Eco-shopping and the Slipper Saga

Did I tell you about the Monthly Eco Baby-Steps Plan, by the way? Last month’s baby-step was “try to make sure I don’t overfill the kettle” which is indeed pretty baby. It’s also trickier than I’d realised, because a short person like myself doesn’t automatically see over the top or lid of things on a standard surface…

This year I’m giving myself a bit of a break from campaigning (or more accurately a break from feeling guilty for not campaigning) about things, but I’d still like to shop responsibly, and one aspect of this is not buying products made in China.

Before Christmas I was intrigued by the fact that all WH Smith’s calendars seemed to be made in China, but Ryman’s were not. I bought from Ryman’s.

Anyway, it may be since covid that I’ve become a Slippers Around the House person, so the fact that the sole was hanging off the slipper meant I really needed to buy a new pair. (I know, the truly eco solution would have been to mend them. My sewing skills are very very limited.)

I wanted slippers that had backs and were not made in China: any other country would do. I didn’t think this was unreasonable.

These are the shops where my husband and I looked: Peacocks, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, TK Maxx, John Lewis, Marks and Spencers. No success.

Thinking Fair Trade online stockists, I tried Traidcraft, but alas! I was very sorry to learn that the pioneer of Fair Trade is in administration…

…and People Tree, who don’t do slippers.

A kind friend recommended buying online from either of two British firms: Hotters and Drapers. I looked at their sites, and both do UK-made slippers, rather expensive sheepskin.

Fortunately for me,  Thought https://www.wearethought.com/ came to my rescue, and the cosy fluffy blue slippers have arrived and are in constant use.

It is also only fair to Tesco to say that a second look by my husband disclosed a pair made in Slovakia.

So this has ended happily, but I’ve recently had to buy hook-on shades to cover prescription glasses… made in China… and of course all covid tests come from there.

If China decided not to export to the West, I suspect the current vegetable shortage would pale into insignificance.

Love from the PPI Blogger

PPS We’re thinking a lot about Ukraine at the moment, understandably, but there’s an interesting presidential election in Nigeria tomorrow…