Earth Day 2022
‘Perfection is lots of little things done well.’
The idea that paying attention to the details in order to create a successful whole makes a lot of sense, and it’s something that we can all apply to our day-to-day lives, whether it’s in relation to our careers, home life, hobbies or otherwise. Nothing can be deemed as too small or insignificant to make a difference to the bigger picture.
It’s also especially prevalent today, Earth Day, when we take stock of things we can do to make the world a better place; instead of believing that you have to sacrifice everything you have and retreat to the woods to live a carbon-neutral lifestyle, pay attention to the small things that you can change. Bitesize alterations are a lot easier to swallow and can make a big difference, as long as we do them well.
A conscious decision to buy less ‘stuff’ is something that we’re all guilty of, so switching that habit to buying fewer items but of a higher quality will benefit our planet. Reusing what we already have also benefits us in the long run, as we’re not wasting money on throwaway items – being eco-friendly is mutually beneficial.
At Cheaney, we are very proud to offer a quality product that is durable and repairable, as well as being entirely made in England and therefore cutting down on our carbon footprint. However, we all have a part to play in creating a healthier world, so we decided to see what little things we could change.
Out of this desire to do more, we created the Eco Aware collection, another step up in sustainability. Such are the steps we took to ensure a lesser environmental impact, we are humbled to be nominated at this year’s Drapers Footwear Awards for ‘best sustainable initiative’.
It begins with the suede uppers sourced from Charles F. Stead in Leeds, using chemical-free tanning processes and diligently monitoring their waste water output. Being a natural material, suede is robust and comfortable, offering you years of good wear. Once they do reach the end of their natural life (many years down the line), any good quality leather product will biodegrade completely, so be sure to invest in natural materials where possible to avoid clogging landfills and damaging ecosystems.
In an effort to minimise waste, Vibram’s EcoStep sole unit is comprised of the offcuts from their main production and is 100% recyclable. From a practical perspective, rubber soles are also incredibly durable and non-slip, so vying for an eco-friendly option is another step in the right direction.
The famous Goodyear Welt construction is something you will find on the vast majority of our shoes. This method of manufacturing benefits the wearer in so many ways: durable, comfortable, with the added benefit of being completely repairable. Instead of buying a new pair of shoes when the sole wears out, all Cheaney shoes can be sent back to our factory for a full refurbishment, elongating its life substantially and cutting down on unnecessary additions to landfills.
The cushioning in our shoes is made from cork, another natural material which offers comfort and support without the harmful chemicals found in cheaper and less durable alternatives.
Furthermore, the boxes and shoe bags are 100% recyclable and made using water-based dyes and non-toxic adhesives.
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of such huge environmental challenges that we face. However, with a few small changes, we can all do our bit for a greener future – and with our eco collection, you’ll look damn good doing it.
