I recently received two complimentary pairs of Okabashi shoes for the purposes of this no-strings-attached review:

For consumers looking to support a zero-waste based company with every step they take, Okabashi’s a shoe in – their collections are 100% recyclable and they contain 30% recycled material.

I’ve been making my way around town lately in Sienna and Wave (above) and they’re awesome: perfect fit, comfy and stylish. As a shoe junkie, I couldn’t wait to wear them, so the minute I received them I slipped into Sienna and made my way to a casual business meeting. I’m not making this up – the administrator insisted that I write down the brand name so that she could go find a pair. Neat – I love when stuff like this happens.

These sandals are specially great for spring-summer wear – you can go casually cool at the beach, bar or garden party. They’re easy to stash in your overnight bag, too. Tell your guy there are plenty of styles for him, as well.

Okabashi is a family-run, Georgia-based biz that has a lot going for it:

• a closed loop system & zero waste manufacturing
• shoe making takes place in Buford, Georgia – I was surprised to learn that 98 percent of Americans wear shoes that are made abroad.
• 100% recyclable (when they’re worn out, send them to the company and they’ll get recycled into new shoes)
• made of a proprietary blend of plastics called Microplast (which contains 30% recycled material)
• guaranteed for 2 years (I’m fairly certain mine will last longer)
• dishwasher safe & machine washable
• antimicrobial, anti slip & anti odor
• vegan friendly & planet friendly: made in the USA + 100% recyclable
• completely water proof (will not change shape or fade)
• massaging insole & ergonomic footbed with arch support
• reasonably priced, starting at $14.99.

As you may already know, we’re pretty fussy about what we recommend. Ever vigilant about supporting eco-conscious and socially responsible companies and individuals, we strive to recommend only the best alternatives to all the poorly made, toxic-ridden products available out there today. In the case of Okabashi: if the shoe fits, wear it – and be proud of your tiny carbon footprint with every step you take.