Founder and CEO of UniGuide

15 Wood Frame Sunglasses (Bamboo Sunglasses Too!)

Eco-friendly sunglasses make a fashion forward statement in today’s world, and wood frame sunglasses are some of the coolest to hit the streets in recent years. Plus, the selection of stylish bamboo sunglasses has never been better. In a way, both are the quintessential eco-conscious shades because they’re unmistakably “plant-based.”

People often refer to bamboo as a wood, as in “I’m looking for bamboo wood sunglasses,” because bamboo has the same aesthetic qualities as real wood. However, bamboo is actually a fast-growing grass – it holds the world’s record for the fastest growing plant.

In addition to being Earth-friendly, both wood and bamboo sunglasses are lightweight, so they’re comfortable enough to wear all day long. Not to mention, many styles float, making them the perfect accessory for having fun in the water on a sunny summer day.

Today, you can find wood-framed sunglasses in cherry wood, maple, pear, and other varieties. And because every tree is different, no two pairs are exactly alike. Some designers are also making sunglasses from reclaimed wood that was previously used for flooring, skateboard decks, and other products.

Aside from the aesthetics, why should you buy sunglasses that are made with wood frames, bamboo, or other sustainable materials?

All over the world, people wear sunglasses. This year, Americans alone will buy 200 million pairs. With our growing plastic pollution crisis, it only makes sense to reduce the amount of virgin plastic we buy. Purchasing sunglasses that use less virgin plastic, or none at all, is the optimal way to go.

Here are some innovative brands making cool sunglasses with wood and bamboo frames:

WOOD FRAME SUNGLASSES

1. Wooden-Framed Sunglasses by Woodies

As the name implies, Woodies is all about wood sunglasses. Their brand has a fun retro vibe, but their materials, including polarized lenses, are all cutting edge. The company is devoted to making petrol-plastic a thing of the past. Woodies offers a broad selection of men’s and women’s frame shapes in an impressive collection of woods, including rose wood, zebra wood, walnut, and more.

Here’s a promo video for Woodies:

Price: $25.00 – $55.00

2. Handmade Real Wood Sunglasses by Paul Ven

Designer Paul Ven creates artisanal real wood sunglasses in walnut, ebony, zebra wood, oak, and maple. Paul Ven’s designed are created in London, and their Etsy page claims,

“People (especially in London and probably other big cities) who don’t have these wood sunglasses will express high levels of jealousy towards you. They’re a real head turner. So be noticed, and be cheeky as a fox.”

Every pair of Paul Vens is unique, and you can make them even more so (if that’s possible) by getting a custom message engraved inside the arm of the sunglasses.

They come with polarized, shatterproof polycarbonate lenses that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection, and ever pair has stainless steel spring hinges. But wait, there’s more: These babies float.

Price: $55.00 – $76.00

3. Handmade Wood Frame Sunglasses by Mitchell Made

Based in Sudbury, Canada, Mitchell Made is another designer that crafts beautiful wood and bamboo sunglasses by hand. Their styles are unique, but with a vintage feel. Mitchell Made ships their sunglasses with a faux leather case.

Price: $47.00 – $63.00

4. Eco-Conscious Sunglasses by Hammockable

Hammockable plants five trees for every pair of sunglasses they sell in partnership with the nonprofit Trees for the Future. The organization helps families transition from destructive farming techniques to a forest garden system that helps sustain them for the long term. Hammockable gets some of the natural maple wood for their sunglasses from unused wood scraps that are left over from the production of skateboards.

Price: $59.95

5. Customized Wood Sunglasses

If you’ve got a party coming up and want to give your guests a fun, eco-friendly gift, check out the selection of custom wood and bamboo sunglasses offered by Etsy artisans. A number of companies, like My Personal Memories, will engrave names and slogans on the arms of the shades.

Price: $24.99 – $45.00

6. Wooden Frame Sunglasses by 4est Shades

4est Shades’ wooden sunglasses are all natural and handmade out of real maple and cherry wood. The company also make styles in bamboo.

All of their eco-friendly sunglasses are polarized to provide the UV protection you’d expect from any top brand. Plus, their high-quality wooden and bamboo sunglasses are super durable. Every pair comes with an engraved bamboo case and a microfiber cloth for upkeep and safekeeping. Eco-conscious in both product and practice, 4est Shades plants two trees for every pair of sunglasses they sell.

Price: $32.95 – 49.99

7. Eco-Friendly Beechwood Arm Sunglasses by Blue Planet

Blue Planet is another socially conscious eyewear company whose brand means a lot more than quality eyewear. Based in Santa Barbara, California, they create sunglasses and corrective eyewear with a variety of sustainable materials, including wood, bamboo, recycled metal, and recycled plastic. You can see their recycled styles in my post “Recycled Sunglasses: Look Good While Doing Good.”

With every pair of glasses Blue Planet sells, they donate a pair of glasses to a person in need through their charitable partners. To date, they’ve improved the sight for over 400,000 visually impaired people around the world.

Here’s a video featuring Lisa Lawenda, a VP at Blue Planet, and Matt Weinstein, the company’s brand manager, talking about Blue Planet’s Visualize Change program, which helps restore sight for people around the world:

Price: $34.95 – $54.95

8. Wood Frame Sunglasses by Amoloma

Amoloma is another brand that’s making eco-friendly sunglasses in sustainable materials like pear wood, bamboo, recycled skateboard decks, and also cellulose acetate. Their lenses are all polarized for optimal UV protection. And if you’re looking for more colorful options, check out their styles made from recycled skateboards in my post “Recycled Sunglasses: Look Good While Doing Good.”

Price: $19.99 – $119.00

9. Sustainable Wood Sunglasses by Proof Eyewear

Socially conscious brand Proof Eyewear donates 12% of their annual profits to charitable organizations around the world. They started making their wooden sunglasses from scraps in the family’s sawmill, and they eventually expanded to using recycled aluminum and bioplastics in their frames.

You may have seen their pitch on Shark Tank from a few years ago. I loved story when I heard it. Little did I imagine at the time that I would be blogging about Proof Eyewear someday.

In their wood framed sunglasses, Proof used FSC certified wood. FSC is short for the Forest Stewardship Council, which is an international nonprofit that sets global standards for forest products. These standards help to promote eco-friendly, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Proof’s lenses are UVA and UVB protected, and if you wear prescription lenses, you can easily swap them out in Proof’s eco-friendly frames.

Price: $64.00 – $119.00

10. Wood Frame Sunglasses by Woodzee

Woodzee hand makes their wood framed sunglasses in a variety of sustainable and reclaimed woods, including madrone, oak, and maple. Their shades are comfortable and lightweight, and each pair is one of a kind. All of their lenses are polarized with 100% UV400 protection.

Price: $54.99 – $99.99

11. Eco-Conscious Wood Sunglasses by Tree Tribe

Tree Tribe is an outdoor lifestyle brand that plants a whopping 10 trees for every sale they make. They design a number of eco-friendly products, including water bottles, eco-conscious clothing, and of course – cool, sustainable sunglasses.

Their real wood sunglasses have interchangeable, scratch resistant polarized lenses that offer UV400 protection. You can easily swap out their lenses for prescription lenses, or if you’re just in the mood to change lens colors.

Here’s a video that gives you a taste of what Tree Tribe is all about:

Price: $52.00 – $69.00

12. Skateboard Wood Sunglasses

To check out some cool sunglasses made with reclaimed skateboard wood, check out my post “Recycled Sunglasses: Look Good While Doing Good.”

BAMBOO SUNGLASSES

Bamboo is a superstar sustainable material that makes great sunglasses. It’s easy to grow without much water, it grows fast, and it’s naturally anti-bacterial and water-resistant.

13. Bamboo Sunglasses by Tree Tribe

Buy one pair of these bamboo shades from Tree Tribe, and they’ll plant 10 trees in your honor.

Tree Tribe’s bamboo sunglasses come in wayfarer, cat eye, and other styles. And if you plan to be spending a lot of time in and out of the water, no worries – they’ll float!

Price: $47.81 – $55.00

14. Handmade Bamboo Sunglasses by Robin Wood

Robin Wood is a designer I found on Etsy that handmakes artisanal sunglasses from sustainable bamboo. Every pair has polarized lenses with UV400 protection, and they come with a two-year warranty. The company also designs wooden watches that have eco-friendly cork wristbands, so be sure to check out their Etsy store.

Price: $59.80

15. Wood Wayfarer Sunglasses by Solo Eyewear

Solo Eyewear is another brand with an inspiring give-back philosophy. They also focus on helping to restore vision for people in need.

All of their eco-friendly sunglasses are made with 100% sustainable materials, including repurposed bamboo and recycled plastic. And their lenses are UV protected and prescription-friendly. Their bamboo arm sunglasses come in a variety of frame shapes, including wayfarer, aviator, and round.

Price: $59.00 – $95.00

To see more eco-conscious sunglasses, check out:

Recycled Sunglasses: Look Good While Doing Good

9 Recycled Sunglasses: Look Good While Doing Good

What’s better than a great looking pair of sunglasses? Two words: recycled sunglasses. I was happy to find a handful of forward-thinking, socially conscious companies that are making stylish sunglasses out of recycled materials. When you learn about the inspiration behind these companies’ products and brands, plus the way so many give back by supporting charitable causes, you’ll realize that our buying decisions can mean so much more than the practical functions that the products serve or how good they make us look.

As you’re probably already aware, we’re experiencing a global plastic waste crisis, so recycling plastic into other useful products helps to keep it out of our oceans and landfills. It turns out that sunglasses are an ideal use for recycled materials, as they can utilize small, leftover scraps. The innovative companies showcased here are making recycled sunglasses out of plastic, including plastic waste from the ocean, as well as skateboard decks, aluminum, and even wood flooring.

We buy a lot of sunglasses.

People all over the world wear sunglasses, and let’s admit it – many of us own more than one pair. In 2019, it’s expected that Americans alone will buy over 200 million pairs of sunglasses. (Statista.) When you combine this with the number purchased by people from other countries, you can see there’s a massive market for this accessory. After your cell phone charger, sunscreen, razor, and toothbrush – sunglasses are the most common item that you’ll forget to pack when leaving for vacation. So, what do you do? You buy a new pair.

Thankfully, recycled sunglasses and those made with other eco-friendly materials, like wood, bamboo, and bioplastic, are hitting the beaches and streets around the world. They can’t get here fastest enough! In upcoming posts, I’ll cover sunglasses made from other eco-friendly materials. But for now, here are some cool recycled sunglasses from some awesome environmentally conscious brands.

1. Recycled Sunglasses by Blue Planet Eyewear

Blue Planet says their goals are straightforward: “to help protect the planet, change lives, and have fun.” Founded in Santa Barbara, California, the company has been hard at work since 2009 bringing socially responsible and eco-friendly eyewear to people all over the world. They don’t just stick to the basics, either. They strive to satisfy all kinds of customers, with eyewear made from a range of sustainable materials, including recycled plastic, recycled metal, wood, bamboo, and cork.

With every pair of glasses they sell, Blue Planet donates a pair to someone in need via their global sight giving partners. To date, they’ve helped over 400,000 visually impaired people around the world.

Here’s Lisa Lawenda, a VP at Blue Planet, and Matt Weinstein, the company’s brand manager, talking about Blue Planet’s Visualize Change program, which helps restore sight for people around the world.:

Blue Planet offers a variety of lenses as well. They provide standard polarized lenses and lenses with maximum UV protection for extra-sensitive eyes. In addition to their super cool sunglasses, they also make reading glasses.

Price: $34.95 – $54.95

2. Recycled Ocean Plastic Sunglasses by Norton Point

Unwilling to sit back and let the eight million metric tons of plastic pollution destroy our oceans, the founders of Norton Point have made it their mission to clean up the mess and recycle ocean plastic into high-quality, durable sunglasses. Their sunglasses are all made with recycled ocean plastic and plant-based materials. Based in Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Norton Point donates 5% of their net profits to global ocean clean-up, education, and remediation practices.

Here’s a video featuring Shaun Frankson, co-founder of ThePlasticBank, an organization that helps monetize plastic waste by exchanging it for currency to help people in impoverished places. Shaun talks about how Norton Point is repurposing plastic from by ThePlasticBank into their eco-friendly shades.

Norton Point offers a large selection of men’s and women’s sunglasses, all of which come standard with solid stainless steel hinges. Their lenses feature 100% UVA and UVB protection and an anti-reflective coating, so you’ll be ready for the most intensely sunny days.

Price: $89.00 – $129.00

3. Socially Conscious, 100% Sustainable Sunglasses by Solo Eyewear

Solo Eyewear isn’t just a brand; it’s a remarkable project. Solo is devoted to service and giving back: With every pair of sunglasses they sell, they help restore the vision of a person in need, whether it’s an elderly person in an underdeveloped nation thousands of miles away or an impoverished child closer to home.

Solo Eyewear’s sunglasses are made with 100% sustainable materials, including recycled plastic and repurposed bamboo, plus they’re lightweight and durable. Their lenses are UV protected and prescription-friendly. When it comes to selection, Solo offers a variety of shapes and colors. If you want to look great and be a part of something greater, you can’t go wrong with Solo Eyewear.

Price: $59.00 – $95.00

4. Recycled Metal Sunglasses by Proof Eyewear

A pioneer in the sustainable eyewear industry, Boise, Idaho-based Proof Eyewear has been making eco-friendly sunglasses since 2010. In addition to using sustainable materials in their products, Proof donates to charitable organization around the world. Through their Do Good Program, they donate 12% of their annual profits to these causes.

Proof integrates sustainable materials like recycled aluminum, FSC-certified wood, and recycled skateboard decks into their designs. And, they use high-quality lenses. All of their lenses are UVA and UVB protected. If you need prescription lenses, you can easily switch out their standard lenses for your own.

Here’s a video from Proof featuring their aviators with recycled aluminum frames:

Price: $129.95

5. Recycled Wood and Skateboard Sunglasses by Proof

Here’s a video of how Proof converts old skateboard decks into their cool reclaimed wood sunglasses.

Price: $110.00

6. Recycled Skateboard Sunglasses by Dex Shades

Dex Shades is another brand that’s recycling used skateboard decks and converting them into high quality shades. Each pair of their eco-friendly skateboard sunglasses is subtly colorful and unique. Plus, they’re comfortable to wear and super lightweight, weighing less than 1 oz. Dex Shades have polarized lenses and spring-fit hinges for laid back comfort. And as if you need more persuading beyond how cool these sunglasses are, Dex Shades plants a tree for every product they sell.

Price: $78.00

7. Sunglasses Made from Recycled Skateboards by Amoloma

Amoloma is another eco-conscious brand that makes cool shades out of recycled and Earth-friendly materials, including used skateboards. They offer a range of color combinations, including red, green, black, brown, and blue. All of their lenses are polarized for optimal UV protection.

Price: $69.00 – $119.00

8. Recycled Wood Sunglasses by Woodzee

Woodzee handcrafts their recycled wood sunglasses from reclaimed oak, madrone, and maple hardwood flooring. Each pair is unique. Their shades are comfortable and lightweight, weighing less than 1.5 oz. And their lenses are polarized with 100% UV400 protection.

Here’s a video from Woodzee:

Price: $54.99 – $74.99

9. Recycled Fishing Net Sunglasses by Bureo

Bureo collects old fishing nets that are polluting the ocean, breaks them down into tiny pellets, and recycles them into a recycled plastic that makes some very cool shades.

Bureo’s founders created a recycling program in Chile dubbed “Net Positiva,” which provides collection points where fishermen and other locals can drop off discarded fishing nets that are polluting the ocean and harming marine life. According to Bureo, fishing nets make up 10% of the plastic pollution in the ocean. The Net Positiva program gets the fishing nets out of the sea, while providing financial incentives to local communities to help with collection. Bureo also makes other recycled products, like skateboards and Frisbees. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ll develop next.

Here’s a video from Bureo about the Net Positiva program:

Price: $199.00

To see more eco-conscious sunglasses, check out my post on:

Wood and Bamboo Framed Sunglasses

27 Vegan Cowboy Boots and Western Boots

Gram Parsons, the Grandfather of Country Rock — Gram Parsons

Can you be vegan and still wear cowboy boots? Heck yeah, you can! When doing my research, I was happy to find a variety of vegan cowboy boots and western boots for all you compassionate cowgirls out there. I also found a few styles for cruelty-free cowboys, but sadly, there aren’t as many leather-free styles for guys as there are for gals. You’ll find a few styles for men at the end of the post and I’ll be sure to add more as I find them.

To kick things off :o), I’d like to start this vegan cowboy boots guide with a quote from one of my all-time favorite country stars, the grandfather of country rock, Gram Parsons:

“We don’t wear sequins because we think we’re great. We wear them because we think sequins are great.”

–Gram Parsons

The History of Cowboy Boots

First, a little history lesson… Cowboy boots date back to the 1600s, when riding boots started to appear in Europe that had “high tops, pointed toes, and 2″ stacked heels,” says ShoeInfo. But where did those 2″ heels originate? Apparently, they were first seen in the 13th century on invading Mongol tribesmen who wore bright red wooden heels on their boots. According to ShoeInfo, “Mongols were consummate horsemen and their easy victories left a mark on European society.”

Since owning and caring for a horse required wealth, and being on horseback placed a person physically above those who were not, people on horseback in high heels became associated with nobility. To this day, we say “well-heeled” to describe a person who is wealthy or aristocratic. Eventually, heeled riding boots made their way to the Americas, quite possibly on the feet of the Conquistadors.

Throughout history, boots were made with animal skin. Thankfully, today we have access to a variety of materials that make durable, warm, and comfortable boots without harming animals.

So, without further ado, here are some sweet faux-leather, faux-suede, and more vegan cowgirl and cowboy boots!

High Heel Cowboy Boots and Western Boots for Women

Very Volatile Cowboy Boots

Very Volatile is a brand that offers a number of western boots that are made from manmade materials, so you can bring out your inner cowgirl and still be cruelty-free. If you like cowboy boots that have the leather look but are not made of leather, you’ll find them with Very Volatile.

1. Denver Cowboy Boot by Very Volatile

For a slightly off beat cowgirl boot, check out this style in green faux leather with classic cowboy boot styling and a 3″ heel. And if green doesn’t suit your fancy, they also come in brown. They have a rounded toe and a deep V in the front, and, they’re embellished with cute little silver studs.

Price: $69.95 – $84.95

2. Raspy Cowboy Boot by Very Volatile

Another classic ladies’ western boot by Vert Volatile, the Raspy comes in black, tan, brown, or red wine vegan leather. These high-heeled cowgirl boots have pull up tabs on the sides and a gold accent above the heel.

Price: $44.99 – $85.00

3. High Heeled Rio Grande Cowboy Boot by Very Volatile

Sexy 3” high heels make these cowgirl boots just a little more fun! They’re made of tan faux leather and have decorate teal green inlays. The shaft is 11″ from arch and they have rubber soles for easy walking.

Price $58.49

Vegan Cowgirl Boots by Roper

You don’t have to be a vegan or a vegetarian to love all of the styles of animal-friendly boots offered by Roper. You just have to love wearing a good pair of cowboy boots! Roper also makes some adorable girls and boys cowboy boots that are vegan, plus a few men’s styles. Just a note: Roper makes leather cowboy boots too, so be sure to read the product details before you buy.

4. Women’s Tall Western Boots with Embroidered Flowers

These tall, elegant cowboy boots by Roper are one of my faves. They have lovely western flowers embroidered on them and a tall 16” shaft. The heel is 2.25”.

Price: $68.54 – $99.99

5. Light Up Starlights Vegan Cowgirl Boots by Roper

High-tech cowgirls will love these light up cowboy boots! They come with a USB charger that you connect inside the shaft of the boot, which charges them up. Charges them up for what, you might ask? So, they sparkle when you walk and dance, Girl! Look out, Dolly! There’s a new Jolene in town! These light up cowboy boots come in black or brown.

Price $89.33 – $150.00

6. Stars and Stones Cowboy Boots by Roper

If you love stars but you’re looking for a little more subtlety, these Stars and Stones Boots by Roper will do you right. The shaft measures approximately 13″ from the arch, and the heel is 2.25”. They also have a flexible sole and soft support insole for extra comfort. These vegan western boots come in brown or black.

Price: $78.86 – $95.00

7. Vegan Cowboy Boots with Sparkle Inlays by Roper

For a little extra country glimmer, check out these cute sparkly cowboy boots. They’re the perfect combo of rugged faux leather with a stacked 2.75” heel and a little bit of glitz underneath. The shaft measures 13″ from arch.

Price: $53.10 – $95.00

8. Women’s Crush Accessory Western Boot by Durango

These cool cowgirl boots by Durango have a rugged leather look and special extra features like antiqued metal hardware and wrap-around belts. They come to mid-calf, which makes them perfect with jeans or a cowgirl skirt. They sort of remind me of Guns n Roses fan, but whether or not you’re a fan of that band, if you’re looking for a unique pair of faux leather cowboy boots, this pair will fit the bill.

Price: $109.00 – $164.95

9. Western-Style Faux Leather Boots with Ring and Strap by Refresh

For a slightly more biker babe style western boot, check out these slouchy, ankle strap with ring boots by Refresh. They show you can be both badass and cruelty-free at the same time. The shaft is 9.75″ and they come in black or brown.

Price: $22.24 – $45.99

10. Slouchy Western-Style Boot by Cambridge Select

Similar to the style by Refresh, these cool and cute synthetic leather boots by Cambridge Select can be worn with jeans, a skirt, of your favorite leggings. They have side pull tabs for easy on and off and they come in five different colors, including dark brown, light brown, taupe, bone, and black. The stacked heel is 2.5” and the shaft is 9.75”.

Price: $33.25 – $40.99

11. Ultra Bling Sparkly Cowboy Boots by Helen’s Heart

If you need some extra pizzazz for your next party and faux leather cowboy boots just aren’t enough, check out these colorful and fun bling boots by Helen’s Heart. They come in purple, red, fuchsia, turquoise, pink, gold, silver, black, brown, and sparkle gray. They’re made of rubber, for all of you vegan cowgirls who live in rainy locales and like to brighten up everyone’s day when you walk by. The shaft measures 13” from the arch and the heel is 3.25”. They have a side zipper for easy on and off.

Price: $90.00 – $109.95

Low Heel Cowboy Boots for Women

12. Classic Low Heel Western Boot in Faux Leather by Country Loves Boots

Here’s a classic pair of western boots that are made with animal-friendly, faux leather. They have round toe and the shaft is 12” from the arch. They have a low 2” heel and rubber soles for easy walking and dancing.

Price: $35.96 – $49.99

13. Women’s Riley Western Boot by Roper

Another classic cowboy boot with traditional top stitching, the Riley Boot by Roper is made with 100% manmade materials. This style comes in brown, red wine, and tan. The shaft measures 13″ from the arch, and the insole is padded for extra comfort.

Price: $54.16 – $79.99

14. Women’s Low Heel Chunks Western Boot by Roper

This cute, brown low western boot lets you show off a little more leg. The shaft measures just 9” from the arch and the heel is 1.25”.

Price: $51.25 – $68.01

15. Vegan Western Boot with Cross by Roper

Sparkly crosses and decorate inlays make these low heeled vegan cowboy boots real attention getters. They come in black or brown. The shaft is 11.5″ from the arch and the heel is 1.5”. They have a padded, flexible insole and a non-marketing outsole.

Price: $71.60 – $99.00

16. Women’s Western Boot With American Flags by Durango

Just in time for your 4th of July parties, these brown faux leather cowboy boots have a square toe and decorative American flags around the ankles. The shaft comes to mid-calf.

Price: $93.87 – $129.99

Women’s Ankle Boot Cowboy Boots

17. Women’s Markie Bootie by Very Volatile

These super cute cowboy boots by Very Volatile have a 12” shaft, perfect for showing off a little more leg under your cowgirl skirt of with your skinny jeans. The heel is 2” and they have pull up straps for easy on and off. They come in tan stone.

Price $49.99

18. Blue Velvet Sava Western Boot by Very Volatile

For a truly unique look, check out these adorable cowgirl ankle booties in velvet and faux leather. They come in black, blue, or red wine. They’re 100% synthetic and the shaft measures 12” from the arch. The heels are 2”.

Price: $24.99 – $69.99

19. Faux Suede Cowboy Ankle Boots by Breckelle’s

Breckelle’s offers a wide variety of vegan boots, from vegan combat boots to faux leather ankle boots, and more. These faux suede western-style ankle boots come in a wide different colors, from mustard to red to black, tan, and more. Their versatile style with go with countless looks in your wardrobe. The shaft 8” from the arch and the high heel is 3.5”.

Price: $10.29 – $79.95

20. Slip-On V-Cut Faux Suede Ankle Boots

These faux suede booties received rave reviews on Amazon and they’ve been super popular on UnGuide. They’re the perfect blend of modern, urban style and subtle western flair, and they come in a variety of colors, including pale pink, rose, black, red, and olive. The shaft is 8” from the arch and the heel measures 3”.

$33.95 – $62.00

21. Side Zip Faux Suede Ankle Boot by Carlos Santana

For a comfy vegan ankle boot, you can’t go wrong with these faux suede ankle boots by Carlos Santana. They have two size zips and the shaft hits just above your ankle. The heel is 1”. These comfortable vegan booties come in black, tan, or brown.

Price: $69.00

22. Faux Suede Studded Cowgirl Ankle Boot in Forest Green

Inlayed silver studs give these adorable cowgirl ankle boots extra flair. The shaft is 6.5” and the low heel is 1.5”. They upper is a forest green textile and they’re made with 100% synthetic materials.

Price: $62.96

23. White Flower Embroidered Western Style Ankle Boot

Another adorable western-style ankle boot, this pair is made with animal-friendly white textile fabric and pretty embroidered pink flowers. They have a deep notch on each side for easy on and off that’s embellished with a bit of fringe. The shaft is just 4.25” and the stacked heel is 2”.

Price $108.95

Men’s Cowboy Boots and Western Boots

24. Men’s Western Style Ankle Boots with Chain Strap by Metrocharm

These non-leather men’s ankle boots have a cool western look with chained ankle straps and that are reminiscent of cowboy boot spurs. They have a side zip and come in brown or black faux leather.

Price: $29.99

25. Non-Leather Cowboy Boots by Roper

These faux leather men’s cowboy boots by Roper come in a few different color combinations. They have a flexible rubber sole. The shaft is 11” from the arch and the heel is 1.5”.

Price: $68.54 – $90.99

26. Western Style Ankle Boots by Alberto Fellini

Alberto Fellini has been making cool synthetic shoes and boots for men for decades. These men’s vegan western style ankle boots have a size zipper for easy on and off. They have classic western style stitching and a cool ankle straps and rings. They come in black and brown.

Price: $34.99

23 Cool Laptop Cases & Sleeves: Recycled, Vegan & Eco-Friendly

The variety of cool eco and vegan laptop cases and sleeves you’ll see in this post may make your head spin. It’s fun – and very reassuring – to see more product designers developing accessories that are both sustainable and cruelty-free.

Some of these laptop cases utilize old school upcycling principles, as you’ll see in the design that was created with upcycled saris, which were then turned into quilts, and then turned into laptop sleeves. And some are made out of cutting edge materials like Piñatex, a sustainable faux leather developed by entrepreneur Carmen Hijosa, which is made from pineapple fibers. And then, there are others: like the laptop case made with real leaves from a Tung Tree.

Too often the materials used in computer sleeves are not Earth- or animal-friendly. For example, materials like leather and traditional neoprene use a number of harmful chemicals in their production that aren’t good for workers or the planet. And it’s draconian in this day and age to be making any kind of accessory out of animal skin when we have so many other beautiful vegan materials to choose from.

This post includes laptop cases and sleeves made with materials in a few different categories. You can click the two big links below to get to each section, but I recommend you scroll through and view them all. Enjoy!

Laptop Sleeves Made with Natural Fibers

Palm Leaf Laptop Sleeve
Sustainable Tung Tree Leaf Laptop Case
Cork Laptop Sleeves
Piñatex Pineapple Leather Laptop Cases
Hemp Laptop Sleeve

Recycled Laptop Cases and Sleeves (Upcycled too!)

Laptop Cases Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco Neoprene
Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeves
Repurposed Paper Laptop Cases
Laptop Cases Made from Upcycled Tires
Laptop Cases Made with Used Seatbelts
Cool Upcycled Laptop Cases Made with Unusual Materials

Laptop Sleeves Made with Natural Fibers

1. Woven Palm Leaf Laptop Case by Kante Decor

Kante Decor works with indigenous communities around the world whose livelihoods depend on the artisanal products they create. Thus, when you purchase their unique crafts, you help preserve their centuries-old artistic traditions like weaving and hand-embroidery.

This eco-friendly laptop sleeve is woven with natural palm leaves from Puebla, Mexico. Each case takes about three weeks to create, from picking the palm leaves to getting them ready to weave, and then turning the woven sheets into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind laptop case.

Fits a 13″ MacBook Air and other small tablets. It measures 14″ x 12″.

Price: $51.00

2. Cork Laptop Case by Moana Cork

Moana Cork creates handbags, tote bags, and minimalist laptop sleeves out of 100% vegan, sustainable cork. Cork is durable and has natural, built-in cushioning, which makes is an ideal sustainable material for protecting your tech accessories. Check out more designs by Moana Cork in their Etsy store.

This cork sleeve measures approximately 15″ x 10.5″.

Price: $31.70

3. Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Laptop Sleeve Made from Leaves

By Copala is a sustainable products designer that creates accessories from natural materials, including cork and leaves, as well as upcycled paper. Every product maintains the look of its original materials, while being functional and well-made. Be sure to their visit their Etsy store to see more.

This laptop sleeve made from leaves is really in a class all its own. The Tung Tree is found in southern China, Burma, and Vietnam. The leaves are a sustainable material – when they’re harvested, it does not harm the tree. The juxtaposition of a leaf protecting a sophisticated piece of technology somehow gives me a ray of hope that we can advance as a civilization, while still protecting our natural world – it’s just a matter of our values, integrity, and ingenuity.

To make this laptop case, the leaves are treated with a wax coating, making the sleeve water repellent. This eco-friendly laptop case will fit a 13”-14” laptop.

Price: $48.18

4. Cork Laptop Sleeve by Copala

This 100% cork computer leave is sleek and low-profile, with colorful flecks to accent in the cork. It measures 14.2″ x 9.8” by 1.2” and will fit 13″-14″ notebook computers, like MacBook Pro or Air.

Price: $49.44

5. Cork Laptop Sleeve by Eve and Adis

Berlin-based product design team Eve and Adis infuse sleek minimalism into their eco-friendly, sustainable accessories. Their approach is to “combine clean lines and shapes with bohemian chic. We believe the simplest, sustainable way is always the best.” Visit their Etsy store to see more of their designs.

This cork laptop sleeve comes in two sizes that will fit a 13″ or 15″ computer. It also has an extra sleeve for a pad of paper or other items.

Prices: $87.70 – $100.41

6. Piñatex Pineapple “Leather” Laptop Sleeve by Eve and Adis

When I first saw this unique laptop case, I thought, Can it be true? A laptop sleeve in Piñatex!?

And true it is. Just as leather has traditionally been used for countless shoes, clothing, and accessories, so can leather-replacer Piñatex. Theses sustainable laptop sleeves, also by Eve and Adis, come in crinkled gold, black, or bone white. Bring on the plant-based vegan leather! Its time has come!

Price: $87.70 – $100.41

7. Sustainable Laptop Sleeve in Piñatex by Maniwala

A member of 1% for the Planet (which means they donate 1% of sales revenue to environmental non-profits), Maniwala is a 100% sustainable and vegan design studio based in the U.S. They create a range of high-quality faux leather accessories out of eco-friendly Piñatex and hemp. You can see even more of their designs in our post “14 Cool Shoes and Accessories Made from Piñatex Pineapple Leather.”

Price: $150.00

8. Laptop Case Made with Hemp and Wild Nettle Fibers

If you want to go even more au naturel with your laptop case, check out this sleeve made with organic hemp and wild nettle fibers. No chemical dyes were used in its creation.

This laptop case was handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by workers in ethical working conditions. It will fit 13″ and 15″ computers.

Price: $36.23

Recycled and Upcycled Laptop Cases and Sleeves

9. Upcycled Wetsuit Laptop Sleeve by LOOPTWORKS

Looptworks is based in Portland, Oregon, where they make cool accessories out of abandoned, pre-consumer, and post-consumer materials. They intercept materials that are headed to the landfill and turn them into great-looking functional products. Each style is produced in a limited edition.

The company’s philosophy centers around avoiding the use of the Earth’s precious natural resources. According to Looptworks, “The only thing we scrap is the typical way of doing business. We’re a design brand on a mission: to use only what already exists.”

Looptworks’ upcycled laptop sleeves come in variety of colors and sizes. You’ll find sleeves that fit 10″, 11″, and 13″ computers and tablets.

Price: $19.99 – $30.00

10. Eco Laptop Sleeve in Neogreene by GreenSmart

GreenSmart has an answer to traditional Neoprene, which is not an eco-friendly material. The production of traditional Neoprene can include phthalates, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds (short for VOCs, which are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the atmosphere.) GreenSmart’s “Neogreene” is considered non-toxic because it doesn’t use these harmful chemicals in its production.

The company’s eco-friendly laptop sleeves are made with water-based adhesives vs. chemical-heavy, solvent-based adhesives. And the fuzzy interior liner is made with 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Prices: $27.95 – $44.95

11. Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeve by A Bag Recycling and Upcycling

A Bag Recycling and Upcycling repurposes materials like used plastic bags and coffee packs into unique quilted laptop sleeves and other accessories. The bags are colorful, water-resistant, and durable. The company will do customer orders too, so reach out to them on their Etsy store and get the perfect recycled case for your laptop.

Prices: $32.92 – $57.00

12. Laptop Sleeve Made with Recycled Plastic Bags

Sawni is a mission-based company that handcrafts unique accessories in Myanmar from recycled and upcycled materials, including old clothes, plastic bags, and tire inner tubes. They focus on helping the urban poor in Yangon, Myanmar.

This colorful laptop sleeve is made with upcycled plastic bags. It comes in three different sizes: 14″, 15″, and 17″.

Price: $20.05

13. Reclaimed Paper Laptop Case

The Wren creates unique accessories from reclaimed packaging paper from a local packing factory. They digitally print on the paper, then fuse it to cotton, and then treat it with Nano Liquid Glass, which makes it water-resistant. This design is entitled “African Safari Memories.” Check out their Etsy store to see other cool prints with bicycles and more.

Price: $57.75

14. Laptop Case Made from Upcycled Tires by Alchemy Goods

Seattle, Washington-based Alchemy Goods transforms bicycle inner tubes into hip, sustainably-produced bags and accessories.

Tires are 100% recyclable, which is a good thing because in the U.S. alone, we scrap 300 million tires annually. To date, Alchemy Goods has kept over 500,000 bicycle inner tubes out of the landfill.

Recycled tires make great laptop protectors because they’re durable and have built-in cushioning. Plus, the material is water-resistant and easy to clean.

This laptop case measures 12″ x 7.5″.

Price: $23.34 – 37.98

15. Laptop Case / Sitting Mat Made with Upcycled Tires and African Fabric

KMS Kilometres is based in Nairobi, Kenya, where they create these unique dual-function laptop cases and sitting mats, as well as other cool accessories. The outside of this case is made with recycled inner tubes, which is reinforced with foam for extra padding. The inside is lined with fabric in traditional African prints.

A socially conscious business, KMS Kilometres invests its profits into professional training courses for job seekers.

All of their products are handmade, and they take custom orders.

This laptop case will fit 15″ or smaller computers.

Price: $44.48

16. Recycled Seatbelt Laptop Cases

Repurposed seatbelts make great bags, guitar straps, and other accessories because they’re super strong and durable. Urchin Bags makes cool accessories from used seatbelts and upcycled tire inner tubes. They’ll make custom orders if you provide your color specifications. This vegan laptop case measures 13” x 10”.

Price: $41.45

17. Upcycled Candy Wrapper Laptop Case by Upcycling by Milo

Used candy wrappers never looked so good.

Upcycling by Milo’s founder, Naveh, was inspired by the craft work of artisans he met while travelling in Indonesia. But he was troubled by the amount of trash he saw, and its impact on the natural environment. This was the inspiration behind Upcycling by Milo.

In addition to this colorful laptop case made with used candy wrappers (the silver on the case is the inside of the wrappers), the company makes a wide variety of fun, one-of-a-kind accessories. Be sure to visit their Etsy store to see more.

Price: $85.00

18. Upcycled Advertising Banner Laptop Case by VahoUp

VahoUp reclaims used advertising banners and signs and repurposes them into colorful, unique bags and accessories that have a cool, urban vibe.

This upcycled laptop case has handles and can also be converted into a backpack. It’s made from upcycled advertising banners and it’s water resistant. It will fit a 15” MacBook Pro or other similarly-sized laptop or tablet. It measures: 16.5” x 12.6” x 4.7”.

Price: $143.70

19. Laptop Sleeve Made with Upcycled Life Vests by Makers Unite

A socially conscious company, Makers Unite helps refugees enter the job market in their new homes. Based in The Netherlands, the company pairs local designers and refugees to create sustainable products. They then direct the money from product sales to help fund social inclusion programs.

This unique laptop case is made from life vests. It won’t be easy to misplace this one!

Measures 14.6″ x 11″

Price: $57.19

20. Laptop Case by from Upcycled Military Tents

This unique, upcycled laptop case is designed by Regina’s Vault. It’s made with 100% repurposed military tents. It will fit a small laptop or tablet computer and measures: 13” x 10” x 0.25”.

Price: $49.99

21. Laptop Case Made with Upcycled Saris by the Kantha Project

Kantha is a quilting technique that originated in Bangladesh and eastern India. Artisans repurpose used saris into beautiful, colorful quilts. Purchasing kantha products helps to support craftspeople living in rural communities.

The Kantha Project’s laptop sleeves are Fair Trade and one-of-a-kind. This sleeve comes in two sizes: 12.6″ x 8.9″ and 11.5″ x 4.3″.

Price: $19.85 – $20.65

22. Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeve by Caseza

This eco and vegan laptop sleeve by Caseza is made with recycled PET plastic bottles. Features include a two-way zipper and an extra zippered pocket. In addition to pink, it comes in heather gray and black.

It measures 13″ x 9.3″ and will fit a 13″ MacBook Air, a 13″ MacBook Pro, a Microsoft Surface Book, and other similarly-sized notebook computers.

Price: $22.95 – $24.95

23. Recyclable PET Plastic Felt Laptop Sleeve by Hairy & Hairy

This case by Hairy and Hairy is made with 100% recycled materials and it can even be recycled when you’re finished with it. The fabric is certified by Intertek’s Eco-Textile Certification.

This eco laptop case measures 15.4″ x 11.2″ x 1″ and will fit Apple MacBooks, ASUS Chromebook, Toshibas, Dell Inspirons, Lenovo, HP, Samsung, Sony, and Acer computers.

Price: $19.99

Are you looking for other eco-friendly and vegan tech cases and sleeves? Check out these other posts on UniGuide:

Wood, Bamboo, and Cork iPad Cases (That Are Also Vegan!)

Eco-Friendly, Recycled, and Vegan iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves

Get the Best iPad Mini Cover

The Best Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

21 Cool Doormats: Colorful, Coir, Recycled & Eco-Friendly

If you’re looking for the perfect doormat for your home, there are undoubtedly a lot of options available. The good news is – many of these options are also easy on our planet. I found a great selection of cool doormats that are made with eco-friendly materials, including many that are fully biodegradable. Coir doormats, for example, are made with natural coconut fibers. When a 100% coir doormat wears out, you can simply toss it into your compost bin.

And if you like to welcome your guests with a little fun – I found some laser engraved doormats by a company called Damn Good Doormats that puts hilarious slogans on their unique selection of funny welcome mats. I also found cool doormats made with recycled and upcycled materials, like reclaimed lobster ropes and flip flops. With so many cool, eco-friendly doormats available, there’s no reason to buy any other kind!

Cool Doormats in Coir and Natural Fibers

Doormats made from natural fibers are always a good bet. Once they’re worn out, they will eventually biodegrade and be less destructive to the environment. In some cases, if the doormat is made with 100% natural fibers, like coir doormats (which are made from coconut husks), they can be cut up and used as mulch for gardening, or, as mentioned above – tossed into your compost bin. Many of the welcome mats I present here are made of all natural coir. It’s an ideal eco-friendly material for doormats because you don’t feel badly about disposing of them once they wear out.

1. Coir Doormats by Kempf

Kempf is a leader in providing a wide variety of both natural fiber and recycled doormats. This style is made from 100% natural coir coconut fibers. There are no plastics in its construction, and it’s totally biodegradable.

Materials: 100% coconut fibers
Multiple sizes from: 18″ x 30″ up to 36″ x 72″; and approximately 1″ thick

Price: $17.95 – $95.95

2. Jute Natural Fiber Doormat by Iron Gate

Another awesome, sustainable natural fiber that makes beautiful doormats is jute. This lovely design by Iron Gate is handmade and is super durable.

Materials: 100% jute
Size: 18″ x 30″

Price: $18.00 – $29.99

3. Abaca Banana Leaf Doormat by Green Breeze Imports

Sometimes called “Manila Hemp,” Abaca is a super strong natural fiber that comes from banana plants.

Price: $28.99 – $80.00

4. Crochet Jute Doormat

Magic by Crochet hand makes mats and rugs with jute and upcycled fabric. This mat is made with all natural jute and it comes in a couple different sizes.

Price: $29.00

Funny Doormats

5. Funny and Rude Doormats by Damn Good Doormats

The Beware of Wife Doormat (with Shady Kids and Pets)

This is a popular one with UniGuide visitors!

Just because your doormat is eco-friendly, doesn’t mean it has to be serious! Damn Good Doormats are made with natural coconut, but they do have a little PVC plastic on them for a non-slip backing. Damn Good Doormats has so many funny doormats that you’ll just have to check out their store on Etsy to see them all. It will be hard to choose!

Materials: coconut fibers and PVC
Multiple sizes from: 18″ x 30″ to 23″ x 34″

Price: $39.00 – $65.00

6. Funny Dog Message Welcome Mat

If you’ve got a barker in the house, this “Knock on the door and let me sing you a song of my people” doormat is a must have. Just contact Hand Crafted by Hayes in their Etsy store and give them the name of your dog or dogs. They also do other custom doormat orders.

Price: $32.00 – $35.00

7. “Hey.” Welcome Mat

How many times a week do you say or text, “Hey”? Why not express it with your doormat too? This welcome mat by Nickel Design Shop is also made with sustainable coir. And if you’re more of a “Hi,” “Hello,” or even a “Yo,” person, Nickel Design makes those mats too. They’ve got other fun styles, including a French bull dog, watermelons, California Bear Republic, and my personal positive affirmation favorite: “Good Vibes Only.” Check out their Etsy store to find yours.

Price: $32.99

Animal and Fruit Welcome Mats

If you want a nature motif to go with your eco-friendly doormat, here are some cool designs inspired by nature and the animal kingdom.

8. Biodegradable Welcome Mats

Fab Habitat makes a number of biodegradable doormats from coir. They have a variety of designs, with dogs, cats, flowers, and more. These welcome mats are 1oo% biodegradable and compostable. Plus, they’re colored with eco-friendly dyes and water-based paint.

Sizes: 30″ x 18″ and 36″ x 24″.
Comes in thick or low profile.

Price: $39.00 – $59.00

9. Pineapple Welcome Mat

This pineapple welcome mat is also made with coir. A pineapple is the universal symbol of hospitality, so this is the perfect way to welcome guests into your home.

Materials: coconut fibers
Size: 30″x19″

Price: $43.13

Colorful Doormats

10. Colorful Doormat Made from Coconut Fibers

Entryways offers an array of eco-friendly doormats, some with rainbow stripes and others with slogans printed one them. This colorful doormat is handmade, also from sustainable coconut fibers.

Materials: all natural coir
Size: 18” x 30” x 1.5″ thick

Price: $42.17

Rope Doormats

Upcycled rope doormats offer a cheery welcome to your guests.

11. Recycled Lobster Rope Doormats by Cape Porpoise Trading Company

From their headquarters in Maine, Cape Porpoise Trading Company makes an array of one-of-a-kind, colorful doormats from recycled lobster ropes.

Handmade to order in the USA
Materials: recycled lobster rope and repurposed flat rope
Sizes from: 29″ x 19″ x 1.25″ thick to 39″ x 19″ x 1.25″ thick

Price: $60.00 – $65.00

12. Recycled Rope Doormats by Stern Lines

Materials: 100% recycled fishing rope
Durable, weather-resistant, and reversible
Handmade in Maine, USA

Price: $44.00

13. Recycled Lobster Rope Doormats by the Alaska Rug Company

The Alaska Rope Company creates a variety of colorful recycled rope doormats. They also make larger rugs and other nautical-style products with reclaimed lobster and sailing ropes.

Price: $65.00 – $250.00

Recycled Rubber and Neoprene Welcome Mats

NJ East Coasters is a new brand I discovered that makes really cool home accessories with recycled rubber, recycled neoprene, and upcycled wetsuit scraps. Someone at NJ East Coasters is a huge music fan as you’ll see in their designs in their Etsy store. Here are some of my favorite recycled welcome mats that they create.

14. Beatles Abbey Road Recycled Rubber Welcome Mat

Measures: 27” x 17” x 0.25”

Price: $30.00

15. Cool Recycled Rubber Jerry Garcia Grateful Dead Doormat

Measures: 27” x 17” x 0.25”

Price: $39.99

16. Nautical Welcome Mat in Recycled Rubber and Neoprene

The American Mat Company also makes some cool doormats with recycled rubber and neoprene. Visit their Etsy store to see more designs.

Measure: 27″ x 17″ x 25″

Price: $29.99

Recycled Flip Flop Doormats

17. Recycled Flip Flops Welcome Mat

This welcome mat made with recycled flip flops is extra thick and comfy for bare feet when you’re coming from the park or the beach.

Materials: recycled flip flops and post-consumer waste diverted from landfills
Measures: 30″ x 20″ x 1″

Price: $44.94

18. Recycled Flip Flops Doormat

Here’s another style that’s also made with upcycled flip flops.

Price: $34.99

Wood and Cork Doormats

If you like a natural aesthetic, but want something different from coir and jute, how about wood or cork doormats?

19. Reclaimed Wood Doormat by Kensington Row Home Collection

This doormat is handmade from eco-friendly, reclaimed rubber tree wood.

Materials: reclaimed rubber wood
Size: 18″ x 30″ x 1/3″ thick

Price: $54.95

20. Wine Cork Doormat by Sarahracha

This doormat wins the “uber eco-friendly” award because it’s made with upcycled natural materials. Natural cork is a sustainable material to begin with. So, taking used wine corks and upcycling them into another useful item is sustainable product design in its finest form!

Materials: reclaimed wine bottle corks
Size: 30″ x 20″

Price: $125.00

Recycled Tire Doormats

21. Doormat Made from Recycled Tires by Kempf

Here’s a classic doormat by Kempf that is made from recycled tires. Used tires are a huge environmental problem because they can take 80 years to decompose – and there are a lot of them. Americans alone go through 300 million tires every year. So, I love seeing them put to good use in this classic eco-friendly doormat.

Materials: recycled tires
Sizes from: 18.5″ x 32″ up to 36″ x 60″

Price: $23.64 – $74.95

I think you’ll agree that the coolest way to welcome your guests is with a doormat that’s easy on the Earth. Cheers!

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12 Rope Sandals for Women and Men that Are Cute, Cool and Comfortable

While they’re sometimes referred to as “Jesus sandals,” rope sandals were around long before Jesus made his miraculous walk on water. In fact, not only are rope sandals old, they’re the most enduring shoe trend of all time.

The oldest pair of shoes ever discovered was a pair of rope sandals that was found in Fort Rock Cave, Oregon in 1938. According to Wikipedia, Fort Rock Cave is the location of the earliest evidence of human habitation in the United States.

The ancient sandals were radiocarbon-dated to being from 9,000 to 13,000 years old. They comprised a simple platform that was made from woven sagebrush bark, with rope straps that were also made from plants. (Something every vegan yearns for: plant-based shoes!) The sandals were preserved under a layer of volcanic ash.

The sandals are part of the Oregon Historical Society’s collection, and they can be seen at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Eugene, Oregon.

The oldest shoes ever discovered were rope sandals.

I was happy to find a selection of rope sandals for women and men that have modern accoutrements, including soles that are probably a lot more comfortable than sagebrush bark, but that still maintain some eco-conscious attributes.

Rope Sandals by Nomadic State of Mind

Nomadic State of Mind upcycles their classic, vegan rope sandals from scrapped rugs, handbags, and water bottle carries. All of their sandals are handmade.

The company has started by Chris Anderson in the 1990s. An avid adventurer, he started his company while traveling around in his 1969 VW Bus. This adventurous lifestyle is the foundation of the company’s philosophy and it feeds into their products. Nomadic State of Mind also makes clothing with organic cotton and recycled fabrics.

Oh, and for all you water-loving adventurers, if your sandals come off in a river or lake, no worries – they’ll float.

Here’s a video about Nomadic State of Mind’s Eco-Friendly Rope Sandals:

1. JC Rope Sandals by Nomadic State of Mind

These classic rope sandals are vegan and made with recycled materials. They come in six different colors, including black, denim blue, green, gray, camel, and bone. They’re machine washable and they float. They fit both men’s and women’s feet.

Prices: $38.00 – $42.00

2. Women’s Gladiator Style Rope Sandals by Nomadic State of Mind

These rope sandals are 100% vegan and eco-friendly. You’ll love the gladiator look! They’re made with recycled polypropylene rope. They come in two colors: black and camel. And, they’re machine washable.

Price $42.00

3. Nomadic State of Mind Moksha Sandal

This flip flop-style rope sandal fits men’s and women’s feet. It comes in camel and comfortably wraps around your toes.

Price $19.00

Recycled Rope Sandals by EarthnSol

EarthnSol is another brand that makes eco-friendly and vegan sandals with reclaimed carpet rope.

4. Romano Rope Sandal for Men and Women by EarthnSol

These lightweight sandals are machine washable and made with upcycled carpet rope. They’re handmade and they fit both men’s and women’s feet. These are also available in black.

Price: $39.95

5. Mama and Pappa Rope Sandals by EarthnSol

This unisex style by EarthnSol comes in tan and black or navy and gray.

Price: $39.95

6. EarthnSol Moksha Sandal

EarthnSol’s comfy Moksha Sandals comes in brown.

Price $39.95.

Hemp Rope Sandals by Janice Winner

Janice Winner imports a variety of eco-friendly hemp sandals and other accessories from China, which you can see in her Etsy store.

Hemp is a sustainable material that doesn’t require heavy pesticide and herbicide use to grow. It’s naturally anti-microbial, which means these sandals will maintain a good smell, even if you’re running around and sweating in them on a hot summer day! Hemp also softens with wear, like your favorite pair of blue jeans.

7. Natural Thong-Style Hemp Rope Sandals

These hemp rope sandals have flattering toe and ankle straps. They come in natural beige.

Price: $45.00

8. Men’s and Women’s Flip Flop Style Hemp Rope Sandals

Here’s another style that’s imported by Janice Winner. They’re made with eco-friendly, sustainable, and vegan hemp. They’ll fit men’s and women’s feet.

Price: $40.00

9. Black and Natural Straw Hemp Rope Sandals

These minimalist sandals are handmade with soft black straps and straw soles.

Price: $25.00

10. Men’s and Women’s Hemp Rope Slide Sandals

If you prefer comfortable slide style sandals, these natural hemp sandals will do the trick. They’ll fit men’s or women’s feet.

Price: $45.00

11. Ladies’ Ethnic Hemp and Jute Leg Lace Sandals by Siam Tip

These colorful lace-up sandals are a fun mix of boho and gladiator. They’re made with eco-friendly hemp and jute, and they have natural rubber soles. The braided jute rope wraps up your leg with a sexy look, and colorful ethnic fabric accents complete the look.

Price: $45.00

12. Barefoot Rope Sandals by Ahyoka Africa

If they don’t have soles, are they still sandals? I think so! These barefoot rope sandals are too adorable to not include here. They’re handmade in South Africa with lavender hemp cords and silver beads by Ahyoka Africa.

Price: $23.20

Happy Summer!

If you’d like to see more eco-friendly and vegan sandals, check out these posts:

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Vegan Sport Sandals for Men and Women

41 Cool Men’s Boots: Eco-Friendly, Vegan and More

Men’s boots have made huge strides in the past few years, with more options available than ever before that are cool, durable, and cruelty-free. Plus, there’s a revolution happening on the materials front. Today, we’re seeing innovations like Piñatex™ (also referred to as “pineapple leather”), which is a non-woven, leather alternative that is made with sustainable pineapple leaf fibers. Other new eco-friendly and vegan materials include Mycro©, a cotton-backed micro-fiber polyurethane that carries the European Union Ecolabel. The EU Ecolabel denotes that a product has met strict environmental criteria that takes into account the entire product life cycle – from the extraction of raw materials to production, packaging, transport, end use, and disposal.

If you like the look of leather but not the idea of wearing someone else’s skin on your feet, today you can find non-leather boots that break in and get better with age, just as the classic leather styles do. Or, if like an even more natural aesthetic, you can find cool men’s boots made with natural, eco-friendly materials like hemp. Today, you don’t have to compromise on style, quality, or your social values: the best men’s boots meet all of your criteria.

If you have a specific style of boot in mind, you can click these jump links to go directly to that section. (And as always on UniGuide: all of the styles shown here are vegan.)

Chelsea Boots

Chukka Boots and Desert Boots

Western Boots and Cowboy Boots

Work Boots

Combat Boots

Biker Boots

Dress Boots

Additional Cool Men’s Casual Boots

Chelsea Boots

1. Men’s Vegan Leather Chelsea Boot by Novacas

Eco-Friendly Brand

Novacas is a 100% cruelty-free brand. Their name means “no cows” in Spanish, even though their vegan boots have a classic leather look. Novacas makes their boots in Portugal and they adhere to ethical working standards for their workers. In addition, their boots are non-toxic and PVC-free.
Price: $129.99

2. Men’s Non-Leather Chelsea Boots by Dr. Martens

Dr. Martens’ boots are ultra-durable classics. When the company came out with a range of cruelty-free options, animal lovers everywhere rejoiced. Today, you’ll find vegan Dr. Martens in a wide range of colors, styles, and animal-friendly materials.

Prices: $107.00 – $196.00

3. Men’s Black Chelsea Boot by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Will’s Vegan Shoes is another 100% vegan brand that makes a variety of cool boots for men. Founder Will Green set out to create a brand that would be gentle on people, animals, and the planet. Whether you’re looking for a dress boot for work or hitting the town; or a rugged work boot, Will’s is a brand that’s worth checking out.

Price: $128.80

4. Men’s Chelsea Ankle Boot by Metrocharm

Metrocharm is a brand that offers a wide variety of men’s non-leather boots in both casual and dress styles. If you like the look of leather, but want to go cruelty-free on a budget, you’ll like Metrocharm. Their shoes come in at the $30 – $50 price range.

This style comes in black, brown, tan, navy blue, and gray.

Price: $39.99

Chukka Boots and Desert Boots

5. Men’s Black Vegan Leather Chukka Boots by Bourgeois Boheme

Eco-Friendly Brand

Bourgeois Boheme (sometimes referred to as “BoBo”) is a sustainably-focused shoe company that is breaking new ground by using with Earth-friendly materials like Piñatex™. They also use plant-based polymers that are derived from natural, renewable sources, such as grains and seeds instead of from petrochemicals. Their boots are made with PVC-free faux leather and microfiber. (PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride, is a material like polyurethane, that uses unhealthy chemicals in its production.)

Price: $229.00

6. Eco-Friendly Non-Leather Desert Boot by Bourgeois Boheme

Eco-Friendly Brand

Price: $199.00

7. Men’s Eco and Vegan Desert Chukka Boot by Bourgeois Boheme

Eco-Friendly Brand

Price: $220.00

8. Sustainable Hemp Desert Boot by Risorse Future

Eco-Friendly Brand

Risorse Future is an Italian vegan footwear designer that puts an emphasis on creating eco-friendly, sustainable shoes. They offer a number of styles of boots and shoes that are made with plant-based materials, including hemp and cotton. Their name translated into English means “Resources” and “Future,” which defines their sustainable design philosophy.

These cool, 100% vegan, sustainable desert boots are made with hemp and have a cotton lining. The sole is made with natural rubber. They are sustainably made in Italy.

Price: $189.00

9. Sustainably-Made Vegan Chukka Boots by Ahimsa

Eco-Friendly Brand

Ahimsa is an artisanal Brazilian shoemaker that only makes shoes that are cruelty-free, and they put a special emphasis on producing shoes sustainably. Ahimsa’s mission is to respect all forms of life and inspire conscious behavior. Their end goal is “to have a more conscious society, one day completely free of cruelty.” Ahimsa’s shoes are all made in the company’s own factory. They chose not to outsource so they could ensure that workers would be treated well and make a fair wage. Their men’s vegan boots are all handmade. They also use water-based adhesives in all of their shoes.

Price: $115.00

10. Ethically-Made Vegan Leather Desert Boot by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $132.00

11. Black Non-Leather Desert Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $136.00

12. Men’s Faux Suede Wing Tip Desert Boots by Alberto Fellini

Back in the day, when it was really hard to find stylish men’s vegan boots, there was Alberto Fellini. This is a brand that’s been around for decades, offering a wide variety of cool men’s boots and shoes in manmade materials. Whether you’re looking for a vegan suede desert boot or a non-leather western-style dress boot, Alberto Fellini will have you covered, and at prices that are easy on your wallet.

Prices: $24.99

13. Faux Suede Desert Boots by Alberto Fellini

This style comes in a variety of colors, including black, brown, sand, beige, navy blue, cobalt blue, olive green, red, or gray.

Price: $24.99 – $34.97

14. Men’s Vegan Chukka Boots by Novacas

Price: $149.99

15. Handmade Men’s Faux Suede Chukka Boots

These handmade vegan chukka boots are made with faux suede and fabric. The fabric upper is hand painted with an Africa-inspired motif. These boots are made to order. Just visit 2Woo’s Etsy store for more info.

Price: $83.57

Men’s Vegan Western Boots and Cowboy Boots

Work Boots

19. Men’s Dock Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $132.00

20. Brown Urban Work Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $128.00

21. Japanese Industrial Safety Boots by Fugu

These Ninja-style Japanese boots by Fugu are pretty badass. While they’re comfortable and lightweight, they have a reinforced iron dome steel toe to protect your feet. They’re made with heavy, vegan-friendly canvas and come in a few different styles. Still need convincing? Go watch one of the recent Star Trek movies or the Hunger Games, and you’ll probably see some Fugus in action.

Comes in ankle boot and tall styles. Colors: gray or black.

Price: $59.00 – $89.99

22. Men’s Hemp Laceup Boot by Risorse Future

Eco-Friendly Brand

These vegan, eco-friendly lace up boots by Risorse Future are made with sustainable hemp and natural rubber. They come in brown or gray.

Price: $189.00

23. Men’s Vegan Boots by Brave GentleMan

Eco-Friendly Brand

Disruptive menswear brand, Brave GentleMan, is another new company that is changing the world of footwear. Founder Joshua Katcher believes that workers making his products deserve dignity, respect, safe working conditions, and a living wage. He also believes that animals do not belong in the fashion production system. We couldn’t agree more! Brave GentleMan uses EU Ecolabel certified materials and offers a range of stylish, high-quality men’s vegan boots and shoes.

Price: $299.00

24. Men’s Black Vegan Safety Boots by Rock Fall

Rock Fall is known for their heavy work boots. I was glad to see they offer a few leather-free, microfiber styles. (For all you vegans, be sure to double check the product details to avoid their leather styles.)

Price: $188.00

25. Men’s Black Vegan-Friendly Toe Cap Safety Boots by Rock Fall

Price: $105.00

26. Men’s Alpine-Style Non-Leather Boots by Native Shoes

Native is a 100% vegan brand that offers a wide variety of styles of men’s boots and shoes. Native shoes have a unique look, so you can choose to stand out from the crowd in some of their flashier colors or go with something more low key. They’re a brand that has something for everyone when it comes to casual, cruelty-free shoes and boots.

Comes in black, white, red, and gray.

Price: $48.00 – $95.00

Combat Boots

27. Dr. Martens Vegan Leather Combat Boots

Prices: $88.20 – $163.00

28. Dr. Martens Washed Canvas Combat Boots

Prices: $44.00 – $92.00

29. Combat Style Rain Boots by Native

Comes in black, white, brown, and gray.

Price: $38.00 – $95.00

Biker Boots

30. Men’s Non-Leather Biker Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $177.00

31. Men’s Faux Leather Biker Boot by Santimon

Price: $58.99

Dress Boots

32. Men’s Ethical Microfiber Lace Up Boots by Ahimsa

Price: $125 – $129

33. Slim Sole Dress Boot by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $138.00

34. Lace Up Ankle Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $141.00

35. Men’s Non-Leather Lace Boot by Metrocharm

Prices: $39.99 – $49.00

36. Men’s Double Buckle Ankle Boots by Metrocharm

Price: $49.99

Additional Cool Men’s Casual Boots

37. Casual Faux Suede Lace Up Boots

Comes in black, navy blue, taupe, and brown.

Prices: $29.99

38. Vegan Canvas Lace Up High Top Boots

Comes in black, blue, red, and gray.

Prices: $42.00 – $118.00

39. Men’s Black Ankle Boot in Piñatex Pineapple Leather

Eco-Friendly Brand

These eco-friendly boots by Bourgeois Boheme are made with sustainable, 100% vegan Piñatex pineapple leather.
Price: $249.00

40. Men’s Black Laceup Boot in Piñatex

Eco-Friendly Brand

Here’s a lace up style that’s also made with Piñatex. Price: $259.00

41. Men’s Chestnut Lace Up Boots by Will’s Vegan Shoes

Price: $138.00

14 Vegan Before and After Transformation Videos

Stories of personal health transformations fascinate me because we live in a society that’s full of unhealthy, addictive temptations. Let’s face it – our whole economy is based around “wanting” – the creation of desire in human beings so we react and buy. Needless to say, this has gotten us into a lot trouble when it comes to food and eating. We all know about the obesity epidemic. And lifestyle-related health care costs are sky rocketing. Undoubtedly, the basis of this problem is the amount of addicting food products that permeate our culture.

As a person who struggles with food addictions, this is a subject I have thought about extensively. I am not an eat-a-few-corn-chips kind of gal. I am an eat-one-corn-chip-devour-the-whole-bag kind of gal. Thus, it’s best that I simply avoid corn chips altogether. I can’t go cold turkey from food, but I can go cold turkey from corn chips, and that works for me. To a person who doesn’t struggle with food addictions, this might seem trivial. But to the food and other self-acknowledged addicts among us – I’m sure you can relate! This is why I feel indebted to the people who share their own stories about overcoming addiction and other personal challenges. They make us realize we are not alone, and that if they can do it, we can too.

The Problem with Food Products, Which Are Not Food

We have a problem with addicting foods in our culture. In order to be competitive and economically viable, food product companies have gone to great lengths to ensure there’s a high degree of repeat wanting for their products. At the same time, as businesses, they have pressure to keep costs down while creating products that have a long shelf life. Factory farming, preservatives, and added sugar, salt, and hydrogenated fats are just some of the unhealthy byproducts of those economic drivers. The more addicting a food product is, the better it sells. And the lower the cost to produce it and keep it on the shelf, the more money the food product company makes. The result is fake food – products that barely resemble the whole foods that nature has been perfecting for eons.

Capitalism Gone Awry

I call this capitalism gone awry. It’s when business people, scientists, and technologists get too micro-focused on one metric – how much money can be made, while losing site of the broader ramifications of what they’re creating. I think one of the best aspects of the modern world is that we have easy access to information that gives us the bigger picture, if we care to look. We may not be growing our own food in our gardens, but at least we can get the background story on our food – where it comes from, what’s in it, what impact it’s having on our bodies, as well as on other people and animals. Finally, the medical establishment is starting to catch up, and we’re seeing more studies on the role that whole foods play in our overall health, well-being, and longevity.

Miraculous Transformations from Everyday People

In addition to scientific studies, one of the most vital ways that we’re getting the bigger picture on how whole foods make us feel is when people share their personal stories. The people profiled here overcame additions and other lifestyle-related challenges that held them back from realizing their full potential. At once, they are extraordinary. At the same time, they’re just normal people like you and me.

They make me think about Roger Bannister, who was the first person on record to run a sub-four-minute mile. He showed us that, yes, it’s humanly possible. And after he showed us, more and more people went on to run sub-four-minute miles. Today, it’s become a standard of athletic performance vs. an anomaly. Every person who overcomes a challenge like an addiction is a Roger Bannister in my book. They help us to set a higher standard for a more vibrant way of being. Without further ado, here are:

Vegan Transformation Videos from People Like You and Me:

1. Plant Based Guerilla

This video by vegan lifestyle guru the Plant Based Guerilla is a montage of vegan diet transformation that will help turbo charge your motivation to live a healthier lifestyle.

2. The Good Life Project (with Rich Roll)

In this video by the media company The Good Life Project, which focuses on helping people live more enriched lives, founder Jonathan Fields has a very candid conversation with Rich Roll. Rich talks about being a recovered addict and the positive influence that his wife Julie has had on his life. He also talks about how important it is to seize moments of clarity that can serve as a catalyst to help us change our lives for the better.

3. Rich Roll

Rich Roll’s book Finding Ultra is a must-read for anyone who needs that extra push to go all out vegan, and not to mention – get in great shape. This book had a huge impact on me. I had been a vegetarian for over 30 years, flirting with veganism, but never being able to remain consistently vegan. (I had a hard time giving up cheese!) Finding Ultra was one of those catalysts that turned me into a committed vegan. This means more than my saying, ‘Oh, that Rich Roll guy got me to give up cheese!’ I can truly say that this book is aptly named because it helped me to discover more of who I ultimately knew myself to be.

4. Raw Synergy

You’ve probably heard about the glow you get from eating a vegan diet that’s full of fruits and vegetables. In this video by Alicia Grant of Raw Synergy, she shares her personal story about suffering from acne and then discovering the key to having healthy, radiant skin.

5. Jakd Fitness

Jakd Fitness aims to dispel the myth that vegans are weak, and how eating meat can actually get in the way of hitting your ultimate fitness goals.

6. Light Twins

With more men embracing a vegan lifestyle than ever before, it’s great to have as many male role models as possible helping them along the path. But whether you’re male or female, you’ll be sure to find some inspiration by checking out this video and others by the Light Twins.

7. Lissa’s Raw Food Romance

Lissa of Raw Food Romance changed her body and her life by adopting a raw food vegan diet. For outsiders, a raw vegan diet might seem extreme. But when you listen to Lissa speak in her sincere and no nonsense way, you’ll be convinced that the standard American junk food diet is the real extreme, and raw food vegan should be the norm.

8. Full Raw Kristina

Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram infuses positive vibes, authenticity, and sheer vibrancy into everything she does. Quite simply, we need more people like her. Whenever I watch her videos, I want to immediately start taking better care of myself and eat more fruits and vegetables!

9. Simnett Nutrition

A certified nutritionist, Derek of Simnett Nutrition is all about being a super strong and fit vegan. Some people want to lose weight when they go on a vegan diet; others want to build muscle mass. Derek shows you how to get it done.

10. Elle Tayla

Elle Tayla’s story is hard to watch on YouTube, as she struggled on and off with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder. With the support of family and friends, good old self-reliance, and discovering a high-carb, low-fat vegan diet, she found her way back the health.

11. Infinite Waters

Renaissance Man Ralph Smart of Infinite Waters is a self-described “Infinite Being.” Watch his videos, and you’ll realize that you are too.

12. Sarah Nourse

Sarah Nourse and her husband went vegan after hearing activist Gary Yourofsky speak. With humility and generosity, Sarah shares her story about how in just six months, she and her husband lost weight and changed their lives for the better by embracing a vegan lifestyle.

13. The Urban Black Vegan

A recovered diabetic, The Urban Black Vegan was inspired to change his life after watching the groundbreaking movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. He’s on a mission to help people in his own community and beyond fight lifestyle-related chronic diseases and to get on the path to health.

14. High Carb Hannah

High carb Hannah drank too much, smoked, and overate. She chronicles her 70-pound weight loss and the life transformation that resulted from eating a whole food, plantbased diet.

Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channels of these inspirational heroes, and best of luck on your own journey to health and vitality!

(As with much of the content you find on the Web today, take these videos as anecdotal, personal stories and consult with a medical professional if you have questions about making major dietary changes!)

21 Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Of the different shoes I present on UniGuide, flip flops are a shoe-in for the highest echelons of vegan and eco-friendly shoes. Today, you can find a variety of really cool vegan flip flops that are also gentle on the planet. There are styles made with recycled plastic, upcycled tires, cork, hemp, and more. Other eco-friendly materials include natural rubber, recycled polyester, and upcycled industrial hoses.

If we could wear them every day, we probably would. Why? Because flip flops feel like sunshine, warm weather, the beach, and relaxation. But if your flip flops are made from materials that are not Earth- or animal-friendly – like plastic, certain types of foam, suede, or leather – it erodes their feel-good vibe.

According to Wikipedia, flip flops transcend cultures, as they’re worn by people all over the world. The earliest record we have of a flip flop-style sandal was the type worn by the ancient Egyptians in 1,5oo B.C. But the modern flip flops that we all know and love today were probably inspired by the Japanese zōri, which American soldiers brought back to the U.S. after World War II.

So, if you’re getting ready for summer, going on vacation somewhere warm, bumming around town, or walking from the shower to your locker at the gym, look no further – you’ve come to the right place to find some cool flip flops that are also easy on the Earth. (And it goes without saying – on UniGuide, any flip flops you see will be vegan.)

1. Recycled Ocean Plastic Flip Flops by adidas and Parley

It’s estimated that 80% of the debris that pollutes our oceans is plastic. This is why I’m a huge fan of the collaboration between adidas and Parley. Parley for the Oceans is an organization that sets out to intercept waste on the beach and in coastal communities before it reaches the ocean. They recycle this waste into threads that adidas then uses to make not only flips flops and sneakers, but also a new line of yoga and active wear. The sustainable cork foot bed in these sandals makes them even cooler. The adidas Eezay Parley Slide is available in men’s and women’s styles.

Price: $19.00 – $44.44

2. Recycled Tire Flip Flops by Indosole

Indosole is a certified B Corporation, which means it’s a for-profit company that is certified by the nonprofit B Lab for maintaining rigorous social and environmental standards. Indosole is helping to solve a significant environmental problem by repurposing some of the billions of discarded tires that would otherwise pollute important places, like riverways, other natural habitats, and even cities, into useful footwear. Their socially conscious vegan flip flops are super popular with UniGuide visitors, so be sure to check out a pair for yourself!

Women’s Used Tire Flip Flops by Indosole

Price: $39.00 – $45.00

Men’s Socially Conscious Sandals by Indosole

Price: $39.00 – $45.00

3. Vegan Cork and Recycled Polyester Flip Flops by SOLÉ

SOLÉ takes corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship seriously, which led them to using cork, an all-natural and sustainable material, in their vegan and eco-friendly sandals. Plus, they incorporate other Earth-friendly materials, like hemp and recycled polyester, into their designs. SOLÉ focuses on reducing CO2 by running a business that is carbon negative. They achieve this by planting cork trees, harvesting the bark, recycling wine corks, and purchasing carbon offsets.

Women’s Vegan Flip Flops by SOLÉ

Price: $50.02 – $89.99

Men’s Vegan Flip Flops by SOLÉ

Price: $50.03 – $88.99

4. Recycled Vegan Flip Flops by Rider

I can’t believe I just discovered this brand! Rider is all about making socially conscious and eco-friendly sandals. Their flip flops are made with 15-30% recycled materials, and 99% of the industrial waste generated from their production is either re-used or recycled. On a monthly basis, the company recycles 960 tons of materials. And when your Rider flop flops wear out, you can send them back to the company and they’ll recycle them into something new, like the flooring for children’s playgrounds. Warning: They have so many cool, vibrant color combinations that it’s going to be hard to choose.

Rider Flip Flops for Women

Price: $10.75 – $44.67

Rider Flip Flops for Men

Price: $16.76 – $59.98

5. Recycled Rubber and Jute Sole Flip Flops by Gumbies

Gumbies Flip Flops have their own unique look. Company founder Michel Maurer is a freedom-loving adventurer who never wanted to be boxed in to a traditional way of living. Gumbies’ design reflects that philosophy. Maurer tinkered with different materials to be used in his sandals, and eventually settled on a sole made with recycled rubber, cut into little squares, and woven together with jute. The company puts an emphasis on using the “most practical, natural, recycled, and planet friendly materials possible.”

Gumbies Flip Flops for Women

Price: $24.99 – $30.00

Gumbies Flip Flops for Men

Price: $24.99 – $79.99

6. Recycled Flip Flops by Patagonia

Patagonia is the granddaddy of eco-friendly product companies because after over four decades in business, they just get better and better at producing super high-quality products that are infused with environmental consciousness and low-impact materials. It’s not easy being the front runner, so I’m especially grateful to catch a ride on the momentum Patagonia’s been building since 1973.Price: $56.00

7. Hemp Flip Flops by Rainbow Sandals

San Clemente, California-based Rainbow Sandals has a line of hemp flip flops that have a natural aesthetic. And they get the cool frayed look once they’re worn in a bit. Rainbow Sandals does make some leather versions, so be sure to check the product details. But I salute them for giving to a number of charities, with a special emphasis on education. I can’t argue with that! They offer men’s and women’s styles, and their hemp sandals comes in natural, brown, and black.

Women’s Hemp Flip Flops by Rainbow Sandals

Price: $39.99 – $41.99

Men’s Hemp Flip Flops by Rainbow Sandals

Price: $45.99

8. Upcycled Flip Flops by Landfill Dzine

Husband and wife team Josh and Heather Carpenter started Landfill Dzine when they saw a lot of useful materials come through the family’s recycling center, which served the agricultural industry. Self-described recycling fanatics, The Carpenters saw style and innovation where others just saw trash. Landfill Dzine makes a variety of products for men, women, and kids – including belts, shoes, and bags – all made from upcycled and recycled materials.

Landfill Dzine Women’s Upcycled Flip Flops

Price: $11.27 – $19.97

Landfill Dzine Men’s Upcycled Flip Flops

Price: $14.97 – $19.97

9. Vegan Flip Flops by Sanuk

Owned by Deckers, the Sanuk brand has a variety of shoes made that are made with vegan and natural fibers. Deckers carries some non-vegan brands, but they do put out an annual corporate social responsibility report and focus on worker safety along their supply chains.

Women’s Flip Flops Made with Yoga Mat Scraps

Price: $8.09- $38.84

Men’s Canvas Yoga Mat Flip Flops

Price: $10.01- $44.95

10. Natural Rubber Flip Flops by Planet Flops

Founded by podiatrist Dr. Sylvie Shapiro, Planet Flops are made in Brazil from natural Brazilian rubber. Unlike synthetic rubber, natural rubber comes from rubber trees and is an eco-friendly material. The rubber harvesting process involves tapping into the tree to remove the sap from the bark, which does not harm the tree, yet creates an extra reason to keep them alive and thriving.

Price: $24.00 – $29.99

11. Recycled and Recyclable Flip Flops by Okabashi

Made in the USA, Okabashi‘s sandals contain 20% recycled materials. Okabashi has their own recycling program – when you’re done with your flip flops, you can mail them back and Okabashi will use the materials to make more of their products.

Okabashi Women’s Eco and Vegan Flip Flops

Price: $11.66 – $40.26

Okabashi Men’s Eco and Vegan Flip Flops

Price: $11.66 – $40.26

12. Recycled, Eco-Friendly Flip Flops by Chaco

Chaco’s textured footbeds have an “Ecotread” sole that is made with a 25% recycled rubber compound. Ecotread’s construction makes these sandals 15% lighter than Chaco’s other styles, while still being durable.

Women’s Ecotread Flip Flops

Price: $35.99 – $83.00

Men’s Ecotread Flip Flops

Price: $29.23 – $59.95

13. Hemp Flip Flops by Nirvana 8

Made from hemp, one of the most versatile and sustainable natural materials available today, Nirvana 8′s hemp sandals are imported from Nepal, where they are all handmade by local artisans in the Kathmandu Valley.Price range: $28.79 – $31.50

14. Natural Rubber, Non-Toxic Flip Flops by Feelgoodz

Feelgoodz makes men’s and women’s flip flops with natural rubber. They also use all-natural dyes and non-toxic ink. You’ll find a variety of colors at a great price point. (For you vegans, they do make some styles with leather, so be sure to read the product details!)Price: $19.99 – $24.99

15. Recycled Plastic Flip Flops by Ocean Minded

“Live, Protect, and Respect” is the philosophy that Ocean Minded lives by. They use recycled and sustainable materials in their products whenever possible. These eco-friendly and vegan sandals have recycled PET plastic in the webbing on the straps, and the midsoles are made with 25% post-industrial recycled foam. (Ocean Minded does make a few styles with leather, so be sure to read the product details before you buy.)

Ocean Minded Women’s Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Price: $19.99 – $24.99

Ocean Minded Men’s Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Price: $29.00 – 39.99

16. Fair Trade Flip Flops by OLLI

OLLImakes Fair Trade flip flops with natural rubber sourced in Sri Lanka. The company was founded by two sisters, The Olli Sisters, found the chemicals used in traditional flip flops to be unacceptable. So, they set out to make a better flip flop with natural rubber, but soon realized the treatment of workers on many rubber plantations was also not acceptable. The result of their innate sense of decency was to create these socially conscious, Fair Trade flip flops (plus other cool, Fair Trade products.)

Price: $27.00

17. Recycled Plastic Flip Flops by The North Face

The North Face’s Camp Lite Flip Flops have webbing that is made with 100% recycled PET plastic.

North Face Women’s Recycled Flip Flops

Price: $29.99 – $44.50

North Face Men’s Recycled Flip Flops

Price: $29.99 – $44.50

18. Natural Woven Bamboo Grass Flip Flops

If you want an even more natural aesthetic with some ethnic fabric flair, these handmade sandals by Siam Tip will do the trick. The footbed is made with woven natural bamboo grass and the soles are natural rubber. The straps are made with vegan-friendly faux leather and upcycled fabric from skirts made by the Hmong tribe of China.

Natural Ethnic Woven Bamboo Grass Flip Flops Price: $34.30

19. Ethical Flip Flops with Natural Brazilian Rubber by Musewear

Musewear prints whimsical sayings, inspiring quotes, and zodiac signs on their flip flops, which are made from natural Brazilian rubber. With each pair you buy, they donate 15% of the price to nonprofits, such as Best Friends Animal Society and the Nature Conservancy. They also have a recycling program for their flip flops when you’re done wearing them.

Price: $20.00

20. 100% Natural Rubber Flip Flops by Waves

Waves makes flip flops for men and women with 100% natural rubber.

Price: $13.99 – $14.99

21. Classic Seagrass Flip Flops

Probably the closest style you’ll find to the original Japanese zōri, these flip flops have a seagrass footbed and padded fabric straps.

Price: $9.99 – $17.99

If you’re looking for a vegan sandal that’s a bit more adventure-ready, check out this post:

Vegan Sport Sandals for Men and Women

23 Vegan Sport Sandals for Men and Women

After writing a couple blog posts about strappy high heeled and wedge heeled sandals for women, my pal Cathy, who happens to be vegan and an Ironwoman triathlete a few times over, commented, “What about vegan sport sandals? I love sporty sandals!”

And who doesn’t? Sport sandals basically give you the freedom to go barefoot everywhere without hurting your feet! And does it make any sense to wear leather sandals in the water? Heck no, especially when there are so many vegan sport sandals that will outperform those made with animal skin any day.

So, this post is for all of you active guys and gals out there who are ramping up for summer fun in and out of the water.

(One caveat I’d like to make on the the shoes presented in this post: I’ve done a lot of research, including contacting the shoe manufacturers, and I have not conclusively been able to rule out if animal byproducts are used in the adhesives in some of these shoes. However, according to Wikipedia, glues that contain animal byproducts are more commonly found in products such as wooden musical instruments, gesso, and gelatin; not shoes. PETA says that animal-based glues are rarely used in shoes anymore because synthetic adhesives outperform them in consistency and flexibility. Thus, with this information, I focused on the sport sandals I could find that are made with manmade materials and do not contain animal skin.)

And now for some historical context on athletic sandals as we know them today…

The History of Sport Sandals

Photo: Teva.com

The original sport sandals, Tevas were as revolutionary to the world of sandals as Nikes were to track and field shoes. In both cases, their invention was the result of an epiphany born of necessity.

Before Nikes came along, the best running shoes were the kind with metal cleats. Needless to say, those cleats didn’t lend themselves well to every kind of surface you might want to run on. The lightbulb moment came when Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman and his wife Barbara were making waffles for breakfast one morning in 1971.

They were brainstorming ideas on how to make traditional track shoes with good traction but without the use of metal cleats. As Barbara pulled a waffle off the waffle iron, Bill had an aha moment, and the famous Nike waffle soles were born. On that day, running shoes underwent a metamorphosis that would pave the way for a cultural revolution – today, sneakers have gone way beyond athletic shoes. (In other words, Air Jordans are Air Jordans not just because of Michael Jordan, but because some people like to make their own waffles.)

A Fashion Revolution Born on the Colorado River

The inspiration for Tevas originated from the same need to make something that already existed better. The year was 1982 and Mark Thatcher had a summer job working as a river guide on the Colorado River. River guides continuously make the transition from carrying rafts off of trailers, onto rocky shores, and into the river. They’re on the raft, then they’re out of the boat again, sometimes swimming, sometimes walking in the water on the riverbed, and then hauling the rafts ashore.

(As a side note, my mom is from Buena Vista, Colorado, a town on the Arkansas River, which is a mecca for river rafting and kayaking. So, you could say that this blog post about the origins and merits of semi-amphibious shoes is one that is dear to my heart and long overdue.)

At the time that Mark Thatcher was serving as a river guide in the Grand Canyon, the only real options for footwear were wearing hiking boots or a pair of lightweight sneakers you packed in your bag – both of which got heavy and clunky when wet (and not to mention, were nearly impossible to swim in, if the need arose), or else – flip flops, which had no traction on the riverbed and came off too easily in the water.

The first pair of Tevas were created when a frustrated Mark Thatcher used a couple of Velcro watch bands to attach his flip flops to his feet so they wouldn’t come off. And from that day in the Grand Canyon, sandals (indeed – summer fashion) would never be the same.

1. Teva’s Original Sandal (Is Vegan!)

The Original Teva Sandal harkens back to Teva’s roots with a flip flop-style toe strap and an adjustable ankle strap that stays secure with Velcro.

Women’s Original Textile Sandals by Teva

The women’s style comes in fun colors, including bright pink, orange, turquoise, black, and other colors.

Price: $27.49 – $124.00

Teva Men’s Original Universal Sandal

One of the original style of Tevas for men, the Universal Sandal has an open toe and comes in black, brown, mustard, navy blue, and gray.

Price: $48.94 – $85.50

2. Vegan Hurricane Sandals by Teva

The Teva Hurricane Sandal has polyester webbing and a heel that’s about 1.5”. Plus, they come with rugged Durabrasion outsoles, which makes them perfect for wearing on rugged terrain.

Women’s Hurricane Sandal

This women’s style comes in red, black, turquoise, light turquoise and brown, or forest green.

Price: $57.28 – $76.02

Men’s Hurricane Sandal

The men’s style also comes in a variety of colors, including black, orange, dark green, olive, multi-colored, gray, white, and more.

Price: $29.40 – $84.99

3. Women’s Kayenta Sandal by Teva

One of my favorite women’s styles, the Kayenta Sandal has a grooved yoga mat-inspired footbed for good traction and narrow, comfy straps over the front of your foot. The heel is about 1” and the front platform is about 0.5”. Plus, there’s a padded heel strap for walking comfort. This style comes in a few different color combinations, including black, purple, green, and gray.

Price: $69.96 – $299.97

4. Women’s Vegan Tirra Athletic Sandal by Teva

The Tirra Athletic Sandal is one of Teva’s most popular styles and it gets top reviews from customers. It’s water- and trail-ready – for wherever your outdoor adventures take you. The tractioned heel is about 1.5” and the front platform is 0.5”. This style comes in a bunch of color combinations, including gray, galaxy blue, white-multi, hot pink, black, and more.

Price: $37.25 – $259.00

5. Teva Men’s Vegan Toachi 2 Sandal

The Toachi 2 is designed for maximum action with padded straps and three adjustable hook-and-loop straps, plus a rear pull-up loop. The heel is about 1.5” and the platform is 1”. It’s also been treated with Microban, a zinc-based odor-resistant treatment. This style comes in black, gray, and espresso brown.

Price: $94.95 – $109.95

6. Women’s Flatform Universal Sandals by Teva

These vegan Tevas are a style that even the hardcore fashionistas can have fun with. The high-platforms come in bright colors, including yellow, red, turquoise, black, pink, orange, lavender, white, and others. The heel measures 1.75″ and the platform is 1.25″.

Price: $23.95 – $95.00

Vegan Athletic Sandals by Chaco

Chaco’s shoes are made in the U.S.A. in their factory in Michigan. They’re one of my favorite brands because they have some styles (their Ecotread line) that are made with recycled materials. You can see more Ecotread styles in my post about recycled flip flops. The company also has a repair program, which lets you send your worn out Chacos to them for repairs that extend their life. They’ll also make custom Chacos with your unique specifications.

Here’s a video with details on how Chacos are made:

7. Women’s Zong Ecotread Athletic Sandals by Chaco

Eco-Friendly Style

These vegan sport sandals for women have textile straps and rubber soles. Colors include black, tangerine, aqua, blue multi-colored, and more.

Price: $50.97 – $106.98

8. Chaco Z Cloud Sandals

Chaco’s Z Cloud Sandals come in styles with toe rings or open toes. The cushioned heel makes them comfortable for action sports or walking on rugged terrain. And, they’ve been treated with an antimicrobial application for odor control.

Women’s Z Cloud Sandals by Chaco

Price: $59.95 – $132.77

Men’s Z Cloud Sandal by Chaco

Price: $93.25 – $114.99

9. Chaco Ecotread Zvolv 2 Athletic Sandals

Eco-Friendly Style

Here’s another style that has the recycled Ecotread soles. The heel on the Zvolv is about 1” and the platform is 0.75”.

Women’s Zvolv Sandals with Recycled Ecotread Soles

Women’s styles come in color combinations including green multi, gray, blue and coral, black, and more.

Price: $74.97 – $109.99

Men’s Zvolv Sandals with Ecotread

Eco-Friendly Style

The men’s styles come in brown, tan, and navy multi-colored patterns

Price: $99.60 – $100.00

10. Women’s Reggae-Happy Rainbow Sport Sandals

With a name like that, these vegan sport sandals should be hard to resist. Skechers has also gotten into the vegan sport sandals scene and offers a variety of styles that are lightweight and easy on your budget. These have super flexible soles and a buckle clip for easy on and off.

Price: $24.00 – $44.95

11. Men’s Go Walk Outdoors Nature Sandals by Skechers

Another design by Skechers, these vegan men’s sport sandals have padded, adjustable Velcro straps. This style comes in black or gray.

Price: $49.95 – $50.96

12. Performance Women’s on the Go Radiance Sandal

This women’s style by Skechers is available with both black or white soles, which make them perfect for boating. Like all of Skechers’ athletic sandals, they’re super lightweight. This style comes in black, charcoal, natural, and navy blue – all of which have a light-colored sole. The black style is also available with a black sole.

Price: $30.00 – $79.95

13. Merrell Women’s Enoki Twist Strappy Sandal

Merrell’s is known for making a lot of leather sandals, so I was happy to see they’re now producing more styles of athletic sandals in animal-friendly, vegan materials. The Women’s Twist Strappy Sandal has a faux leather upper and a soft microfiber lining. The soles have the signature Merrell air cushioning, making them perfect for wearing on rugged terrain.

Price: $35.69 – $98.00

14. Merrell Men’s Vegan Cedrus Convert Sandals

These men’s vegan sport sandals by Merrell have padded faux leather straps with Velcro enclosures for the perfect fit. They come in black or gray.

Price: $44.95 – $65.00

15. Women’s Terran Ari Backstrap Sandal in Faux Leather

The women’s Terran Sandal, also by Merrell, has a vegan leather straps that are padded with neoprene for extra comfort. The rubber platform is 0.5” and the white soles make these sandals perfect for boating. This style comes in black, gray and green, or red and blue – all with white soles.

Price: $70.00

16. Women’s Stretchy Ankle Strap Sandals by Reef

Famous for their flip flops, it’s great to see that Reef offers a vegan sport sandal for women. This style has a comfortable elastic ankle strap for easy movement and an EVA footbed. The toe post and t-strap are made with vegan faux leather.

Price: $24.99 – $36.00

17. Oso Vegan Sport Sandals for Men and Women by Luna

Inspired by the sandals worn by the Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyon in Mexico, which were made famous in Christopher McDougal’s book Born to Run, Luna Sandals are designed for action. They have Vibram Flexmor soles and high-performance, adjustable laces for the perfect fit. The Luna Oso sport sandal is perfect for traveling, day hiking, kayaking, or just bumming around town.

Women’s Luna Oso Sandal

Price: $109.95

Men’s Luna Oso Sandal

Price: $114.95

18. Xero Z-Trail Lightweight Vegan Sport Sandals

Xero’s ultra-lightweight sport sandals are prefect for anyone who loves to go barefoot but wants a little extra protection. According to Xero, these sandals are 76% lighter and thinner than other sport sandals, but with all the protection and comfort you need. You can roll them up for traveling, and roll them out for sightseeing, stand up paddle boarding, outdoor yoga, and more.

Women’s Xero Sandals

Women’s styles come in red, blue multi, gray, black, and mocha brown.

Price: $78.19 – $84.99

Men’s Xero Sandals

Men’s styles come in blue multi, royal blue, black and gray, or mocha brown.

Price: $59.15 – $84.99

19. Men’s Vegan Sport Sandals by New Balance

New Balance offers this super comfortable athletic sandal for men with padded, adjustable neoprene straps. They have a lightweight EVA outsole and a Rapid Rebound comfort footbed. They’re available in black, navy blue, and brown.

Price: $21.25 – $104.90

Closed Toe Vegan Sport Sandals

If you need a little more protection from your athletic sandals, here are some vegan styles that will protect your toes.

20. Lightweight Amphibious Sport Sandals by Clorts

Is it a sandal or a hiking shoe? It’s both! These lightweight semi-amphibious athletic sandals by Clorts have a Lycra mesh lining, Velcro straps, and protective rubber toe caps. They’re perfect for hiking, playing on the beach, kayaking, rafting, and more.

Women’s Vegan Sport Sandals by Clorts

Price: $52.99

Men’s Vegan Sport Sandals by Clorts

The men’s style comes in gray or pale green.

Price: $49.99 – $54.99

21. Vibram Athletic Vegan “Toe Sock” Shoes

The first time I ever saw a pair of Vibram toe shoes I was reminded of when I was a kid and my brothers and I put gloves on our feet and play Planet of the Apes. (Yes, we actually did that… hours of entertainment!)

It can be argued that Vibrams are more shoes than sandals, but I thought they deserved to be in this post. Not only are they vegan, but they’re perfect for outdoor wear in the water or on land. Vibram now has a variety of men’s and women’s styles. And all are made with the famous Vibram soles and stretchy vegan-friendly uppers.

Women’s Vibram Athletic Sandals

Price: $38.00 – $160.00

Men’s Vibram Athletic Trainers

Price: $38.00 – $160.00

22. Toe Cap Trail and Water Shoes by Atika

Atika is another brand I found that’s making affordable semi-amphibious sandals for both men and women.

Women’s Trail and Water Shoes by Atika

The women’s styles come in light gray and turquoise, dark gray, brown, and red.

Price: $23.98 – $29.98

Men’s Trail and Water Shoes by Atika

The men’s styles come in a wide variety of color combinations, including green, gray, mustard, bright orange, navy blue and more.

Price: $26.98 – $32.98

23. Faux Leather Closed Toe Sport Sandals by Northside

If you like the look of leather, but want to go cruelty-free, Northside makes men’s and women’s sport sandals with faux leather and faux suede uppers that are designed to get wet. They’ve got neoprene padding and enclosed toes to keep your feet safe and comfortable in any activity. Plus, they have an easy on and off bungee lacing system.

Women’s Vegan Sport Sandals by Northside

The women’s style comes in a variety of fun color combinations, including pink, light gray and turquoise, black, tan, maroon, and purple.

Price: $21.95 – $54.99

Men’s Vegan Sport Sandals by Northside

The men’s style comes in black, olive, and charcoal.

Price: $21.95 – $54.99

Alright, this post has reminded me that I really need to get back on the river. See you there!

Looking for some sandals that are a little more relaxed? Check out:

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

25 Vegan Wedge Sandals and Platform Sandals

Back in the day, when it was hard to find stylish vegan sandals, compassionate women could always turn to espadrilles. Made with cotton fabric and braided jute, espadrilles were vegan way before vegan was cool. And when the platform wedge heel came along, coupled with laces wrapping up feminine legs – forget it – even men who didn’t have foot fetishes suddenly had foot fetishes.

But when were wedge heels invented?

According to Renee Jacques in the Huffington Post, wedge heel shoes were invented in the 1940s by the famous Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo. Because of World War II era sanctions against Italy, the designer was unable to acquire the steel that was normally used in the heels of his shoes. “I experimented with pieces of Sardinian cork,” wrote Mr. Ferragamo, “pushing and gluing and fixing and trimming until the entire space between the sole and the heel was blocked solid.” Testament to his ingenious design skills, the new style quickly took off and, as you’ll see in this post, it shows no sign of becoming passé.

Unfortunately, you won’t find any wedge sandals by Ferragamo in this post. Why? You guessed it – I couldn’t find any by Ferragamo that are vegan. Sadly, Mr. Ferragamo passed away in the 1960s, too soon to experience the vegan footwear revolution that is, well – afoot! We can only hope that his enduring fashion house will wake up and smell the espresso and honor his fashion forward thinking by creating some cruelty-free sandals for the women of today.

Until then, there are these…

1. Ethnic Textile Fabric Wedge Sandals by Siamese Dream

These vegan wedge sandals by Siamese Dream were real standouts when I did my research because I didn’t come across any other sandals quite like them. Sadly, I just learned that their master shoemaker has been ill, so they’ll be discontinuing their shoe line. They still have some styles left, so if you fancy them – get them while you can!

Price: $70.00 – $79.00

2. Espadrille Wedge Sandals by Ibizencas

Ibizencas makes their vegan sandals in Spain. Their shoes are all handmade, and the company uses organic cotton and natural jute in their designs. They have both high and low heeled styles. And if you’ve got a wedding to attend, or if you’re having your own, be sure to check out their wedding collection.

Price: $61.00 – $110.00

3. Nautical Stripe Crisscross Wedge Sandals by Tommy Hilfiger

These cute platform espadrilles with their nautical stripes could only be designed by Tommy Hilfiger. They have a 3.5” heel and a 1” platform.

Price: $69.00

4. Lace Up Wedge Sandals by Walk Heart Espadrilles

Walk Heart Espadrilles will customize espadrilles for you in their studio in Spain. They use organic cotton in their designs, and all of their shoes are handmade. These bright blue vegan sandals have 4” heels and blue ribbons that wrap up your legs. The fun bright blue tassels will undoubtedly have people asking, “Where did you get those shoes?”

Price: $70.53

5. Cotton Twill Open Toe Wedge Sandals by TOMS

You can’t go wrong when you buy a pair of socially conscious TOMS sandals (as long as they’re from their vegan collection!) These super flattering open toe wedge sandals will look great with a skirt or a pair of jeans. They also come in a black denim. (But beware, there’s a natural colored style too that has leather on the strap.) Heel height is approximately 3.4”.

Price: $32.00 – $103.00

6. Comfort Wedge Sandal with Elastic Straps

If you want the wedge look, but a lower heel, check out these wedge sandals by LifeStride. They’re ultra-comfortable with elastic crisscross straps and a faux leather toe strap. The cork heel is about 2” and they come in medium and wide widths. Colors include black, navy blue, and natural.

Price $33.99 – $85.00

7. PETA-Approved Vegan Platform Sandals by BC Footwear

Stand out in the crowd with these uber-high espadrille platform sandals. The wedge heel is 4” and the platform is 1.5”. The straps are made with PETA-certified vegan leather and faux suede.

Price: $84.95

8. Ankle Strap Wedge Sandals by UGG

While UGG is known for their very not-animal-friendly leather boots, it’s reassuring to see them branch out and include some cruelty-free shoes. We can only hope they phase out all their styles made with animal skin (when people stop buying them!) These cute espadrilles have a canvas upper and rubber soles. The heel measures 2”.

Price: $110.00

9. Berkley Platform Wedge by Michael Kors

This fun vegan wedge sandal by Michael Kors has a 4” braided jute heel and a 1” platform. They have a cute zippered t-strap up the front and a cushioned foot bed. Colors include: black, natural, navy blue, white, orange, turquoise, and pink.

Price: $98.95

10. Stretch Platform Espadrilles by Steve Madden

These stretchy crisscross sandals by Steve Madden are comfortable enough to wear while walking your pup. They have a 2” wedge heel and a 1.5” platform.

Price: $69.00

11. Closed Toe Espadrilles with Faux Leather Ankle Straps by Style & Co.

If you’ve been too busy to refresh your pedicure, you’ll be covered with these closed, round toed espadrilles by Style & Co. The upper is made with soft microsuede. The classic espadrille wedge heel is 2.5” and the platform is 0.75”. These sandals come in red, black, denim, and gold.

Price: $59.50

12. Women’s Stretch Elastic Wedge Sandal by Rampage

These fun stretch elastic wedge sandals have a 3.25” cork heel and a 1.25” platform. The adjustable ankle strap makes them comfortable enough to wear to an outdoor concert, amusement park, or wherever the fun takes you this summer. They come in red, ivory, navy blue, silver, and black.

Price: $25.97 – $49.99

13. Sling Back Plush Wedge Sandal by Aerosoles

Another comfortable wedge sandal, this cute style by Aerosoles has elastic crisscross straps. Plus, there’s a memory foam footbed and the sole is flexible. They come in red, white, and black.

Price: $34.99 – $42.99

14. Cork Wedge Sandals with Toe Buckle Strap by Aerosoles

Another cute style by Aerosoles, these vegan wedge sandals sport a buckled toe strap and a cute ankle strap. The heel measures approximately 3.25″ and the platform is 0.75”. They come in black, red, and cork.

Price: $48.27 – $79.00

15. Wood Heel Wedge Sandals by Kenneth Cole Reaction

For a slightly different wedge heel look, check out these vegan-friendly sandals by Kenneth Cole Reaction. They have a wooden wedge heel and soft ankle straps. They come in floral print and denim.

Price: $72.00 – $79.00

16. Low Heeled Vegan Wedge Sandals by Kenneth Cole Reaction

If you’re looking for a lower heel, but with the same cute look and an ankle strap, check out this style by Kenneth Cole Reaction. They have a 1” heel that’s closed in the back and a cushioned sole. This style comes in a wide array of colors, including natural cork, navy blue, black, white, red, champagne, gold, coral, brown, denim, and multi-colored.

$34.99 – $59.00

17. Peep Toe Vegan Espadrille Sandals by Soludos

These ivory peep toe sandals with laces have a classic espadrille look. They have rubber soles and the platform measures approximately 1.5”.

Price: $94.95

18. Crisscross Platform Wedges by Dolce Vita

These high platform sandals by Dolce Vita will have you standing out in the crowd. The platform is lightweight with a wooden look. They come in textile patterns and blue denim. (There are some leather styles, so be sure to read the product details.)

Price: $119.98 – $120.00

19. Vegan Cabrini Wedge Sandal by Anne Klein

You won’t regret wearing these super comfortable elastic strap wedge sandals by Anne Klein. Get the high-heeled wedge look with the low-heel feel of sneakers. Colors include: natural, pewter, black, denim blue, and orange-red.

Price: $39.99 – $65.00

20. Women’s Canvas Strap Wedge Sandals by El Naturalista

El Naturalista’s canvas strap wedge sandals are 100% vegan. They come in four color combinations, including mustard and brown, red and brown, black and brown, or navy and brown.

Price: $134.90

21. High Platform Jute Rope Lace Up Sandals by Makegsi

If you like the 70s look, these high-platform wedge sandals have it. They have cute ankle laces, and they come in black, white, or pink. The heel is 4” and the platform is 1.5”. Plus, they have a rubber sole, in case you need to do a little dancing on a slippery floor.

$25.99 – $29.99

22. Vegan Crisscross Slide Sandals by Skechers

Skechers now creates a wide variety of animal-friendly, comfortable shoes. These colorful crisscross slide wedges can be worn with anything. The heel is 2.75” and the platform 0.75”. They also come in a few different color combinations.

Price: $33.71 – $89.00

23. Sling Back Wedge Sandals by Skechers

Here’s another style by Skechers that is extra comfortable and equipped with a heel strap. It comes in black denim, blue denim, taupe, white, light blue, and brown. The heel measures 2.75″ and the platform is .75”.

Price: $23.00 – $89.00

24. Peep Toe Wedge Sandals by Ralph Lauren

This classic, peep toe wedge espadrille by Ralph Lauren has a braided jute heel and comes in a variety of textiles, including batik, black, navy, pink, mint, purple, and bright turquoise. The heel measures 2.5″ and the platform is 0.5”.

Price: $44.46 – $87.98

25. Sling Back Espadrille Wedge Sandals by Impo

These vegan sandals by Impo have it all, including a sling back strap for comfort and an open toe to show off your pedicure. They have a 3” wedge heel and a 1.5” platform. Colors include black, navy blue, and rose.

Price: $69.00

To see more cute vegan sandals, check out these posts:

Vegan High-Heeled Sandals, Strappy Sandals, and Low-Heeled Sandals

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

19 Vegan High-Heeled Sandals, Strappy Sandals, and Low-Heeled Sandals

Sandal season is officially here! And, Ladies, in case you haven’t realized it yet, we are living in the Golden Age of Vegan Shoes because I’ve never seen such an amazing selection of women’s vegan sandals.

Before we start looking at these lovelies, can we all just take a moment to give a big, standing ovation to all of the animal advocates out there who have gotten us to this point in human evolution? That includes the nonprofits – PETA, The Humane Society, Mercy for Animals, Direct Action Everywhere, and many others – plus, the activists, the designers, and all of you who ever went to a shoe website and typed the word “vegan” into the search bar and refused to buy anything else when it returned zero results. Well done!

We do still have some evolving to do when it comes to making vegan sandals that are also Earth-friendly. While there are now a number of great brands making vegan flip flops that are made with recycled and other eco-friendly materials, when it comes to other sandals – it’s still hard to find styles made with sustainable materials. When I do find those vegan shoe brands that are also emphasizing sustainability, I note them with UniGuide’s eco-friendly icon.

One positive that I’ve learned since doing my research on vegan shoes is that these days it’s rare that the adhesives used in shoes are made with animal products. The reason is that synthetic glues simply perform better in shoes – they’re more flexible and last longer than than the glues used in the old days that contained animal byproducts. Needles to say, this is good news for all of us vegan shoe lovers out there!

Happy Summer to you!

High Heeled and Strappy Vegan Sandals

Vintage-Style Vegan Sandals by Roni Kanter

Since we’re in the height of wedding season, I thought I’d start off with these sweet vintage-inspired and PETA-approved vegan sandals by Roni Kanter. All of their shoes are handmade and cruelty-free. They offer classic styles in both high and low heels – perfect for a spring or summer wedding, or any other special occasion where you want to look your prettiest.

1. Classic High-Heeled T-Strap Sandals by Roni Kantor

I love the combination of vintage and sparkle in these classic t-strap sandals. They’re available in low-heel too. They come in sparkly silver, sparkly gold, light blue, yellow, red, and cream. Heel height is 3”.

Price: $125.00

2. Peep Toe Vegan Sandals by Roni Kantor

Another vintage-inspired style, these peep toe sandals come in cream, light blue, bright yellow, red, and gold. Heel height is 3”.

Price: $125.00

3. Vegan Ladies’ Ankle Strap Sandals with Kitten Heel

This classic open toe sandal has a cute ankle strap and comes in a wide variety of colors. It’s made with 100% manmade materials. It comes in black faux leather, floral print, gold, silver, tan, nude, red, white, yellow, and pink. Time to show off your pedicure!

Price: $27.99

4. Vegan Ladies’ Stiletto Ankle Strap Sandal with Peep Toe

If you want an even sexier look, try these stiletto heeled sandals with ankle straps and peep toes. They’re also made with 100% manmade materials. The heel is approximately 3″. These sandals come in a variety of colors to match any outfit in your wardrobe, including: black faux leather, floral print, gold, silver, tan, nude, red, hot pink, blue, and white.

Price: $27.99

5. Kitten Heel Sandal with Ankle Strap

If you want a slightly lower heel, but love the kitten heel look, these vegan sandals by Heels Charm will fit the bill. They’re made with 100% synthetic materials. They come in gray faux patent leather, nude, green, purple, black, and white

Price: $18.99 – $32.99

6. High Block Heel Vegan Sandals with Ankle Strap by Sam Edelman

If you want the high heeled look, but something sturdier than stilettos, take a look at these high block heel sandals by Sam Edelman. They come in black textile, floral print, golden yellow, hot pink, purple, cork, palm leaf, black and gold textile, and gold. And if you can’t find the perfect color choice in Sam Edelman, check out these similar styled sandals by Bamboo.

Price: $30.41 – $143.50

7. Strappy Sling Back Dress Sandals by Naturalizer

These strappy sling back sandals by Naturalizer are classy enough and comfortable enough to wear to work all day or dance in all night at your best friend’s wedding. With a high, but not too-high kitten heel, these sandals come in a variety of fun colors, including champagne faux leather, red, wine, cream, tan, silver, and rose gold.

Price: $23.38 – $79.00

8. Vegan Dress Sandals by Aerosoles

Another designer known for creating super comfortable shoes, Aerosoles has brought sexy back to their brand with these high-heeled, ankle strap vegan sandals. They have a double padded memory foam insole and the heel measures 3.4”. They come in black velvet, wine velvet, silver, gold, black, cork, metallic, red, and even more colors.

Price: $15.00 – $133.50

9. Beaded Vegan Sandals by Abby

Headed to a disco in Dubai or wish you were? You’ll love these fun, Middle Eastern-inspired sandals with some extra bling. They come in a variety of sparkly styles reminiscent of butterflies and mosaic artwork.

Price: $51.00 – $79.00

10. Sparkly Strappy Sandals by Nina

Here’s another fun, disco-inspired high-heeled stiletto sandal. This style comes in sparkly black, silver, gold, and bronze. The heel measures approximately 3.25″.

Price: $34.99 – $129.00

11. Natural Raffia Sandals by Gigi

If you’re looking for a more natural aesthetic, check out these truly unique high-heeled and cruelty-free sandals by Gigi made with natural raffia. The heel is ultra-high at 4.25” and thankfully, they have a cushioned footbed.

Price: $34.76 – $69.00

12. Black Kitten Heeled Sandals with Embroidered Flowers by Style & Co.

These sweet sandals by Style & Co. have little embroidered flowers on them. They have a manmade fabric upper and a manmade sole. The heels are 2.5” and they also come in pale pink and rose.

Price: $34.73

Ladies’ Low-Heeled Vegan Sandals

13. Women’s Vegan Sandals by Touch Ups

If you want a lower heel, Touch Ups has a variety of fun vegan sandals that have a sexy, strappy look with a more conservative, comfortable heel. This sandal will make it easy to transition from work to a night on the town.

Price: $40.04 – $60.95

14. Block Heeled Slide Sandals by Athena Alexander

These super comfortable and stylish slide sandals have a solid block heel and sparkly silver accents. They’re 100% manmade.

Price: $27.85 – $49.00

15. Kitten Heel Vegan Sandals by Badgley Mischka

If you want the strappy look, but with a lower kitten heel, these pretty sandals by Badgley Mischka mean you don’t have to compromise sexy for comfortable. They have a padded footbed and come in silver, gold, and rose gold.

Price: $89.00

16. Low-Heeled Wedge Sandals by London Fog

These sweet, low-heeled wedge style sandals by London Fog are comfortable enough to wear to work all day, then hit happy hour and an evening out. The heel measures approximately 1.75″ and they come in black or silver.

Price: $39.98

17. Low-Heeled Wedge Sandal with Ankle Strap by Roxy

Another super versatile sandal, these low heel wedges by Roxy come in blush faux patent leather, black, and super sparkly silver or gold. They have a 2.5” heel and cute ankle strap.

Price: $59.95

18. Women’s Voyage Wedge Sandals by Alfani

These Voyage Sandals by Alfani are the perfect travel shoes. They’re lightweight and easy to pack, super versatile for day or nighttime, and comfortable enough to sightsee in all day. The heel is 1.5” and they’re available in both medium and wide widths. They come in navy blue, black, white, pink, gray, and quartz.

Price: $39.98

19. Unique Hula Girl Sandals

But if those low-heeled vegan sandals are a bit too tame for you, how about these hula girl shoes? Meeting the boyfriend’s parents for the first time or have an important job interview? Come on! Take a risk! You can’t go wrong in these hula girl shoes. After all, they’re vegan, and that’s what matters most. :o)

Prices: $199.95

Are you looking for something that’s still beachy but you can wear in the sand? Check out these eco-friendly and vegan flip flops in my post:

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Ecotourism Bucket List: Oman

“This is truly a place where nature reminds you just how little you are in this big, incredible world.”
–Travel Writer Breanna Wilson in Forbes

With a mountainous desert landscape and a coastline along the Arabian Sea, the Sultanate of Oman has great opportunities for eco adventure travelers.

As the world weans itself off of oil, Middle Eastern countries like Oman are putting a stronger emphasis on tourism to fuel their economies. According to a story in The Telegraph, Oman plans to double the number of tourists visiting their nation from 2.5 to 5 million people by 2020.

Location of Oman. Image: Google Maps. — Image: Google Maps.

Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has ruled since 1970 and, according to Wikipedia, he’s the longest serving current ruler in the Middle East. Needless to say, culturally Oman is different from the U.S. and other democratic countries. For example, Sharia Law is upheld in the courts, particularly for family-law matters.

Middle Eastern Hospitality That Doesn’t Disappoint

But despite these cultural differences, Oman is considered one of the safest countries in the Middle East for western travelers. Commenters on Trip Advisor shared their Oman travel experiences, and the majority say the citizens of Oman go out of their way to be friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Perhaps it’s due to their desire to be perceived as a hospitable country, but Oman has made some positive cultural shifts in recent years, notably around the treatment of animals. An article in Wikipedia mentioned that travelers had complained of seeing animal abuse on the streets of Oman, particularly of stray dogs and cats.

But in 2017, the country passed an animal welfare law that stipulates that “owners and care takers of animals should take all precautions to ensure that no harm, injury, pain, or suffering is caused to the animals. The animals are defined as ‘all types of animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.’”

While we always have to be circumspect about any claims of improved animal welfare, Oman’s passing of this law and openness to visitors can only be seen as a positive.

Oman Wildlife

Photo: Arabian Leopard. Wikimedia Commons.

Oman is home to a diverse array of indigenous animals, including leopards, hyenas, foxes, wolves, hares, oryxes, ibexes, vultures, eagles, falcons, and others. Here are some pics of Oman wildlife shared by fellow animal lovers on Instagram:

Oman Sunbird

A post shared by Kingmaphotos_birds (@kingmaphotos_birds) on Apr 18, 2018 at 8:40am PDT

Whale Shark

A post shared by Featuring Oman’s wildlife (@wildlife.oman) on Apr 14, 2016 at 10:12am PDT

Arabian Chameleon

A post shared by Daniel Fernandez Guiberteau (@daniel_fernandez_guiberteau) on Jan 10, 2017 at 12:58am PST

Arabian Oryx

A post shared by M farooq W (@notravelallowed) on Apr 17, 2018 at 3:29am PDT

Tourism Helps Wildlife Conservation in Oman

According to Vijay Handa, the general manager of the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve in Sur, Oman, the nation’s green turtle population has increased by 5%, which has been good for tourism.

“A lot of tourists actually land in Muscat and then directly go to Ras Al Jinz because they want to see the turtles.”

Here’s a video of the reserve shared by Ewa Negra:

In addition, Oman is becoming a destination for whale watching. In particular, the Arabian humpback whale is critically endangered. It’s the most isolated and the only non-migratory species of whale in the world.

Arabian Humpback Whale

A post shared by The Ethicalist (@theethicalistmag) on Oct 22, 2017 at 7:22am PDT

Travel writer Breanna Wilson gushed about her recent trip to Oman with a friend in her article in Forbes – “Oman Is the Best Place to Travel in The Middle East Right Now.”

“Two girls traveling alone in a part of the world that most people are completely terrified of, and we couldn’t have been more excited. The trip was setting itself up to be an experience of a lifetime.”

Here are a few of the adventurous activities you can enjoy in Oman:

Hiking

A post shared by Khairy Solomon (@khairy.solomon) on Jan 5, 2018 at 11:47pm PST

Rock Climbing

A post shared by oman.rock.climbing (@oman.rock.climbing) on Feb 19, 2018 at 1:07am PST

Paragliding

Kayaking

A post shared by Jordi Ventura Creus (@jordivcreus) on Jan 8, 2018 at 12:29pm PST

Standup Paddle Boarding (SUP)

A post shared by Perfect Wave (@perfectwavesurf) on Mar 15, 2015 at 9:01am PDT

SCUBA Diving

A post shared by nemo diving center (@nemo_diving_center) on Apr 18, 2018 at 2:58am PDT

A post shared by Black Rock Travel (@blackrocktravel) on Oct 29, 2017 at 10:47pm PDT

Or, you can always go…

Motorcycling

If SUP seems a little too tame for you, check out adventurer Rosie Gabrielle’s Vlog about traveling in Oman by motorcycle:

Vegan Dining in Oman

With all that adventuring, you’ll undoubtedly need to eat. And, I know what you’re thinking: “I’m vegan, it’s the Middle East, I’ll starve…”

Not so! The Vegan Travel Blog has you covered. And while much of the vegan cuisine you’ll find in Oman is not “native,” it still looks pretty darn good and will make for a wonderful trip.

Vegan Dining in Oman — Photo: VeganTravel.com

Oman Travel Resources:

Trip Advisor’s List of the Best Eco Tours in Oman

Oman’s Ministry of Tourism

Breanna Wilson’s article in Forbes

Rosie Gabrielle’s Motorcycle Vlog

Practical details in Travel and Leisure

Fortune’s Article on Oman for Adventure Junkies

VeganTravel.com

Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channels and follow all the folks on Instagram who were presented in this post!

Have fun!

Recycle Your Old Phone with Daisy the Robot

“We’re committed to leaving the world better than we found it… We’re going to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities, and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it.”
–Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

We replace our cell phones, on average, every two years. This, as you can imagine, creates a lot of waste. But what do you do with your old cell phone once it dies – or, more realistically, when it’s still alive but you want the newer, fancier model? Well, if you own an iPhone, you can now turn it over to Daisy, who will recycle it for you.

Apple's iPhone Recycling Robot — Apple’s new iPhone recycling robot, Daisy. Photo: Spencer Lowell, USA Today.

Daisy, a robot created by engineers at Apple, can take apart practically any iPhone (nine models to be exact) and sort the components so they can be re-used. Daisy can do this at a rate of about 200 iPhones per hour. This is a good thing, since we buy about 217 million of these puppies every year. At this consumption rate, we’ll be keeping Daisy pretty busy. Right now, one Daisy robot is operating in Austin, Texas and soon another will be in the Netherlands.

Other good news happened on the cell phone recycling front this week when a research team at the University of British Columbia shared their findings about perfecting a process to efficiently separate fiber glass and resin materials in cell phones. Traditionally, these materials have been impossible recycle and ended up being discarded as waste.

Here’s a Video of Daisy in Action – Recycling iPhones

Video compliments of JBey4you.

Right now, Apple is enticing its customers to turn in their used iPhones with a give-back program. According to Brian Heater at TechCrunch, from now until April 30th, for every iPhone or other Apple device turned in, Apple will make a donation to Conservation International.

You can turn in your used iPhone or Apple device here. When you turn it in, you can get a deal on an upgrade.

Apple Is Now Powered 100% by Renewable Energy

Rooftop Solar Panels at Apple's Headquarters in Cupertino, CA — Photo: Apple’s 17-megawatt rooftop solar installation at their headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple, Inc.

Another reason to respect Apple – they announced on April 9th that the company now runs on 100% clean, renewable energy. This includes all of their retail stores, offices, and data centers, as well as co-located facilities in 43 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., China, and India.

I can’t help thinking that hippie Steve Jobs is smiling down from Heaven.

11 Vegan and Eco-Friendly iPad Mini Cases and Sleeves

Are you looking for the best iPad Mini cover ever? Look no further. Here are some cool iPad Mini cases that are all eco-friendly and vegan.

In a couple recent posts, I presented unique iPad cases and sleeves made of wood, bamboo, recycled materials, and more. Some readers emailed and asked – “But what about iPad Mini cases?”

Did you really think I’d forget Mini Me? No way, José!

Here are some of the best iPad Mini covers ever.

If you’re looking a particular material, you can click the links below and jump to that section in this post. (Isn’t it time to ditch the leather, plastic, vinyl, and other undesirable covers?) Let’s go!

Wood and Bamboo iPad Mini Cases

Cork iPad Mini Cases

Hemp iPad Mini Cases

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Mini Covers and Sleeves

Wood and Bamboo iPad Mini Cases

A wood iPad Mini case looks and feels great in your hands. The natural aesthetic strikes a perfect balance with the high tech accessory inside. Plus, a well-made wood case will protect your device while still being light weight and low profile.

1. Wood iPad Mini Cover by Maderacraft Handmade

Every Maderacraft case is one-of-a-kind and hand-carved. This unusual iPad Mini cover is made with black walnut wood. It’s a two-piece case, which makes it easy to take on and off your device.

Price: $29.99

2. Bamboo iPad Mini Cover by Maderacraft

Maderacraft’s bamboo iPad Mini cover has the look of blond maple wood, and it’s sleek and low profile. Like the wood cover, it’s a two-piece case. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on the planet. Sustainable and eco-friendly, bamboo is a wonder material in that it can be used to create a huge array of durable products with a natural aesthetic.

Price: $29.99

3. iPad Mini Cover in Bamboo by Woodcase

Woodcase makes a wide variety of cool wood and bamboo phone cases, so I was happy to see their design for the iPad Mini. This cute case is handmade from sustainable bamboo and has a dandelion design etched into the outer shell.

Price: $12.99

4. Bamboo iPad Mini Cases by Reveal

Sustainable tech accessories company Reveal offers a couple of well-made bamboo iPad Mini cases: one has the look of a dark hardwood and the other a blond wood. The cover of the case folds out to make a stand. Reveal’s cases are all sleek and low profile.

In partnership with the nonprofit American Forests, Reveal plants a tree for every product they sell, making them a truly environmentally conscious company in product and practice.

Reveal lines its cases with a 100% vegan fabric that is made of recycled plastic bottles.

This case fits iPad Minis 1, 2, and 3.

Price: $39.99

Cork iPad Mini Covers

5. Cork iPad Mini Case by Reveal

Another cool iPad Mini case from Reveal, this folio is made with natural, sustainable cork. Like bamboo, cork is a superb material for eco-friendly products. When cork bark is harvested, it doesn’t hurt the tree. And cork forests are the natural habitat for many species, some of which are endangered. When we buy products made of sustainably-harvested cork, we help to ensure these important forests are preserved.

This eco-friendly case fits iPad Minis 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Price: $29.99

6. Custom iPad Mini Case in Cork by Branzuletka Bags

Branzuletka Bags creates a number of accessories from eco-friendly cork. They source their cork in Portugal, where the cork trees are protected by law. This iPad Mini sleeve is lined with cotton fabric and have a metal button enclosure. Branzuletka welcomes custom orders. Simply reach out to them via their store on Etsy.

The sleeve measures approximately 9″x 6.5″.

Price: $35.00

And now for something completely different… Yes, there are iPad Mini covers made with hemp!

Hemp iPad Mini Cases

7. 100% Vegan iPad Mini Cover Made with Hemp

I didn’t think I’d find one, but sure enough I did – an iPad Mini case made with hemp, brought to you by Cover-Up. Hemp is another superstar sustainable material because it’s easy to grow without the use of harmful pesticide and herbicides. The hemp fabric used in this case is blended with cotton, and the lining is faux leather.

Price: $43.60

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Mini Cases

(Technically the following cases are all “upcycled” because they’re made with materials that are still in their original form vs. being broken down and converted into a new material, which more closely defines recycled. But since “recycled” is a much more commonly used term – I’ll occasionally use the term recycled for upcycled…

8. Custom iPad Mini Case Made with Upcycled Inner Tubes by Planet Rubber

I’m a huge fan of any artisan who is keeping tires and inner tubes out of the landfill and converting them into useful, cool-looking products. Used tires are an environmental scourge, but thankfully, they can be recycled and upcycled into a wide array of products, from carpeting to playground materials to shoes and bags.

Used rubber lends itself especially well to making bags and cases because it’s super durable and water-resistant. (Plus, it’s easy to clean!)

Planet Rubber will custom-make bags and other accessories out of used tire inner tubes. Just reach out to them in their Etsy store.

Price: $27.00

9. Upcycled Tire iPad Mini Clutch by Blue Dragon Craft

Blue Dragon Craft is another artisan that is doing their part to keep used tires out of the landfill. This clutch-style iPad Mini case, made with used inner tubes, is handmade and sewn. Even the tie that closes it is made with upcycled rubber.

Price: $26.00

10. Upcycled iPad Mini Cases by Upcycling by Milo

Upcycling by Milo creates unique and colorful accessories from an array of upcycled materials. These iPad Mini cases are made with used advertising signage and candy wrappers. Be sure to visit Milo’s store on Etsy to see all of their cool upcycled accessories.

These cases measure 8.6″ x 6.2″ x 1″ thick, and will fit iPad Minis 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Price: $30.00

11. Upcycled Book iPad Mini Covers by Book Grrl Bindery

Disguise your Mini in one of these whimsical iPad Mini covers made with used book covers. Each cover is handmade and one-of-a-kind. Book Grrl Bindery is doing their part to keep old books out of the landfill.

And it gets better: They do custom orders. Have an old hard cover that you’ve read and re-read but can’t bring yourself to throw away? Contact Book Grrl Bindery in their Etsy store and ask them about creating a unique iPad Mini cover just for you.

Price: $45.00

Are you interested in other eco-friendly tech accessories? Check out these other posts on UniGuide:

Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

Cool Wood, Bamboo, and Cork iPad Cases (That Are Also Vegan)

Eco-Friendly, Recycled, and Vegan iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves

Ecotourism Bucket List: Palau

Palau Archipelago. Photo: Global Environment Facility.

The UN Environment program has just announced a new project – “Advancing sustainable resource management to improve livelihoods and protect biodiversity in Palau.” The goal of the program is to help the citizens and government of Palau to better protect their nation’s substantial natural biodiversity.

The Palau Fantail, a native bird to Palau.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, 946 miles east of the Philippines, Palau is an archipelago of over 576 tropical islands. It’s also home to many endangered species of animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.

Maintaining a pristine natural environment not only helps the animals and plants that make Palau their home, it also helps the local people whose livelihoods depend on tourism, which is the country’s largest source of income.

The nation-wide program is the first of its kind for Palau. It’s being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and will be managed by Palau’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Tourism.

The program will focus on sustainability, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and reducing invasive species. The approach is to bring together people from different backgrounds to create a united effort to protect Palau’s native biodiversity and the local community’s way of life.

For more information on the program, you can contact: [email protected]

If the gorgeous photos above enough aren’t enough to get you to add Palau to your eco tourism bucket list, maybe some of these Instas will:

A post shared by Palau Visitors 💙🇵🇼✈️ (@palauvisitors) on Feb 20, 2018 at 2:22pm PST

A post shared by Palau Visitors 💙🇵🇼✈️ (@palauvisitors) on Apr 10, 2018 at 2:03pm PDT

A post shared by Palau Visitors 💙🇵🇼✈️ (@palauvisitors) on Apr 2, 2018 at 7:56am PDT

A post shared by ＊naoko☺︎ (@naomarudayo) on Apr 19, 2016 at 6:01pm PDT

A post shared by Fish’n Fins Palau (@fishnfins_palau) on Apr 15, 2018 at 6:39pm PDT

A post shared by Fish’n Fins Palau (@fishnfins_palau) on Apr 15, 2018 at 8:17am PDT

A post shared by D*C (@draco975) on Jul 22, 2017 at 12:06am PDT

A post shared by 曹憶妹 Emay (@emay1013) on Apr 15, 2018 at 8:30pm PDT

5 Men’s Hemp Sandals (That Are Vegan Too!)

Hemp sandals are gaining in popularity because hemp is a superstar sustainable material. Hemp grows easily without pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Plus, it’s antimicrobial, which makes it’s a great material for summer shoes. Sweat a little? No problem. Sandals made with hemp will maintain their naturally good smell.

In addition to hemp sandals, I did research to find other men’s sandals that have that cool, natural aesthetic, while still being vegan and eco-friendly. Men’s rope sandals and others made with natural fibers fit the bill, so I included those here too. Ready for summer? Check these out!

Men’s Hemp Sandals

1. Men’s Hemp Sandals by Rainbow Sandals

Rainbow Sandals makes a line of flip flops with hemp accents that have become the go-to sandals for surfers and other summer-loving guys (and gals!) They have that relaxed, frayed look, and they’re super comfortable. (Rainbow Sandals does make some styles with leather, so if you’re vegan, be sure to check the product details.) Aside from the leather, the San Clemente, California-based company is socially conscious – they donate to a lot of charities that promote education. These hemp sandals come in natural, brown, and black.

Price: $39.99 – $49.99

2. Men’s Vegan Slides – Hemp Baja Sandals by Crevo

These casual Baja sandals by Crevo have a woven hemp fabric upper, and the padded footbed is vegan faux suede. I got confirmation from Crevo that the materials in these sandals are all vegan. Crevo makes a number of other really cool styles with hemp, but before I present them here, I’m waiting for further confirmation that the materials are all cruelty-free.

Price: $25.49 – $51.57

3. Hemp Sandal by Nirvana 8

A lot of hemp is grown in Nepal, so purchasing hemp sandals from Nepal helps local economies there. Nirvana 8 is a company I found on Etsy that imports a variety of handmade hemp sandals from the Kathmandu Valley. They offer a number of different colors and patterns, and if you want to go all-out hippie, they’ve got some tie-dyed styles too. If you’re wondering if hemp might be rough on your feet, no worries, it breaks in with wear like your favorite pair of jeans.

Price: $28.79 – $34.00

4. Men’s Hemp Crisscross Sandals

Janice Winner imports a number of different styles of hemp sandals and other accessories from China. You can see more in her Etsy store. If you’re tired of flip flops and want the slide-in style, these sandals fit the bill.

Price: $43.00

5. Men’s Burlap and Recycled Tire Sandals by Indosole

Ok, technically, these sandals are not hemp, but I had to include these socially conscious men’s burlap sandals here because they have a hemp look, and Indosole is such a cool, socially conscious company. Founder Kyle Parsons was inspired to create his footwear company when he was surfing in the should-be paradise of Bali. He was appalled by the amount of trash in the ocean and elsewhere.

These eco-friendly and vegan sandals have soles made from upcycled tires.

Price: $45.00

Here’s founder Kyle Parsons giving a TED Talk about the inspiration behind Indosole:

To see more sustainable men’s sandals, check out this post on UniGuide:

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

Women’s Cute Crochet Sandals

Since summer is around the corner, I started looking into some vegan and eco-friendly sandal options and I got completely caught up in (no pun intended) women’s crochet sandals sandals. I found a great selection, all of which are vegan and most of which are eco-friendly too.

While it’s unknown when and where the art of crochet work began, some sources say it dates back to the 1500s in Italy when nuns crocheted church textiles. There’s evidence that the first crochet work found in shoes was actually used for padding in the soles of the shoes vs. for decorative uppers. So, when you wear a pair of crochet sandals, you’re wearing something with centuries of tradition behind it.

1. Crochet Sandals by La Chic Boheme

Le Chic Boheme crochets unique sandals, bikinis, and bags. These low-heeled crochet sandals have ties that wrap up around your ankles. They come in mint green, black, rose, brown, beige, and olive green.

Price: $115.00

2. Crochet Hemp Sandals by Luludu Collective

Luludu Collective creates eco-friendly ladies’ crochet sandals in ethical working conditions. They use sustainable hemp yarn, and the souls are made with vegan faux leather. These cute sandals have rounded toes and straps that wind up your legs. They come in a bright turquoise, black, white, and brown.

Price: $79.51

3. Women’s Faux Leather and Crochet Ankle Strap Sandals

These crochet sandals have a synthetic, faux leather sole and cute, wide ankle straps.

Price: $39.99

Happy Summer!

If you’d like to see more eco-friendly and vegan sandals, check out my post:

Recycled, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Flip Flops

19 Cool iPad Cases and Sleeves: Vegan, Eco-Friendly, Recycled and More

I was psyched to find a wide variety of cool vegan iPad cases (and tablet sleeves too!) when I did my product research. If you’re in the market for a new iPad case, it’s a great opportunity to buy one that’s not only cruelty-free, but also made with eco-friendly materials. Once you see this selection, I’m sure you’ll agree that iPad cases made from materials like leather, plastic, and vinyl should be things of the past.

Here are features to look for in an eco and vegan iPad case:

Made from natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials, such as sustainably-harvested wood, bamboo, or cork
Made of toxic-free materials
Not made of animal skin, such as leather or suede from cows, pigs, crocodiles, snakes, or any other living creature that will suffer
Not made of traditional, virgin plastic or other virgin petroleum-based materials
Made by companies that take efforts to lessen their environmental footprint and provide safe and fair working conditions for their workers

All of the iPad cases and sleeves you’ll find in this article are vegan. And for easy organization, I broke them down into different categories of eco-friendly materials.

Vegan iPad Cases by Category

To go directly to each section, you can click on these jump links:

Wood iPad Cases

Bamboo iPad Cases

Cork iPad Cases

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Cases and Sleeves

iPad and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco-Friendly Neoprene

Cool iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Tires

Recycled Plastic iPad and Tablet Sleeves

iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Materials

Wood iPad Cases

1. Padauk Wood iPad Case by Hoentjen Creatie

Hoentjen Creatie hails from The Netherlands where they make a variety of tech accessories, watches, and sunglasses from natural wood. This wooden iPad Air case is made with African padauk wood, which naturally darkens over time. Each case is handmade and one-of-a-kind. This iPad cover comes with a fold-out folio that you can convert into a convenient stand. Hoentjen Creatie makes wood covers for iPad Air and Mini. Be sure to check out their other hand-crafted wooden designs in their Etsy store.

Price: $89.19

2. Wood iPad Case by Creative Use of Tech

Creative Use of Tech makes beautiful wood and bamboo cases and covers for Apple and Samsung products. This etched wood iPad 2 case is made with black walnut. They also make wood covers for iPad Air, 3, 4, and Mini, plus wood phone cases for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. Visit their store on Etsy to see their wide selection of hand crafted wood and bamboo tech accessories.

Prices: $35.00 – $65.00

3. Wood iPad Case by Toast

Toast makes wood covers for iPads as well as MacBook Pros in ebony wood, white ash, and bamboo. The covers are real wood and attach to your iPad with an adhesive backing. They’re made in the USA.

Prices: $27.06 – $42.59

Bamboo iPad Cases

4. Bamboo iPad Case by Reveal

Reveal is a leader in the sustainable tech accessories space. Not only do they make beautiful products out of sustainable materials, they also plant a tree for every product they sell. In partnership with the non-profit American Forests, they’ve planted over 50 million trees on behalf of their customers. Company founder Terry Omata spent a decade getting products manufactured in China and he knows first-hand the environmental and human consequences of creating and disposing of products that are not made sustainably.

This bamboo iPad case fits a 9.7″ iPad and comes in a dark wood-colored or blond wood-colored bamboo. Bamboo is 100% sustainable and is the fastest growing woody plant on Earth. While it’s actually a grass, bamboo often gets put in the wood category because it’s just as strong and durable and has the same natural look.

Price: $49.99

5. Bamboo iPad Case by Maderacraft Handmade

Maderacraft creates a range of ultra-sleek wood and bamboo tech accessories for Apple computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check out their Etsy store to see their cool bamboo monitor stands and phone cases. This blond bamboo iPad case fits iPads 2, 3, and 4. It’s 100% handmade.

Price: $29.99

6. Customized iPad Case

Designer Sophia Victory Joy will personalize an iPad case with etched text of your choosing. Just email her in here Etsy store and send here your specs!

Price: $94.84

Cork iPad Cases

7. Cork iPad Air Case with Stand by Reveal

Another super cool iPad case from Reveal, this cork iPad folio will make it hard to decide between it and the bamboo design above.

Cork is a sustainable material because the cork tree isn’t harmed when its bark is harvested. And when cork bark is harvested, it enables the tree to absorb even more CO2 from the atmosphere. Cork forests are also home to a number of endangered species, so a demand for cork products helps to ensure these important forests are preserved.

This cork iPad case fits iPad Air 2 and 9.7″ iPads. It should be noted that it’s interior lining is made with a vegan fabric created from recycled plastic bottles.

Prices: $29.99 – $47.99

8. Cork iPad Cover with Stand by kwmobile

kwmobile makes a couple of styles of cork iPad cases in a blond-wood and dark-wood color. This cork iPad case comes with a fold over cover and stand. It fits iPad Air 2 and the new 9.7″ in iPads.

Prices: $12.40 – $16.40

9. Cork iPad Folio by Love and Cork

This cork iPad cover also comes with a built-in stand and a strap to keep it closed. It measures 9.7” x 7.5” and will fit iPads and Samsung tablets.

Prices: $40.00

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Cases and Sleeves

This next set of cool, vegan iPad cases are made with a variety of different recycled and upcycled materials. But first, here’s the distinction between upcycled and recycled:

What’s the difference between recycling and upcycling again?

Recycling (as it relates to products) involves taking used products or the materials used in those products and breaking them down into more basic sub-materials, which can be used to create new materials and products. Most often recycling involved an industrial process. An example is plastic from plastic bottles that is melted down and then spun into fibers that can be used to create fleece material for jackets or a woven material for dog collars.

Upcycling, on the other hand, does not require an industrial process because materials used from the original products are not broken down. Rather, the materials remain in their near-original, and often recognizable, state and are simply reused to create something new. An example is used tire inner tubes that are cut down and then sewn or glued together to create wallets, iPad sleeves, or belts.

Generally, recycling requires more energy than upcycling because it utilizes an industrial process. (Though artisans who make upcycled goods from used materials that they go out and salvage may have a different opinion about “energy” output!)

Even though recycling takes energy, it’s generally considered a better alternative to using virgin materials taken from our very depleted planet. The consensus by most environmentalists is that if you’re not using sustainable natural materials in your products (such as cork, bamboo, hemp, or sustainably-harvested wood), it’s best to at least use recycled or upcycled materials.

While the term “upcycling” is still a fairly new term in our vernacular, the concept of upcycling is as old as the hills. Think your grandmother’s patchwork quilt or wine cork bulletin boards.

Upcycling is a winner for a few key reasons:

It keeps “waste” out of our landfills and waterways.
It generally doesn’t take much energy, and few if any raw materials, to create usable, high-quality products.
It sparks creativity and ingenuity that inspires us to re-think how we view “waste” and throwaway items.

iPad and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco-Friendly Neoprene

10. Recycled Wetsuit iPad Case by LOOPTWORKS

Portland, Oregon-based LOOPTWORKS creates urban and active wear that is made entirely of upcycled materials. All of their fabrics come from leftover textile industry scraps that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. LOOPTWORKS saves tens of million gallons of water by producing products that are not made from virgin materials.

This upcycled tablet sleeve measures 10.8″ x 1″ x 8.5″ and will fit iPads 1-5, as well as other similarly-sized tablet and notebook computers.

Price: $19.99

11. iPad and Tablet Sleeve in Neogreene by GreenSmart

GreenSmart creates tablet computer cases made with its “Neogreene” material, a better alternative to traditional neoprene.

Neogreene is considered a non-toxic material because it doesn’t contain unhealthy chemicals. It doesn’t use things like phthalates, volatile organic compounds (short for VOCs, which are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the atmosphere), chlorine, or metals. It also requires less energy and petroleum to produce. In addition, Neogreene sleeves are constructed with water-based adhesives vs. chemical-heavy solvent-based adhesives.

And an extra bonus on this case: The interior fuzzy liner is made with 100% recycled plastic bottles.

It measures 10.4″ x 8.2″ x 0.7″.

Price: $24.95

12. Recycled Wetsuit Tablet and iPad Sleeve to Benefit Surfrider Foundation

And if you want to direct your dollars to a good cause when you purchase an eco-friendly iPad or tablet sleeve, you can get one directly from the Surfrider Foundation. 100% of the profits from the sale of this product fund the organization’s mission to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. It’s made of upcycled wetsuit materials and comes in a variety of colors.

Price: $20.00

Cool iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Tires

Tires are 100% recyclable, and it’s very important that we do recycle them. For one, we use a lot of tires, and we keep using them. In the U.S. we scrap about 300 million tires every year. Used tires take up a lot of landfill space. And if they’re burned, they emit toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Tires can be recycled into useful materials for flooring, playgrounds, and the soles of shoes.

The tablet cases I showcase here are made with upcycled tire inner tubes. I appreciate how they serve not only their primary function – to protect your computer, but they also make statement about the power of upcycling. You can guess what they used to be in their past life.

13. Upcycled Tire Inner Tube iPad Case by Alchemy Goods

Alchemy Goods transforms bicycle inner tubes into cool, sustainably-produced bags and accessories. To date, they’ve kept over 500,000 bicycle inner tubes out of the landfill, or from polluting our planet elsewhere. All of their products are made in the USA in Seattle, Washington.

This super durable iPad case is water-resistant and measures 10.25” x 7.75” by 0.5”.

Price: $22.12

14. Custom Upcycled Inner Tube Tablet Sleeve by Planet Rubber

Planet Rubber makes a variety of accessories from used tire inner tubes, including wallets, purses, duffle bags, and dopp kits. All of their items are handmade to order. Just contact them through their Etsy store and give them the dimensions of your iPad or tablet.

Price: $27.17

15. Upcycled Tire iPad Zip Case by Ecoupcycle Studio

This zip-closure bag by Ecoupcycle Studio is made with used truck tire inner tubes. It has a handy wrist strap for carrying and dual zippers for easy access. It measures 9.9″ x 7.4″ x 1″ and will fit in iPad Air, Mini, or similar-sized notebook.

Price: $20.00

Recycled Plastic iPad and Tablet Sleeves

16. Recycled Plastic iPad Case by OWL Recycled

Like tires, we all know that virgin fossil fuel plastics are a scourge on our planet. OWL Recycled is doing their part to keep plastics out of the landfill and our oceans. These sleek tablet sleeves that are made with 100% recycled materials.

The felt fabric is made with 100 % recycled water bottles and other food containers and comes in a few super bright colors. It’s machine-washable too! It measures 11.5” x 9.2” x 1.5” and will fit a number of iPads and tablet computers.

Price: $17.97

iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Materials

17. Upcycled Kimono Zip Case by Kaz Style

Kaz Style creates lovely zippered tablet cases that are one-of-a-kind and handmade.

This iPad sleeve is made with upcycled obi and kimono fabrics. Be sure to check out Kaz Style’s shop on Etsy to see more designs. This sleeve measures 11” x 9.5”.

Price: $25.00 – $36.00

18. iPad Sleeve Made with Upcycled Juice Containers by Shabby She UK

Shabby She UK makes whimsical accessories, including tote bags, pencil cases, and phone cases, out of upcycled juice packs and other materials. I love this iPad sleeve made with upcycled Capri Sun juice packs because juice boxes are notoriously impossible to recycle. According the Sierra Club, Americans alone consume four billion disposable juice boxes every year. Let’s keep those things out of the landfill and put them to fun use!

This sleeve measures 10″ x 6.2″ and will fit a variety of e-readers, Samsung tablets, and iPads.

Price: $27.00

19. Upcycled Book iPad Cases by Book Grrl Bindery

The perfect blend of old and new, these upcycled book covers for your tablet are fun and protective at the same time. Visit Book Grrl Bindery’s Etsy store to see more fun titles.

Price: $55.00

Are you interested in eco and vegan iPad Mini cases? Check out our post:

Get the Best iPad Mini Cover

If you need a new phone case, check out our post:

Cool Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

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Mutant Plastic-Eating Enzyme Is Discovered

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) have unwittingly engineered a mutant enzyme that can super-charge the breakdown of PET plastic – the plastic you find in everyday plastic bottles. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and reported on Phys.org.

Dr. John McGeehan at the University of Portsmouth and Dr. Gregg Beckham were studying the structure of PETase, an enzyme found in 2016 in bacteria in a waste recycling center in Japan. This bacterium had naturally evolved to slowly digest PET plastic.

To better understand how PETase works, the team utilized intense X-ray beams that are 10-billion times brighter than the sun to see individual atoms. They did some tweaking of the enzyme to better understand its structure during their research, which resulted in the mutation.

The unintended result? They inadvertently engineered an enzyme that is much faster at degrading plastic than the one that was discovered in Japan.

“It’s incredible because it tells us that the enzyme is not yet optimized,” said Dr. McGeehan, in an article by science writer Damian Carrington in the Guardian. “It gives us scope to use all the technology used in other enzyme development for years and years to make a super-fast enzyme.”

Professor John McGeehan, University of Portsmouth — Photo: Professor John McGeehan at work in his laboratory. Stefan Venter, UPIX Photography/PA.

We Need to Get a Handle on Our Plastic Consumption

Humans consume 50 billion plastic water bottles every year; 30 million of which are consumed by Americans. And plastic bottles and bags are the most prevalent form of pollution found on our beaches and in our oceans.

Every square mile of the ocean has over 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it. (Source: Ocean Conservatory via the Huffington Post.)

Yet, we only recycle about 28% of the PET plastic we use. This recycled PET is generally used in different products than what is was originally used for, such as clothing, carpets, and even dog collars, flip flops, and sunglasses. Utilizing enzymes, plastic can be recycled back into its near “virgin” form, which means it can be used again to create similar products, reducing the need to create new plastic from fossil fuels, and not to mention – giving us even more reason to recycle it.

Zero-Waste Cell Phones May Soon Be a Reality

“Discarded cellphones are a huge, growing source of electronic waste, with close to two billion new cell phones sold every year around the world, and people replacing their phones every few years.”
–Dr. Maria Holuszko, Lead Researcher and Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia

On UniGuide, I’ve written about eco-friendly cell phone cases, but what about the cell phones themselves? While phone cases that are made with plastic and other un-sustainable materials are not desirable, cell phones also present environmental problems when they’re thrown away.

While some parts of your cell phone can be recycled (as long as it’s disposed of properly, which means not throwing it into the trash), other parts – not so much.

When it comes to recycling cell phones and other e-waste, the focus is usually on recovering useful metals, such as gold, silver, copper, and palladium. These metals can be recycled and then used again in other products. But non-metal materials, like fiber glass and resin, which comprise a large portion of your everyday cell phone, are usually discarded, which means they’re either burned or added to the landfill. This results in hazardous chemicals entering our groundwater, soil, and air.

This is why the work by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is so groundbreaking: They’ve perfected a process to efficiently separate fiber glass and resin, so these materials can be re-used as well.

Zero-Waste Cell Phone Researchers Dr. Maria Holuszko and Amit Kumar, University of British Columbia — UBC mining engineering PhD candidate Amit Kumar and mining engineering professor Dr. Maria Holuszko. Photo: Clare Kiernan, UBC.

How did they do it? With one of the Earth’s most powerful natural forces: gravity.

Dr. Maria Holuszko, a professor of mining engineering at UBC, and the lead researcher on the project, along with PhD student Amit Kumar, developed a process that uses gravity separation and other simple physical techniques to separate the fiber glass and resins in a way that is not environmentally harmful.

Printed circuit board parts prior to processing in Dr. Holuszko's lab at UBC. — Printed circuit board parts prior to processing in Dr. Holuszko’s lab at UBC. Photo: Lou Bosshart, UBC.

Here’s a video with Dr. Holuszko talking about the process:

What’s next?

Bringing Zero-Waste Cell Phones to Mass Scale

The research team is now working on developing a scalable commercial model of the process. They’re partnering with Ronin8, a recycling company that already separates different plastics, fiber, and metals from electronic waste without using toxic chemicals in the process or losing the precious metals.

According to Ronin 8 director of engineering Travis Janke:

“Our vision is to achieve a zero-waste, end-of-life solution for electronics, and our work with Maria and Amit at UBC has moved us closer to this reality.”

To learn more about the research, contact Lou Bosshart at UBC at [email protected] and Travis Janke of Ronin 8 at [email protected].

Funny Cork Coasters with Mistaken Lyrics

I’m a huge fans of cork because it’s such a versatile sustainable material. Like bamboo, it can be made into an array of cool products. I came across these fun cork coasters and had to share.

Mistaken Lyric Coasters by Bright Beam Goods

Laser-engraved on the coasters are mistaken lyrics from assorted collections, including songs from the 80s and 90s, lyrics about animals and food, and my personal favorite – inappropriate mistaken lyrics.

Here’s a G-rated version from their collection:

she’s a good girl
loves her mama
loves cheez-its
and america too
–Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’

Producing handmade goods in Austin, Texas, the team at Bright Beam Goods “believes handmade things carry more meaning. They are special, unique, imbued with traces of the human hand, and bring about a sense of wonder and joy.”

Not to mention – they’ll give you and your guests a chuckle.

Price: $25.00

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23 Cool Phone Cases: Eco-Friendly, Wood, Bamboo, Recycled & Vegan!

There’s never been a better selection of cool phone cases to protect your most-used piece of technology. And what makes a phone case especially cool? Well, not only does it look good while protecting your phone, it also does its part to help protect the Earth.

Today, there are laser-engraved bamboo phone cases, covers made from recycled skateboards, and other styles made from sustainable cork, recycled plastic, and even biodegradable bioplastic. And just because these covers are gentle on the Earth doesn’t mean they’re not tough enough to protect your phone. I selected the best mobile phone cases available based on their combination of innovative, Earth-friendly materials, creative and unique designs, and their reputations for being durable enough to protect your phone.

When you see this selection, you’ll never want to go back to a petrol-plastic case again! So, whether you’re looking for the perfect wood phone case for your iPhone or a recycled case for your Samsung Galaxy, search no more! But just in case you need a little more convincing, here’s some additional intel on why sustainable phone cases are the coolest phone cases you can buy.

Here’s why it’s cool to get a phone case made of sustainable materials:

5 billion is the number of cell phone users around the globe. (Statista)
22 months is the average time people keep their cell phones before getting a new one. (Business Insider)
1 billion mobile phones are bought every year. (The Guardian)

At this rate, if everyone buys a new case when they upgrade their phone, and they throw their old case away, that’s a heck of a lot of phone cases going into the landfill or the ocean year after year. This is why I’m so against petrol-plastic phone cases. I think it’s time for anyone who’s buying a new phone case to only buy one made of Earth-friendly materials, don’t you?

What makes a phone case eco-friendly?

If you’re in the market for a new cell phone case, here are some things to look for. The phone cases I present in this post all have at least one of these qualifications.

First, it’s made with:

Natural, sustainable, and easily biodegradable materials, such as bamboo, cork, or sustainably-harvested wood
Biodegradable plastic or recycled plastic
Other non-toxic materials (glues, adhesives, lining)

Second, and ideally, it comes with:

Carbon-neutral validation
Environmental certifications

And with that, here are the coolest phone cases on the market today:

WOOD PHONE CASES

1. Wood Phone Cases by Evutec®

Evutec produces Earth-friendly cases made from wood and bamboo that is certified as harvested from responsibly managed forests by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Chain of Custody Standard. These FSC certified cases come in a variety of woods, such as white ash and ebony. They fit a range of cell phones, including the Samsung Galaxy and iPhone. Evutec’s cases are made from a blend of organic materials that are woven together with wood veneer to create a strong case that is resistant to warping from heat and moisture.

You may be wondering how well these sleek wood cases will protect your phone. You can see for yourself in this video:

Evutec fits: iPhone 5, 6, and 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6

Prices at the time of this post: $5.99 – $34.95

2. Wood Phone Cases by Carved

Carved offers such a wide variety of colors and styles of wood phone cases that you’ll have a hard time choosing just one. I reached out to Carved to find out where they source the wood for their cases and they told us they always look for wood that is responsibly harvested. They also source reclaimed wood from old structures and from locally downed trees after storms. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, the Carved team puts their love of technology and craftsmanship into every case they make.

Here’s a video featuring John Webber, the founder of Carved, and his team at their workshop:

Carved fits: iPhone 5, 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S5, S6, S7, and S8

Prices at the time of this post: $19.00 – $39.00

3. Wood Phone Case in Walnut Burl by Carved

Carved creates so many beautiful, cool wood phone cases that they make it hard to choose. So, I had to include one more design in this post. This wood phone case is hand-carved with real walnut burl. Carved will make your case to order from their woodshop in Elkhart, Indiana.

Fits: iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 6, 6, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 5s; Samsung Galaxy 7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus; and Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and Pixel 2 and XL

Price at the time of this post: $32.00

4. Wood Phone Cases by RaidFox

RaidFox uses U.S.-sourced, FSC certified hardwoods in their colorful, Earth-friendly smart phone cases. They use lasers to cut the wood and then finish each case by hand. A socially-conscious company, RaidFox donates a portion of their revenue to humanitarian and environmental nonprofits around the world.RaidFox fits: iPhone 5, 6, 6 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6

Price at the time of this post: $7.99 – $9.99

5. Laser-Engraved Wood Phone Case by Sugar Yeti

Sugar Yeti’s philosophy is that we all need to get closer to nature. And for those times when you can’t be in nature, you should surround yourself with things from nature. This is one of the founding principles of why they make their phone cases from natural materials. Their unique, laser-engraved phone covers are made in Orange County in Southern California. They’re durable, yet have a slim and sleek low profile, so they don’t add a lot of bulk to your phone.

Sugar Yeti fits: iPhone 5, 6, and 6 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6

Prices at the time of this post: $11.95 – $24.95

6. Laser-Engraved Wood Phone Case by Wdpkr

Wdpkr puts a slight spin on the wooden phone case. They cover the wood in a black coating, and then laser-engrave a design that reveal the natural wood underneath. Each piece is unique. Their philosophy: “Be bold and showcase your inner beauty.”

Fits: iPhone 6s, 6 Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and 8 Plus

Price at the time of this post: $26.95

7. Laser Engraved Wood Phone Cases by Cutly

Cutly is another designer that laser engraves artwork onto wooden phone cases. They offer an array of designs and patterns, including geometric, floral, animals, and abstract. Check out their Etsy store to see them all.

Fits: iPhone 5, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE, and iPhone X, as well as Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, S7, S8, Edge, and S8 Plus.

Price at the time of this posts: $41.11

8. Custom Laser-Engraved Photo on an iPhone Case

And if you want a laser-engraved phone case that’s truly your own, Manual Paradise will laser-engrave a design for you from a photo onto a cherrywood case. You simply send them your photo (everyone will know whose phone it is) or a photo of a your loved one (be it human, animal, vegetable, or mineral!)

Fits: iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.

Prices at the time of this post: $19.90 – $27.90

9. Cool Laser-Engraved Wooden Phone Cases by Engraver’s Dungeon

Then there is Engraver’s Dungeon. Located in Valencia, Spain, husband and wife team Diego and Camelia, create some very cool and truly unique – if a little scary – cell phone covers. I must say, in all of the phone case research I’ve done, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Engraver’s Dungeon also does custom orders.

So, for all you Goths, Alien, Predator, and Creature from the Black Lagoon fans out there, be sure to visit their Etsy store to see them all. Warning: It’s not for the feint hearted.

Here’s a cool video from Engraver’s Dungeon:

Fits: iPhone 5, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE, and iPhone X, as well as Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, S7, S8, Edge, and S8 Plus

Price at the time of this post: $39.99

BIODEGRADABLE PHONE CASES

10. Pela Case Bioplastic Phone Case

Pela Case founder, Jeremy Lang, was raised in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, where most the global supply of oil seed flax is grown. Watching many seasons of the flax harvest, he believed there should be some sort of consumer use for the leftover flax straw once the flax oil was harvested. And being someone who cared about the environment, he was aware of the tremendous waste problem that our species needs to address.

He also found it odd that the average person replaces their smart phone every 22 months, yet the conventional plastic phone case used to protect the phone would last for hundreds of years. Making the connection, he developed a biodegradable and compostable material based on leftover flax straw, which he named Flaxstic^TM, and the Pela Case was born. In addition to making their bioplastic phone cases, Pela Case gives back by donating at least 1% of their sales to environmental nonprofits through 1% for the Planet.

Here’s a cool video from Pela that shows you just what goes into their sustainable and biodegradable phone cases:

Pela Case fits: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, and 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus

Prices at the time of this post: $19.98 – $35.00

11. Phone Sleeves Made from Woven Grass by Autumn Grain

Autumn Grain is another cool phone case designer I found that is creating something truly unique. This eco-friendly phone sleeve is made with a woven paper grass and has a vegan cotton lining. Autumn Grain will personalize your case with your name.

Fits: All size phone cases. Made to order.

Price at the time of this posts: $29.00

12. Biodegradable Phone Case Made from Woven Palm Leaves

Fits: All size phone cases. Made to order.

Price at the time of this posts: $29.00

BAMBOO PHONE CASES

13. Sustainable Bamboo Cell Phone Cases by Reveal

Reveal was born out of founder Terry Omata’s love of nature and technology. After working in manufacturing in China for a decade, he experienced a crisis in his career, which he talked about in a conversation I had with him, which I transcribed for the UniGuide blog. Terry knew there had to be a better way of designing products – one that revealed the beauty of nature, of sustainable materials, and a new way of looking at the world.

Reveal makes a variety of sustainable tech accessories, including wood and bamboo iPhone cases, iPad Mini cases, and a portable solar powered speaker that is accented with bamboo. As a company that is dedicated to stopping the destruction of the Earth’s natural ecosystems, Reveal plants a tree for every product they sell. To date, in conjunction with the nonprofit American Forests, they’ve helped plant over 40 million trees around the world.

Reveal fits: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7.

Prices at the time of this post: $9.99 – $29.99

14. Bamboo Folio Case for iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus by Reveal

If you want a cool phone case that has a cover over your screen and a built-in stand, this design by Reveal will fit the bill. It is also made with bamboo and comes in both a dark wood color and a light wood color.

The phone case folio by Reveal fits: iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus.

Price at the time of this post: $39.99

15. Custom Bamboo iPhone Cases by I Make the Case

I Make the Case creates a wide assortment of eco-friendly phone cases in laser-engraved bamboo, and they do custom designs as well. The offer so many designs that you’d be hard pressed not to find one that “speaks” to you.

According to I Make the Case, “Bamboo is revered as ‘eco-friendly’ because it’s fast-growing and can yield 20-times more wood than trees. Bamboo also releases 35% more oxygen into the air than trees of similar size. The Japanese expression wabi-sabi sums up the wonder of bamboo. It means, ‘There’s beauty in imperfection.’ We love that each bamboo skin has its own unique coloration, grain, and flow, and we value the opportunity to be connected to nature with these small treasures. We think it’s the perfect yin, to the high tech iPhone yang!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Amen.

I Make the Case fits: iPhone 5, 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus

Prices at the time of this posts: $19.95 – $29.95

16. Bamboo Phone Cases by Sugar Yeti

In addition to the wood phone covers mentioned above, Sugar Yeti makes artistic laser-engraved phone cases from Earth-friendly bamboo. Sugar Yeti believes in the therapeutic power of nature, and they instill this philosophy into their sustainably-made phone cases.

Sugar Yeti fits: iPhone 5, 6, and 6 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6

Prices at the time of this post: $11.95 – $24.95

CORK PHONE CASES

17. Sustainable Cork iPhone Cases by Reveal

Another material that sustainable products company Reveal uses in their phone covers is cork. Cork is a sustainable and renewable natural resource, as cork trees don’t have to be cut down to harvest their bark. Cork forests serve as important habitat for over 13,000 species of animals, plants, and insects, which are not found anywhere else. Like their bamboo phone covers, Reveal’s cork phone cases are ultra-durable and well-made. There are a variety of patterns in Reveal’s “cork leather” cases, from the Japanese wave shown above to hibiscus flowers and styles with a more unfinished, organic look. There’s also a folio style if you like to cover the screen of your phone.

Reveal fits: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7

Prices at the time of this post: $9.99 – $29.99

18. Cork iPhone Cases by Trade in House

Trade in House brings cork chic to a whole new level. Offering a wide variety of products made with cork, they demonstrate that this superstar of sustainable materials has really come into its own. Be sure to check out their Etsy store to see the beautifully designed cork hats, shoes, and accessories they create.

Trade in House fits: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, and 7 Plus, as well as some smaller phones

Prices at the time of this post: $28.70 – $59.50

19. Cork Mesh iPhone Sleeve by Trade in House

This unique, biodegradable phone sleeve, also by Trade-in-House, is made with a woven cork mesh.

Sizes: Large is 6”x 3.4” and small is 5” x 3”.

Price at the time of this post: $28.70

VEGAN PHONE CASES

20. Piñatex Pineapple “Leather” Phone Case

Technically, all of the phone cases on UniGuide are vegan because everything on UniGuide is vegan. But I decided to give this special phone case the honors of coming under the vegan heading because it is a leather disruptor.

This unique phone case is made with a sustainable faux leather called Piñatex, which is made from pineapple fibers. Piñatex was developed by Carmen Hijosa, a former business consultant in the leather industry. Carmen found the environmental impacts of the leather industry, as well as its impacts on workers and animals, to be unacceptable. So, she set out to create a gentler, more sustainable alternative to leather, and Piñatex was born.

This eco-friendly and vegan phone case comes in black, gold, or natural. It’s made by the Berlin-based designs team Eve and Adis, who create minimalist, sustainable accessories.

Contact Eve and Adis in their Etsy store and they’ll make a case to fit your specific phone

Price at the time of this post: $31.81

RECYCLED PHONE CASES

21. Recycled Skateboard Phone Case by Carved

These recycled skateboard cases by Carved are definitely crowd favorites. The combination of recycled, super colorful, and skateboard roots make them a standout on the eco phone case scene.

Carved skateboard cases fit iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 9 Plus, and Pixel XL, and Samsung Galaxy S8

Price at the time of this post: $39.00

22. Skateboard Phone Case by Spirit Workshop

Spirit Workshop is another company that makes phone cases out of recycled skateboards. They also make other recycled skateboard accessories, including rings and sunglasses. Handmade in Poland.

Fits: iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

Prices: $28.00 – $33.18

23. Recycled Plastic Phone Cases by CSERA

Cases by CSERA offers a wide variety of artistically designed recycled phone cases. Their products are Etsy-verified handmade and CSERA’s owner hand illustrates every design herself. CSERA produces their recycled plastic phone covers in working conditions that are safe and healthy for their workers. The cases are made from 100% recycled, post-consumer PET certified plastic. The company also uses eco-friendly ink and they ship their cases in recycled packaging.

CSERA cases fits: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus

Prices at the time of this post: $16.37 – $19.10

If you’re also looking for eco-friendly and vegan cases for your iPad, iPad Mini, or other tablet computers, check out these other posts on UniGuide:

Wood, Bamboo, and Cork iPad Cases (That Are Also Vegan!)

Eco-Friendly, Recycled, and Vegan iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves

Eco-Friendly, Reycled, and Vegan iPad Mini Cases

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6 Vegan Guitar Straps That Are Simply Badass

Vegan guitar straps. Does it get any better? Yeah, it does. When they’re eco-friendly and upcycled and vegan guitar straps. Here are the best we found.

1. Seatbelt Guitar Straps by Couch

Just as there are guitar gods, so there must be a guitar strap god. If this person exists, he may very well be Dan Perkins of Couch Guitar Straps. Dan upcycles used seatbelts, vintage auto upholstery and vinyl, and other used materials to create truly unique guitar straps. No matter your musical proclivities, you’ll be sure to find the perfect style to suite your needs.

Here’s Dan giving a tour of Couch’s production headquarters in Long Beach, California:

Couch strives to use at least 25% recycled materials in their straps. Their guitar straps have vegan, non-leather ends, and they’re all handmade in Long Beach, California. Couch also designs a range of other really cool upcycled accessories, including vegan belts, vegan camera straps, vegan wallets, and more.

Price: $24.00- $26.00

2. Upcycled Auto Upholstery and Vinyl Guitar Straps by Couch

Couch has so many cool upcycled auto upholstery guitar straps, that you just have to check out their Etsy store to see them all. Some of the vintage materials include:

1960s Furniture Upholstery

Cadillac Hard Top Vinyl

Heavy Duty Auto Upholstery Made into Steve McQueen-esque Racer Stripes

1980s VW Golf Upholstery

Prices: $34.00 – $64.00

3. Hippie Guitar Straps with Upcycled Seatbelt Backing by Couch

This Jimi Hendrix-style guitar strap is made from woven jacquard trim, recycled seat belt webbing, and recycled auto upholstery vinyl.

Prices: $48.00 – $58.00

And lucky for us, there are other cool brands making great vegan guitar straps!

4. Upcycled Vintage Fabric Guitar Straps by Eli Creates

Eli Creates designs a variety of eco-friendly and vegan guitar straps made from re-used fabric and upcycled seat belts.

Prices: $50.63 – $56.96

5. Non Leather Guitar Straps by Cowless™ by Onori

We were happy to see Onori, which makes guitar straps out of leather, introduce a vegan, non-leather “cowless” line. This style is dark brown faux suede.

Prices: $12.00 – $26.00

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6. Upcycled Tire Guitar Straps by RECYCLED VEGAN and TuC

This unique vegan guitar strap by Recycled Vegan and TuC has an upcycled inner tube backing and cork front. It’s the perfect combination of upcycled materials plus natural, sustainable materials. And the “recycled Vegan” emblem is pretty sweet too. The company makes a number of other cool upcycled accessories that you’ll have to check out in their Etsy store.

Price: $29.00

Rock on!

14 Cool Shoes and Accessories Made from Piñatex® Pineapple Leather

“Design is not just about product. Design is about responsibility.”
–Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder and CEO of Ananas Anam, the creator of Piñatex

Welcome to the Golden Age of cruelty-free shoes and accessories! It took a while to get here (and there’s still work to do) but we have finally, mercifully, arrived!

It’s not lost on us that the distinguished host ushering us into this new era is an innovative faux leather made from pineapple leaves. An international symbol of hospitality, the pineapple is the perfect way to welcome even the non-vegans among us to the world of sustainable, cruelty-free style.

To go directly to the cool shoes and accessories made with Piñatex at the bottom of this article, simply click these links:

Cool Shoes Made from Piñatex

Cool Accessories Made from Piñatex

Piñatex is the inspiration of Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a former consultant to the leather industry. While on a business trip to the Philippines in the ‘90s, she witnessed the amount of toxic chemicals used in leather production and their impact on workers and the environment. She knew that something had to change.

Dr. Carmen Hijosa, Founder and CEO of Ananas Anam and Creator of Piñatex — Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder and CEO of Ananas Anam, the creator of Piñatex. Photo: Ananas-Anam.com

Leather is problematic at every stage of its product lifecycle, from the cruelty to animals who are exploited for their skin, to its toxic production process, and finally, to the disposal of leather goods after we’re done with them. Because skin is a biological material, it’s meant to decompose. Leather is treated with chemicals to prevent this natural process from occurring, so contrary to popular belief, leather is not a biodegradable material.

On her travels, Dr. Hijosa was inspired by the Philippine locals who made clothing out of plant fibers. And while touring pineapple plantations, she was struck by the amount of pineapple leaves that were discarded as agricultural waste.

Pineapple Leaves Used to Make the Faux Leather Piñatex — Pineapple leaves used to make the faux leather Piñatex. Images: Ananas-Anam.com

These experiences led her to develop Piñatex, which is a non-woven material that is environmentally sustainable. Ananas Anam, the parent company of Piñatex, of which Dr. Hijosa is CEO, subscribes to circular economy and cradle-to-cradle principles. Not only is Piñatex vegan and eco-friendly, it also provides scalable commercial business opportunities for rural farming communities.

The Sustainable, Cradle-to-Cradle Lifecycle of Products Made from Piñatex

Piñatex Cradle-to-Cradle Sustainability Diagram — Piñatex cradle-to-cradle sustainability diagram. Image: Ananas-Anam.com.

Here’s a great video from Ananas Anam on how Piñatex is made:

And now for the cool shoes and accessories!

Cool Shoes Made from Piñatex

1. Boat Shoes in Piñatex by Planet Guests

Planet Guests creates ethical, vegan shoes and accessories in sustainable materials like cork and Piñatex. These loafer-style sneakers, or boat shoes, come in black, white, or gold.

Price: $122.00

2. Piñatex Boots by Bourgeois Boheme

Eco-conscious and ethical footwear company Bourgeois Boheme creates sustainable, vegan shoes by hand in their workshop in Portugal.

Price: $249.00 – $259.00

3. Vegan Pineapple Leather Baby Shoes

These adorable vegan baby moccasins were too cute to leave off this list! Visit Tender Toes’ Etsy store to see even more.

Price: $52.80

Cool Accessories Made from Piñatex

4. Vegan Backpack Made with Piñatex by Eve and Adis

Minimalist design team Eve and Adis creates sustainable accessories in their workshop in Berlin. This backpack is also available in black.

Prices: $181.00 – $232.00

5. Piñatex Backpack by Maniwala

Maniwala is a U.S.-based creator of sustainable, vegan accessories that are made from hemp and Piñatex pineapple leather. Maniwala is member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of sales revenue to environmental non-profits.

Price: $450.00

6. Black Faux Leather Backpack in Piñatex by Maravillas Bags

Maravillas Bags creates a number of different styles of vegan bags, including handbags, clutches, duffel bags, and more – all in vegan pineapple leather! Visit their store on Etsy to see more.

Prices: $112.00 – $314.00

7. Sustainable Non-Leather Card Wallet by Maniwala

This ultra-slim card wallet by Maniwala will hold a few credit cards, bills, and your driver’s license, while fitting easily in your back pocket.

Prices: $75.00 – $120.00

8. Vegan Credit Card Holder in Gold or Silver by Wonder Women of the World

Wonder Women of the World is a mission-based organization based in Paris that helps women who are out work learn new skills and get back on their feet. All of their creations are ethical and cruelty-free. This 100% vegan card holder will hold a couple credit cards and your driver’s license. It measures: 4” x 2.4”

Price: $24.05

9. Red Faux Leather Tote Bag by Camille Vegan Bags

Camille Vegan Bags offers a wide variety of non-leather bags made from Piñatex. Check out their Etsy story to see them all!

Price range: $44.00 – $209.00

10. Pineapple Leather Clutch Bag

Price: $87.34

11. Classic Black Crossbody Purse by Maravillas Bags

Maravillas Bags is another 100% vegan accessories company that only creates sustainable products. Be sure to visit their Etsy shop to see their whole collection.

Price: $221.52

12. Laptop Case Made with Piñatex by Eve and Adis

This vegan laptop case is another creation by the minimalist design team Eve and Adis. It comes in gold, black, or bone white.

Prices: $87.70 – $100.41

13. Black Piñatex Laptop Sleeve by Maniwala

This black laptop sleeve, also designed by Maniwala, is 100% vegan and made in the USA. It has a soft, vegan hemp fabric lining.

Price: $150.00

14. Vegan Cell Phone Cases Made with Piñatex

And for your most important accessory of all – your cell phone – of course, we’ve got some pineapple leather for that too. These sustainable cell phone sleeves, also created by Eve and Adis, come in black, bone white, and gold. Eve and Adis will create a case to fit your specific phone. Just reach out to them via their store on Etsy.

Price: $31.65

Enjoy!

9 Eco and Vegan Dog Collars for Your Pup

If your four-legged friends could talk, no doubt they’d say, “Make sure our collars are eco-friendly and cruelty-free!” And no worries. You can ease your loyal friends’ minds because today there are lots of cool eco and vegan dog collars to choose from.

VEGAN DOG COLLARS

At UniGuide, we’re working on making leather a thing of the past. And with so many alternative materials available that are just as durable as leather but do not harm animals in their making, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect, cruelty-free collar for your pup. In addition, the dog collars we present here have a lighter environmental footprint than leather collars or even non-leather collars that are made from materials like virgin nylon or other unsustainable materials.

Eco-friendly materials, like hemp, recycled plastic, and upcycled bicycle inner tubes are super strong and make great cruelty-free collars. And of course, all of the dog collars you’ll find on UniGuide are vegan.

Why are we so anti-leather?

Leather is not healthy for people, for animals, or our planet. Too many animals are killed every year so their skin can be used to make clothing, shoes, and accessories – and that includes pet accessories, such as leather dog collars, leashes, and harnesses. The life of an animal that is exploited for his or her skin is one of unimaginable and needless suffering. That kind of suffering has no place in our modern world. In addition, the process of turning animal skin into leather – called tanning – utilizes toxic chemicals that are harmful for workers as well as the environment.

So that’s why we say, ‘Ditch the leather collar and get one that’s cruelty-free!’ Your pup deserves to walk and play in cruelty-free style.

HEMP DOG COLLARS

Why Hemp Is a Great Material for Dog Collars

hemp-dog-collar-by-river-dog-hemp-dog-in-river — Hemp Dog Collar by River Dog Hemp

Hemp dog collars are hard to beat in terms of being sustainable, durable, and comfortable for your pup to wear. Hemp is one of the world’s strongest natural fibers, which means a well-made hemp dog collar will last through many romps, swims, and tugs from your dog’s pals.

In addition, dog collars made from hemp are naturally resistant to mold and mildew, and they’re anti-microbial too. But you can still throw them into the washing machine if need be. Hemp dog collars will soften over time, but they’ll still maintain their shape and strength. And if your dog is prone to allergies or skin sensitivity, a hemp collar is a great option because it’s hypoallergenic.

Hemp is considered a superstar sustainable material for a few reasons:

It doesn’t require much water to grow, nor does it require pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides because it has a naturally strong resistance to pests.
Because of its hardiness, it’s been used as an ecological way to clean up soil pollution and contamination. According to an article in the Huffington Post, “Using a process called phyto-remediation, hemp was used at Chernobyl to harmlessly extract toxins and pollutants from the soil and groundwater. Hemp actually absorbs CO₂ while it grows through natural photosynthesis, making it carbon-negative from the get-go.”
A super productive plant, hemp produces more fiber per acre than cotton or flax – the fiber used to make linen.

So, if you’re looking for an uber eco-friendly collar for your four-legged friend, you can’t go wrong with a hemp collar!

Here are brands we love that are making quality hemp dog collars:

1. Hemp Dog Collars by Earthdog

Earthdog creates eco-friendly and vegan dog collars out of Earth-friendly and sustainable hemp. They offer a wide variety of colors and patterns, in 27 different styles. All of their collars are machine-washable and dryer-safe. And they’re all handmade in the USA

Prices: $24.00 – $40.97

2. Hemp Dog Collars by Planet Dog

Planet Dog says we should all “think globally and act doggedly.” While they put a big emphasis on play and having fun with your pooch, Plant Dog is serious about their mission to make the world a better place. Since 2006, they’ve donated over $1.5 million dollars through their Planet Dog Foundation, which provides funds for the training, placement, and support of dogs who help people in need.

Prices: $18.45 – $23.95

3. Hemp Dog Collars by River Dog Hemp

River Dog Hemp creates bright and colorful hemp dog collars in both solid and tie dyed patterns. Hemp is a hypoallergenic material, which makes it perfect for pooches have allergies or sensitive skin. All of their collars are machine-washable and made in the USA.

Prices: $24.00 – $32.00

RECYCLED DOG COLLARS

Recycled Dog Collar on a Golden Retriever at the Beach by Eco by Lupine — Recycled Plastic Dog Collar by Eco by Lupine

This brings us to another great option for your four-legged pal, and that’s a recycled dog collar. As you’re probably aware, we have a serious plastic problem. There’s too much of it, and it doesn’t biodegrade. To date, we’ve produced 9.1 billion tons of plastics. The number is so enormous that it’s impossible to wrap your head around it, other than to say, plastic is everywhere. There’s now even plastic where people don’t generally go, like the middle of the ocean. We’re choking on plastic and so are our fellow species who don’t even use plastic.

Every four minutes, eight seabirds and 760 marine mammals die from plastic pollution in the ocean – and these are just the ones we know about. (Sea Turtle Conservancy and Ocean Crusaders.) In fact, the most prevalent form of pollution found in our oceans and on our beaches is plastic bottles and plastic bags. (Huffington Post, Ocean Conservatory.)

What do we do with all of this plastic?

First, we need to stop producing and using so much plastic. Second, we need to use natural, sustainable materials and bioplastics, which biodegrade more easily instead of petroleum-based plastic. And third, we need to figure out what to do with all of the plastic we’ve already created!

This is where recycled dog collars come in.

Recycled Plastic Dog Collar by Dutch Dog Amsterdam — Dog Collar Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles by Dutch Dog Amsterdam

Will we save the planet by giving all of our dogs recycled dog collars? Probably not. But will we help make a dent in the plastic pollution problem? Yes. Right now, according to the EPA, we only recycle about 9-10% of plastics. This is why at UniGuide, we are bullish on recycled plastic!

But it’s important to keep in mind that even when you recycle plastic into something useful, like a dog collar, you still have to figure out what to do with the recycled dog collar when you’re done using it. How to properly re-purpose, recycle, or dispose of products when we’re done with them is a topic we want to explore further at UniGuide in collaboration with the product vendors we promote on the site.

Because plastic is such a long-lasting material, it tends to create durable products even when it’s recycled. The recycled plastic dog collars we feature here are tough enough to stand up for years of use, including lots of rolls in the grass, ocean swims, and buddy dog tugging.

Here are some great brands that make recycled dog collars:

4. Recycled Bottle Dog Collars by Dutch Dog Amsterdam

Dutch Dog Amsterdam creates eco-friendly dog collars from recycled PET plastic. The colorful, vibrant designs pay tribute to famous works of art by Van Gogh, Monet, and others. Every style has a matching leash. And they’re machine washable.

Prices: $11.95 – $18.95

5. Recycled Plastic Dog Collars by Lupine

Lupine was founded in 1990 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Since they started operations, they’ve donated a portion of their revenue to organizations and causes around the U.S., including their local Humane Society. Their line of eco dog collars are made with recycled plastic bottles. Lupine collars are super durable.

Prices: $9.99 – $14.99

6. Recycled Dog Collars by Dublin Dog Company

Dublin Dog Co. makes eco-friendly, vegan, and recycled dog collars with their “Eco-Lucks” line. Made from recycled plastic, every Eco-Lucks dog collar keeps 1.5 plastic bottles out of landfills and the ocean.

Prices: $24.00 – $27.60

7. Recycled Plastic Dog Collars by Petz Best

Petz Best carries lines of dog collars that are made with organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Prices: $9.82 – $12.67

UPCYCLED DOG COLLARS

In addition to recycled dog collars, upcycled dog collars can be a great option for your pup. But first…

What’s the difference between a recycled dog collar and an upcycled dog collar?

Increasingly, we are distinguishing between recycled and upcycled on UniGuide because there’s a difference in the meaning of the two terms. (Though you might find the term “recycled” applied to items that are actually “upcycled” on UniGuide. We do this if a product maker uses the term to describe their products or simply because consumers are more familiar with the term “recycled.”)

The difference between the recycled dog collars and the upcycled dog collars on UniGuide is that the recycled collars are made from materials, usually PET plastic from water bottles, that go through a process whereby they are altered in a meaningful way (usually through an industrial process) before being converted into materials to make the collars.

While each product maker is unique, most of the recycled dog collars on UniGuide are made from plastic water bottles that are ground down into flakes or tiny pellets, which are then melted down and spun into a fiber that is woven to create the collars. Because it’s a manufacturing process, recycling can be energy intensive, but it’s generally agreed today that it’s environmentally beneficial to recycle plastics.

Upcycled dog collars, on the other hand, are collars that are made from previously used materials that do not undergo such an intensive transformation. Materials such as used fire hoses, fire fighter clothing, and bicycle inner tubes are simply cut down, sized, and sewn into durable dog collars. What makes upcycled products especially cool is that you can often tell what they were in their past life, before reaching the next phase in the product evolution.

Here are a couple brands that make super cool upcycled dog collars:

8. Upcycled Tire Dog Collar by Cycle Dog

Cycle Dog makes eco and vegan dog collars with upcycled tired inner tubes. All of their collars are handmade in Portland, Oregon, USA. Their collars come in a wider variety of fun patterns and colors. Used tires are tough enough to stand up to doggy rough housing, swims, and rolling in the grass. And these collars have a bonus feature! The hardware can double up as a bottle opener.

Prices: $11.70 – $20.36

9. Upcycled Fire Hose Dog Collar by Rekindled Pride

Rekindled Pride re-purposes old fire hoses and the tough gear worn by firemen and creates these heroic collars. According to Rekindled Pride, the materials used in their eco and vegan dog collars have been “worn through all types of emergencies and have witnessed lives changed and lives saved.”

Each purchase of one of their one-of-a-kind dog collars generates funds for charitable causes in local communities. All are handmade in the USA.

Prices: $24.00 – $28.00

OK, that’s it for now! Isn’t it time to take your pooch for a walk?

Important Stats on Why We Should All Be Eating a Plantbased Vegan Diet

You don’t have to look too far today to find an overwhelming amount of data on why we should all be eating plantbased diets. Whether it’s for your health, for the health of the planet, for the next generation who will inherit this planet, or simply for compassion for animals, eating a vegan diet is one of the best personal consumption choices you can make in your lifetime. We’re not alone when we say – humans converting to a plantbased diet as soon as possible could be the salvation for all of us.

Here are just a few stats on how going vegan can save you, your family, and the world:

The Personal Reasons to Go Vegan:

Eating the equivalent of two slices of ham each day (or 50 grams of processed meat) – can increase your risk of cancer by 18%. (World Health Organization.)
Vegans have lower rates of cancer than both meat-eaters and vegetarians. For example, vegan women have 34% lower rates of cancers such as breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer. (Huffington Post, U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.)
Women placed on plant-based diets for just two weeks were found to suppress the growth of three different types of breast cancer. Similar results were found for men relating to prostate cancer and prostate enlargement. (Huffington Post, U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.)
Vegan diets contribute to greater weight loss than vegetarian, pescatarian, semi-vegetarian, or omnivorous diets. (Obesity Society.)
55-year-old male and female vegans weigh about 30 pounds less than non-vegetarians of similar height. (Loma Linda University.)
Vegans have a 57% reduced risk of death from heart disease. (The British Medical Journal.)
Vegans have a 68% lower rate of diabetes than meat eaters. (Adventist Health Study 2, VeganHealth.org.)

The Altruistic Reasons to Go Vegan:

Every day, people eating a vegan diet save 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forested land, and 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) – and they save one animal’s life. (Cowspiracy.com, University of Twente, the Netherlands, Scientific American, The Environmental Working Group, Langdon Street Press.)
Vegans produce the equivalent of 50% less CO₂ than meat eaters, and they use 0.09% of the oil, 0.08% of water, and 0.05% of land simply by eating a vegan diet. (Cowpiracy.com, ShrinkTheFootprint.com, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, OneGreen Planet.com, John Robbins – Food Revolution, Earthsave.org.)
Livestock and their byproducts account for 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. (Cowspiracy.com, Worldwatch Institute, The Independent.)
Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day, which has the global warming potential of 86-times that of CO₂ in a 20-year time frame. (Cowspiracy.com, Philip Ross – International Business Times, Science Magazine.)
Reducing methane emissions would create tangible benefits almost immediately, whereas CO₂ can take centuries to dissipate in the atmosphere. (Cowspiracy.com, United Nations Climate Summit, D. Archer, The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 Years of Earth’s Climate.)
Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296-times the global warming potential of CO₂, and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years. (Cowspiracy.com, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.)
Growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of water in the U.S. (Cowspiracy.com, Michael Jacobson – Center for Science in the Public Interest.)
Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon Rainforest destruction. (Cowspiracy.com, World Bank.)
For every 1 pound of fish caught, up to 5 pounds of unintended marine species are caught and discarded as by-kill. (Cowspiracy.com, UN Food and Agriculture Organization.)
There could be fishless oceans by 2048. (Cowspiracy.com, Science, National Geographic.)

With that, how about checking out some vegan recipes on UniGuide? Enjoy!

Vegan Recipes

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Is Tuna Good for You?

The answer is: no. And it’s not good for other people or other species either.

Humans have been eating tuna for a long time. According to the journal New Scientist, people have been deep sea fishing for tuna for 42,000 years. But just because we’ve been doing something for a long time, doesn’t necessarily mean we should keep doing it.

Unfortunately, a lot has happened to the Earth and its oceans over those centuries – notably in the most recent one. There are a number of extremely compelling reasons for why we should stop eating tuna now.

5 Reasons Why We Should Not Eat Tuna

1. Tuna contains mercury, which is toxic for humans.

Eating contaminated fish is the number one cause of mercury exposure in America, says the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC.) And what’s the problem with mercury? Quite simply, it’s toxic to us and therefore causes a host of problems.

According to a study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, “chronic exposure, even to low concentration levels of mercury, can cause cardiovascular, reproductive, and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity” in humans. The study found a link between mercury toxicity and heart disease. A study published by the American Heart Association confirmed this. It found that men with the highest levels of mercury increased their risk for heart disease by 60% and their risk of dying of a heart attack by 70%. (Source: PETA.)

Mercury gets into fish when it’s emitted into the air from factories and coal-burning plants, and then it settles into our waterways. Large predatory fish – like tuna – have high concentrations of mercury in their bodies because they eat high on the food chain, consuming organisms and other fish that have absorbed mercury themselves. While the EPA says that adults can eat canned light tuna every three or four days, the NRDC says that children should avoid eating fish altogether and that women of childbearing age should stick to no more than four ounces per week. It begs the question – why eat it at all, especially if there are good-tasting alternatives, like vegan mock tuna salad recipes?

2. Eating tuna is contributing to human slavery. Yep, you heard that right.

Thai Commercial Fishing — Photo: The Environmental Justice Foundation via One Green Planet

In a story by One Green Planet, a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) stated that “international demand for cheap seafood is driving the degradation of marine ecosystems as well as fueling human trafficking in Thailand.”

How is this happening? Thailand is the third largest seafood exporter in the world, and the drop in fish populations has caused Thai fisherman to resort to desperate measures to reach quotas to make ends meet. Thai fishing boats are now catching only 15% of what they caught 50 years ago. As a result, they’re having to travel further to find fish, and they’re having to resort to illegal fishing practices to do so. All the while, they’re making less money for their effort.

The work is so brutal that many Thai refuse to do it, so commercial fishing companies are relying on more desperate measures to get workers. According to the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), 33% of seafood workers in Thailand have been trafficked, and 57% have experienced forced labor.

What does this have to do with the tuna sandwich you just bought at that convenience store? Thirty-nine percent of the wild-caught seafood that enters the U.S. market is illegally harvested in Thailand. And tuna and shrimp are the top two fish that enter the U.S. from Thailand. There’s no doubt that in our global economy, we have to find more innovative and humane ways for people to be treated and to be able to earn a living wage.

3. Tuna fishing still kills dolphins (and other marine life.)

Two Dolphins — Photo: Dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean

Tuna and dolphins swim together. It’s believed they do so because they prey on the same food and also possibly as a defense mechanism against common predators. In fact, many commercial fishing operations will look for dolphins in order to catch tuna. In Japan, commercial fishers kill large numbers of dolphins because they want to destroy the competition for dwindling tuna supplies.

In addition, dolphins and other marine life, including whales, sharks, sea turtles, and others, get killed when they’re trapped in fishing nets from commercial fishing operations. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that at least 100,000 dolphins are killed in the U.S. alone every year from tuna fishing.

4. Tuna fishing kills tuna – and they’re on the brink of extinction.

A study by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean showed that “after heavy fishing in the 1950s, the bluefin tuna population crashed in the 1960s, and computer models estimated the current population at only 2.6% of what it would have been around 1900 before large-scale fishing.”

Despite this, the Trump Administration has refused to put the Pacific bluefin tuna on the Endangered Species List. While other types of tuna are used in tuna salad recipes, many of those are included in The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “red list” in its Seafood Watch Guide.

The red list includes 57 types of tuna that should be avoided because of overfishing and the risk of collapse for not just tuna populations, but the ecosystems of which they’re an integral part. For the most part, the Aquarium only recommends eating tuna that is line caught. Isn’t it easier to just make a vegan tuna salad sandwich and go about your day?

5. Vegan “tuna” salad is delicious.

And now the easiest reason to give up eating tuna fish: Delicious alternatives exist! Transitioning to vegan foods involves both a cultural shift and a shift in personal habits – both of which are easier than we might think. When I look back at how I craved tuna fish sandwiches, it all seems very foreign to me. It simply no longer appeals to me. Time heals, and it certainly does when it comes to food cravings.

If you’re looking for a delicious vegan mock tuna salad recipe. we have three of the best in our post:

3 of the Best “Tuna” Salad Recipes Ever (They’re Vegan!)

Be well and enjoy!

By Kristen M. Stanton

3 of the Best “Tuna” Salad Recipes Ever (They’re Vegan!)

Vegan Tuna Salad by Sweet Potato Soul — Photo: Sweet Potato Soul

Tuna salad is a favorite food for a lot of people, and as it’s packed with protein and omega 3 oils, many think of it as a healthy food. You don’t have to click too far to find a ton of recipes claiming to be the best tuna salad recipe ever. You can find traditional tuna salad sandwiches sold at virtually any mini market or sandwich shop in America. Tuna salad is a crowd-pleaser for sure, but is it really healthy? Read our blog post “Is Tuna Good for You?” and you’ll think twice about ever eating it again. This is why we set out to find the best vegan “tuna” salad recipes we could find. A lot of people love the taste of tuna salad, so we wanted to offer some delicious vegan alternatives that don’t have the many drawbacks that eating real tuna fish does.

I was a vegetarian for three decades before I became completely (and consistently) vegan a few years ago. When I was a vegetarian, I was pretty much vegan except that certain foods were really hard to resist – namely pizza and baked goods, like scones and cookies. But over the past few years, vegan foods have come into their own, and it’s not too hard to find delicious vegan pizzas and baked treats, whether they’re in the prepared food sections or the frozen food aisle at healthy grocery stores. Going back to when I was a vegetarian, there was one food that was also hard to resist – and that was tuna salad sandwiches. Thankfully, today’s vegan chefs are making it easier to replicate tuna salad with delicious plant-based alternatives that are far healthier for you and a lot more environmentally sustainable.

If you’re having trouble giving up eating fish, all I can ask is that you give at least one of these plant-based tuna salads a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.

1. Vegan Chickpea “Tuna” Salad by Sweet Potato Soul

Vegan Chickpea "Tuna" Salad Recipe by Sweet Potato Soul — Photo: Sweet Potato Soul

Jenné Claiborne, the creator of Sweet Potato Soul, has so many delicious vegan recipes on her site that it’s hard to decide where to start. She’s got a cookbook out with 100 vegan recipes inspired by her southern roots: Sweet Potato Soul: for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul, which you can get on Amazon. And be sure to visit her site at SweetPotatoSoul.com.

Her Vegan Chickpea “Tuna” Salad recipe is a classic that’s bound to win over any traditional tuna salad lover. She provides two versions, one of which has avocado in it. Why not make both? Yum!

Here’s her video on how to make it:

2. Mock Tuna Salad by Cooking with Plants

Vegan Mock Tuna Salad Sandwich by Cooking with Plants — Photo: Cooking with Plants

Anja Cass, founder of Cooking with Plants, could entice anyone to go vegan with her delicious and healthy vegan recipes, and she can inspire anyone too. Years ago, when dealing with low energy and health challenges, including a heart aneurysm, she sought out a healthier way of existing. She picked up a copy of The China Study and it changed her life. She says she went vegan almost “overnight,” and subsequently lost 50 pounds in four months.

Her Mock Vegan Tuna Salad recipe is easy to make and has a plant-based taste of the sea. It incorporates miso paste, sweet and sour pickle juice, and nori. Plus, it includes raw sunflower seeds and jackfruit. Check out Anja’s video, and be sure to visit her site for more recipes at CookingWithPlants.com.

3. Non-Tuna Tuna by Aqiyl

Non-Tuna Tuna Salad Recipe by Aqiyl — Photo: Aqiyl Anis

Aqiyl Aniys is the author of several books that focus on plant-based eating. He has a certificate from Cornell on plant-based nutrition and his alkaline Non-Tuna Tuna Salad recipe takes a different spin on vegan tuna salad. It incorporates walnuts, tomato, and key limes. Check out Aqiyl’s video, and you can find more info on his website AqiylAniys.com. You can find his books on plant-based eating on Amazon.

If these over-the-top delicious vegan tuna salad recipes haven’t distracted you yet, and you’re still thinking about the old kind of tuna salad, then do check out our post:

Is Tuna Good for You?

Hopefully it will bring you to the vegan side! Be well and enjoy!

By Kristen M. Stanton

17 Women Vegan and Eco Fashion Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World

According to the marketing firm Girl Power Marketing:

Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases.

Yet despite this powerful influence on the economy:

Only 10% of venture capital funding goes to female entrepreneurs.
And only 28% of companies that hit $1 million or more in annual revenue are owned by wom

Author: Kristen Stanton

WOOD FRAME SUNGLASSES

BAMBOO SUNGLASSES

9. Recycled Fishing Net Sunglasses by Bureo

The History of Cowboy Boots

High Heel Cowboy Boots and Western Boots for Women

Very Volatile Cowboy Boots

Vegan Cowgirl Boots by Roper

Low Heel Cowboy Boots for Women

Women’s Ankle Boot Cowboy Boots

Men’s Cowboy Boots and Western Boots

Laptop Sleeves Made with Natural Fibers

Recycled and Upcycled Laptop Cases and Sleeves

Cool Doormats in Coir and Natural Fibers

Funny Doormats

Animal and Fruit Welcome Mats

Colorful Doormats

Rope Doormats

Recycled Rubber and Neoprene Welcome Mats

Recycled Flip Flop Doormats

18. Recycled Flip Flops Doormat

Wood and Cork Doormats

Recycled Tire Doormats

The oldest shoes ever discovered were rope sandals.