Eco-Friendly Walking Gear

April 1-7 is National Public Health Week with Friday being touted as National Walk to Work Day. The health benefits of walking abound, from burning calories and preventing heart disease to reducing stress and increasing sexual desire. Take a look at my Top 5 items that can make your walking a little greener.

OAT sneaker photo by Coriette Schoenaert

Bamboo Socks

Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource. Once cut, it regenerates quickly. A bamboo grove produces 35% more oxygen than a similar-sized grove of trees. In addition, bamboo is naturally soft, absorbent and does not harbor odor. All this makes it perfect sock material. I own several pairs of Ecosox, and I love them. I’ve worn holes into my first pair, but have yet to toss them. They keep my feet dry, warm and cool - whatever the weather calls for. Choose between sport, hiking or work Ecosox.
Green Sneakers

The Dutch company OAT offers “shoes that bloom” including a pair of fully biodegradable sneakers that can actually be planted once you’ve outgrown them. Made from breathable canvas and cork soles embedded with seeds, OAT shoes are meant to “connect people with their environment in an imaginative way.”

Or try New Balance’s newSKY sneakers – each pair is made from eight recycled plastic bottles. (Celeb note: Naomi Watts, Sophia Bush and Selma Blair have all sported a pair of newSKY.) The minimalist design of this lightweight sneaker conserves material in production.
Water Bottles for a Cause

While any reusable water bottle is better for the environment than buying packaged water, here are two that add a little something more. MiiR’s stainless steel, BPA-free bottle offers a range of color choices and lid types. Your purchase goes further knowing that, through the company’s one4one program, a dollar from every bottle sale provides one person with clean water for one year.

Vapur is the “anti-bottle,” made in the USA of durable BPA-free plastic that can be rolled, folded and tucked away for travel. It’s dishwasher safe and can also be frozen to use as an ice pack. Available in several cool colors. Vapur also donates 1% of its annual profits to charitable organizations worldwide.
Coffee Sports Bra

Would you like some coffee with your workout? The super-supportive Luna bra from Moving Comfort includes in its fabric something called S.Café® - a composite fiber that originates from coffee grounds. No kidding. The genius of it all is that coffee grounds naturally absorb odors, which makes them perfect for a sports bra.
Safe Strollers

The eco-friendly Orbit Baby G2 Stroller

Of course you’ll want to take baby on a walk with you. And while cotton baby slings might arguably be most green, there are strollers on the market now with excellent eco improvements. These include the Orbit Baby G2 and Maclaren. Orbit Baby was the first stroller company to develop a PVC and phthalate-free rain shield. Their G2 stroller uses organic, hypoallergenic and non-toxic flame retardant fabrics, making it one of the greenest strollers on the market.

The Maclaren company adheres to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink when selecting materials and reducing waste during production. Their packaging contains 70% recycled fiber content, and they have removed all phthalates, lead, PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their strollers. They also offer recycling centers for used strollers and have a company goal to become carbon-neutral.