Green shoes?

Once you start thinking about it, there are lots of pretty painless ways to impact the environment less through your buying choices.

Starting with shoes - I bought a pair of shoes from a Spanish company called el Naturalista earlier this year. They are comfortable and funky (I don't think I've ever been more complimented on a pair of shoes, but that is possibly more of a statement about the rest of my shoe-drobe).

But more importantly, this is a company with values.

• they live by an "eco-policy" that they also require all suppliers and agents to comply with. They use the least harmful materials they can to produce their shoes, including natural dyes and recycled rubber.
  
• they support local producers
  
• they promise to pay suppliers fairly
  
• they have founded a charity for the education of Peruvian children, the Atuochi project, which they donate to with each pair of shoes.
• and they have frogs drawn on the soles of the shoes. You can't beat that (my niece was jealous anyway)
  

You can order from thier site (which has nice touches an ipod function so you can listen to music they like while you shop) and there are a bunch of UK stockists as well, including the Natural Shoe Store.