May 6th, 2008 · No Comments

By Katherine Tanney

Do a Google search for “plastic shoes” and the first site to come up is Crocs (pictured). Originally intended as a slip-resistant boating and outdoor shoe when introduced in 2002, the bulbous, brightly colored sandals quickly became wildly popular with kids and adults around the world, much to the chagrin of the style-conscious. (See I Hate Crocs, a site devoted to destroying the omnipresent footwear. There’s even a store where haters can purchase anti-Croc T-shirts and pins.) Those who swear by their Crocs love Croslite, the foam resin from which they are made, which forms itself to the foot and causes them to be extremely comfortable and durable, not to mention relatively inexpensive when compared with Birkenstocks, another popular, much maligned “ugly” shoe. To view the wide array of shoe styles now available from Crocs, including heels, check out the company’s footwear section.

But wait. These are plastic. Plastic is bad for the planet, right? It sits in landfills and ends up in the stomachs of wildlife. Aren’t we all trying to be more ecologically aware? That’s where SolesUnited comes in. Launched by Crocs, Inc., in January, the footwear donation program aims to get folks to recycle their old Crocs, which will be made into new “quality footwear for people in need worldwide.” Crocs has already donated more than one million pairs of shoes through SolesUnited, with celebs such as Madonna and Wyclef Jean lending their support to the program.

Meanwhile, Brazilian-made Melissa Shoes, also plastic, are the product of a socially responsible company that employs sustainable practices and pays its employees above-average wages and benefits. Check out the Desire & Triton Red Hot Heels ($58) and other styles at Kaight. All shoes are made from Melflex, a recyclable, extremely flexible PVC. The company also recycles 99.9 percent of the factory’s water and waste and even recycles overstocked styles into next season’s collection.