Possible Solutions?

So what could TOMS do to be a more sustainable company? Are there any realistic solutions?

It's difficult to come up with viable solutions because it would require TOMS to stop production, in order to help wean us off of our addiction to consumerism. But then, TOMS would no longer exist and that's the antithesis of what a company desires.

A possible solution for TOMS is for them to only do domestic shoe drops. TOMS does some shoe drops in the United States and they could focus on improving equity in the states. There's no need to travel far distances because people in need are people in need and Mycoskie's objectives in the shoe drops will still be reached (the objectives can be found in my earlier post "Not the end of the line"). Then, they would lower their carbon footprint by not flying as far and can use the extra money they save on plane tickets to send to local organizations in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, to help improve their infrastructure. This doesn't reduce our consumption addiction but it could alleviate the poverty in the countries they're sending aid to by promoting the development of their local industries.

I don't foresee a silver bullet solution to the overconsumption problem we face as a society, but this proposed solution is a step in the right direction. As long as we continue to live in a capitalistic society, I feel as though our need to buy material goods will continue to exist. Thus, the sustainability of TOMS is a small aspect of the larger picture of what is needed to make a significant change in living environmentally friendly while developing economically. Although we are a long ways away, at least the supply chain of TOMS shoes can be considered environmentally friendly. It's a small step in the right direction which is more than what can be said about other products.