Green Options

Tell the world how you feel about our dirty coal addiction by wearing your message right on your arm: I’m Tired of Coal.

The contest winner of Chic Eco’s 2009 footwear designer poll is Cliff Drill for Splaff Inc. Perfected simplicity is where he’s at with only three style offerings for men and women. Read the previous entrepreneurial story and company history here on FGS.

Cliff has lots of supporting fans who took the time to write sincere favorable comments with their votes. A few of many testimonials follow.

It was 1997 when Splaff Flopps joined the green wave, — and in more ways than one! El Presidente Cliff Drill and El Ambassador Craig Wallace got creative in a garage. Their materials and tools were a tire, a bike tube, and a shoe knife. Indeed they had a vision. The goal was to make durable, comfortable and reasonably-priced sandals from recycled materials.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu founded the soleRebels brand in 2004 with her husband and brother to help create jobs in Zenabwork, Ethiopia. At the time there were hardly any jobs in the community. But when the family decided to redesign traditional Ethiopian shoes made from recycled tires, expansion mode kicked in and employees were hired.

It is back to school time, and whether you child plays at a park or a school, you have probably been on a playground that uses recycled tires for cushioning.  In the past, I have questioned the safety of children playing with old tires; however, I remember enjoy tire swings immensely as a child.  Now, the Green Guide has reported on the safety of recycled tire cushioning found on many playgrounds.

A few years ago, we installed new playground equipment at our school.  As the teacher in charge of the project, I was encouraged by parents to explore the option of recycled tires for cushioning, which comes in either a mulch or mat.  At first, I thought this was a good idea as it involved recycling and really does provide a great cushioning, but in the end we chose pea gravel for cost, environmental, and safety concerns.