Environmental claims on shoes: what the Green Guides say
We make no environmental claims. Here is how the FTC Green Guides treat general ones.
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We make none
We do not say any material, shoe, or maker is better for the environment, leather or not. Environmental claims on a product are the maker's.
General claims
The Green Guides say: "It is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product, package, or service offers a general environmental benefit."
Why they are hard to read
The Green Guides say: "Unqualified general environmental benefit claims are difficult to interpret and likely convey a wide range of meanings." They say "marketers should not make unqualified general environmental benefit claims."
Words we do not use
We do not call any material eco, eco friendly, sustainable, green, or biodegradable. When a listing uses such words, they are the maker's claim, and the maker is the one to ask.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice.
Sources: eCFR, 16 CFR Part 260, Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides); eCFR, 16 CFR Part 24, Guides for Select Leather and Imitation Leather Products.
FAQ
General information only, not medical advice. Material labels are the maker's: check the label for each part of the shoe. Fit varies by maker and by person, so check the maker's size chart and the return policy. If you have foot pain or a foot or health condition, talk to your doctor or a podiatrist.
Next: vegan leather
A maker's term, two Guides.
