. www.greenshoes.co.uk

Also, if you live near the area, then check out the shoemaking workshops! The one day programmes are held throughout the year. Visitors can also visit the workshop Monday-Friday 9.30-5.30 to get professionally measured or try on some of their stylish and supple shoes.

Posted under Companies, Eco Reviews, Lifestyle & Fashion, Product Innovations