In excess of 100 footwear and accessories manufacturers and retailers attended the ecoEthics conference, co-hosted by Simple Shoes and The WSA Show, last week, which aimed to address how companies can achieve sustainability, a smaller carbon footprint and offer eco-aware consumers more choice.

Gwynne Rogers of Natural Marketing Institute opened the programme with a special presentation on consumer trends and their growing interest in sustainability. Moderated by Patrice Thramer, president of Gen7 Resources, an international group of manufacturers and retailers also discussed how they’ve incorporated eco-friendly practices into their businesses. Participants included Bill Worthington, president and creative director, Olukai; David Aznavorian, vice president of marketing, Earth; Rebecca Brough, founder and designer, Mink Shoes; Natalie Dean, founder, Beyond Skin; Angel Martinez, president and CEO, Simple Shoes; Richard Graf, founder, Studioeec; Tom Schneider, president and CEO, ISA Industrial Ltd; and Danny Wasserman, president, Tip Top Shoes.  

“It is no secret that the footwear industry has not been very friendly to the planet,” said Monica deVreese, brand manager, Simple Shoes, with Deckers Outdoor Corp.  “At the last ecoEthics gathering, we agreed that the industry can no longer afford to maintain business as usual.  The good news is that many have aggressively incorporated ecoEthics into their practices, and others are looking to start.  It is the mission of Simple Shoes and The WSA Show to provide a non-competitive forum for deliberation so the industry can begin to collectively move forward for the sake of our planet.”