Sustainability has become a buzzword in the fashion industry, and for good reason. With the growing concern for the environment, it’s important to consider the impact of our clothing choices, including our footwear. Shoes are often made with non-renewable materials and are designed to be discarded rather than repaired, contributing to the billions of pairs that end up in landfills each year.
In response to this issue, Sustainable Jungle has compiled a list of the best sustainable shoes available. The team at Sustainable Jungle independently researches all recommendations and verifies the claims made by the brands. By choosing sustainable shoes, individuals can dance the night away with a clear conscience, knowing that their fashion choices are not harming the environment.
The Best Sustainable Shoe Brands To Get Your Conscious Kicks
Sustainable fashion is becoming increasingly important, and footwear is no exception. The following are some of the best sustainable shoe brands that offer eco-friendly and ethical options for conscious consumers.
1. Allbirds
Allbirds is a Certified B Corp that uses sustainable materials to make durable, high-quality shoes that are good for your feet and the planet. Their sustainable training shoes and casual sneakers use two primary powerhouse materials: wool and trees. Their merino wool is ZQ-certified to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare and sustainable farming, and the trees used to create their TENCEL™ lyocell comes from an FSC-certified source in South Africa. Those wonderfully soft, cushy insoles are sugarcane-based SweetFoam®, protected by made from FSC-certified natural rubber. Allbirds seeks to continually assess its sustainability and drive change in the industry, and they are doing that through regenerative agriculture, renewable materials, and green energy.
2. Nisolo
Nashville-based Nisolo has taken the sustainable footwear world in its stride with its artisan quality, sustainable leather shoes. 95% of their leather is certified sustainably tanned by the Leather Working Group (LWG) and 100% is sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry. With 100% living wages across their entire Tier 1 supply chain (and expanding to other tiers), Nisolo is transparent about its efforts to support meaningful employment for all workers. Nisolo is Carbon Neutral-certified via offsets, but their 0% Net Carbon commitment has them working to reduce their emissions altogether. Each Nisolo product includes a Sustainability Facts label that lists its carbon footprint.
3. 8000Kicks
Portugal-based 8000Kicks uses hemp as their signature material to create plant-based, eco-friendly walking shoes that help you run lightly, both in your mile and in your carbon footprint. Their signature Explorer V2 vegan sneakers are breathable, lightweight, and waterproof and come in various colors and sizes for both men and women. The outer soles are made from algae harvested from algal blooms, helping clean-up marine ecosystems. 8000Kicks uses renewable energy, carbon offsets, and recycled cardboard and cornstarch mail bags.
4. Thousand Fell
Thousand Fell was founded with the idea that sneakers shouldn’t end up in landfills. This NYC-based brand creates closed-loop vegan eco-friendly shoes that are repairable and recyclable. You pay a $20 recycling deposit, and when they finally wear out, you can send them back to Thousand Fell for recycling.
5. Baabuk
Swiss brand Baabuk is known for its sustainable wool shoes that are handcrafted in Nepal and Portugal. The wool is sourced from sheep that are raised in a way that is kind to the environment and the animals. Baabuk’s shoes are comfortable, durable, and come in a variety of styles and colors.
6. ABLE
ABLE is a Nashville-based brand that makes sustainable leather shoes and accessories. They use eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods to create high-quality, timeless pieces that are designed to last. ABLE is committed to transparency and publishes its wages online, so customers can see exactly how much each worker is paid.
7. The Root Collective
The Root Collective is a Guatemala-based brand that makes sustainable shoes and accessories. They work with artisans in Guatemala to create high-quality, handmade shoes that are both stylish and ethical. The Root Collective is committed to fair wages and sustainable production methods, and they donate a portion of their profits to social impact initiatives in Guatemala.
8. Bhava
Bhava is a New York-based brand that makes sustainable shoes using eco-friendly materials like cork, recycled rubber, and organic cotton. Their shoes are comfortable, stylish, and designed to last. Bhava is committed to ethical production methods and fair wages for workers.
9. VEJA
VEJA is a French brand that makes sustainable sneakers using eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and wild rubber from the Amazon rainforest. Their sneakers are comfortable, stylish, and designed to last. VEJA is committed to transparency and ethical production methods, and they work with small producers and cooperatives in Brazil to create their shoes.
10. Cariuma
Cariuma is a Brazilian brand that makes sustainable sneakers using eco-friendly materials like bamboo, cork, and recycled plastics. Their sneakers are comfortable, stylish, and designed to last. Cariuma is committed to transparency and ethical production methods, and they work with small producers and cooperatives in Brazil to create their shoes.
11. Rothy’s
Rothy’s is a US-based brand that makes sustainable shoes using recycled plastic bottles. Their shoes are comfortable, stylish, and designed to last. Rothy’s
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What Are Sustainable Shoes?
Sustainable shoes are those that are made using eco-friendly and socially responsible practices. This includes the use of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, wool, hemp, and recycled plastic, among others. The materials used in sustainable shoes are carefully chosen to minimize their environmental impact, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life options such as repair and recycling programs. Additionally, sustainable shoe brands prioritize social sustainability by ensuring fair trade and ethical manufacturing practices, including living wages and safe working conditions. Some sustainable shoe brands even go a step further by supporting communities and non-profit organizations. Overall, sustainable shoes are an important step towards reducing the fashion industry’s carbon emissions and promoting a more environmentally and socially responsible industry.
How We Found The Best Eco-Friendly Shoe Brands
There are a lot of factors that go into creating a sustainable shoe, from the materials used to the supply chain and labor practices of the brand. To find the best eco-friendly shoe brands, the team used a set of sustainable fashion criteria to evaluate various brands that offer sustainable sneakers and ethical sandals.
Materials
One of the most important factors in sustainable shoe production is the materials used. The team looked for brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials such as responsibly sourced natural materials like cotton, hemp, wood, natural rubber, and cork, as well as recycled materials like recycled polyester, rubber, and nylon. The team also noted the increased use of new and innovative sustainable materials, including sustainable vegan leather and bio-based materials made from algae and sugarcane. To ensure authenticity, the team looked for third-party certifications such as ZQ Merino, Leather Working Group (LWG), FSC, REACH, OEKO-TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), bluesign®, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
Supply Chain & Labor Practices
A transparent supply chain and fair labor practices are crucial for any ethical shoe brand. The team looked for fair trade brands that transparently share where their products are produced and the mechanisms they have in place to ensure that workers are paid a living wage and have safe and fair working conditions. Third-party certifications such as B Corporation (B Corp), fair trade, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) are ideal, but the team also recommended doing your own research into a brand’s shoes.
Carbon Commitments & Green Practices
Carbon-related sustainability goals are crucial for eco-friendly shoe brands. The best brands are taking actionable, proven steps towards a carbon-neutral and climate-positive footprint. The team also looked for sustainable packaging made from recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable materials.
Community & Charitable Giving
Brands that give back make a positive impact in their communities through company culture, social initiatives, and nonprofit partnerships. The team noted that these types of brands give an extra spring in their step.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable Shoe Brands For Women & Men
Sustainable and ethical shoes are becoming more prevalent in the footwear industry. When considering purchasing new shoes, it is important to only do so when necessary and to take care of them to increase their lifespan. Online thrift stores can also be a great resource for finding sustainable shoes. The team encourages readers to share this information with friends who may be in need of new sustainable kicks.
