23 OF THE BEST SUSTAINABLE SNEAKER BRANDS TO KNOW IN 2021
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While sustainable clothing is making strides to improve the environmental impact of the fashion industry, a lot of progress still needs to be made with the shoe industry.
Did you know that less than 5% of shoes are being recycled?
This is why selecting shoes made from sustainable materials as well as recycling your sneakers at the end of their life is so important.
To learn about end of life shoe recycling programs, you can skip to the end of this post here.
Below are 23 amazing sustainable sneaker brands to look into the next time you’re in the market for new sneakers, organized by sneaker type.
Wondering how this list was compiled?
Check out this guide which explains the criteria to consider when shopping for sustainable fashion.
For reference, pricing is in USD.
Price Range:
$ = typically under $100
$$ = typically under $150
$$$ = typically under $200
$$$$ = typically $200+
Best Brands for Casual Sustainable Sneakers
Alice & Whittles
Alice and Whittles offers functional and minimalistic footwear.
They carry sneakers, hiking boots, rain boots, boot laces, insoles.
Based in Ontario, ship worldwide
They use natural fair trade rubber, re-claimed ocean plastics, recycled PET, vegan water based glue, 100% recycled post-industrial leather
Price Range: $$
All of its supply chain is traced
Favorite Item: Minimalist Black Luxa Sneaker
AKS
AKS offers handmade embroidered sneakers which are biodegradable
They carry high top and low top sneakers
Based in California
They use organic cotton and natural rubber
Certifications: Fair Trade, FSC, PETA
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Taupe Feather High Top
Arcas Bear
They carry sneakers and accessories
They use pre-consumer recycled cotton, recycled water bottles, cork, recycled rubber
Certifications: PETA, GOTS, Certified B Corporation, One Tree Planted
Give Back Programs: 2 trees planted with every sneaker purchase, Return to Recycle Program which offers a discount on next purchase when sneakers are returned to them at the end of their life
Price: $$$
Favorite Item: Earth Energy Sneakers
Cariuma
They carry men’s and women’s sneakers
Based in Brazil
They use rubber, bamboo, organic cotton, sugarcane, cork, mamona oil, recycled PET, leather and suede, Bluesign Certified dyes
Certifications: GOTS, Global Recycled Standard, FSC, OCIA International, OEKO-TEX, Leather Working Group, I’m Green, Bluesign
They use recycled and recyclable packaging, offer carbon neutral shipping through DHL Go Green
Give Back Programs: 2 trees planted with every sneaker purchase
Price: $
Favorite Item: IBI Sun Yellow Knit
Ethletic
They carry high top and low top sneakers
Based in Germany
They use organic cotton, natural rubber
Certifications: Fair Trade, PETA, FSC
They subsidize repairs for their shoes to extend their life
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Fair Sneaker HIRO II Shell
Etiko
They carry men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel, shoes and accessories
Based in Australia
They use organic cotton, natural rubber, non-toxic dyes
Certifications: CarbonSocial, Fair Trade, GOTS, Social Traders Certified, Certified B Corporation
They use shoe boxes made from post-consumer waste
Price: $
Favorite Item: Lowcuts White Organic Fairtrade
Flamingo’s Life
Based in Spain
They use corn waste, bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, linen, upcycled materials
Certifications: PETA, USDA, GOTS
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Roland V.3 Tricolor Ivory
Komodo
They carry men’s and women’s apparel, shoes and accessories
Based in England
They use organic cotton, natural rubber, recycled PET, Tencel, linen, bamboo, rayon, hemp, wool
Certifications: GOTS, FSC, 1% for the Planet
Price: $
Favorite Item: Eco Sneako Classic Women’s Mint
Natural World
They carry men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes
Based in Spain
They use organic cotton, rubber, suede
Certifications: GOTS
Their packaging is made from 100% recycled cardboard that is recyclable
Price: $
Favorite Item: Ica
Po-Zu
They carry men’s and women’s shoes
Based in England
They use cork, eco-microfibre, natural latex, organic cotton, coconut fibre, linen, Pinatex
Certifications: GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Fair Rubber
Price: $
Favorite Item: Sneak V Natural Cork
Rens
They carry men’s and women’s sneakers
They use coffee, recycled plastic, recycled polyester, natural rubber
They use 100% recycled cardboard packaging
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Women’s Coffee Sneakers
Womsh
They carry men’s and women’s sneakers, women’s boots
Based in Italy, ships worldwide
They use chrome-free leather from slaughtering waste, AppleSkin, polyurethane, recycled organic cotton, recycled PET
They use recycled packaging
Price Range: $$$$
Most of its supply chain is traced
Favorite Item: Vegan Kingston White Silver Black
Best Brands for Elevated Casual Sustainable Sneakers
Elk
They carry women’s apparel, shoes, accessories and men’s accessories
Based in Australia
They use leather, MMCFS, cotton, wool
Certifications: Leather Working Group
Their shoe boxes are made from recycled cardboard
Price Range: $$$$
Favorite Item: Luvos Sneaker
Lanius
They carry women’s apparel, shoes and accessories
Based in Germany
They use organic cotton, wool, hemp, organic linen, Tencel, Lenzing-Ecovero, silk, econyl, vegetable-tanned leather
Certifications: GOTS, FSC
They use FSC certified paper packaging
Price: $$$$
Favorite Item: Sneakers Made of Leather
Rothy’s
They carry women’s shoes and accessories
Based in California
They use knit made recycled from recycled materials such as plastic water bottles, marine plastic
Price: $$$
Favorite Item: The Sneaker in Camo Cat
Best Brands for Sustainable Running Sneakers
Allbirds
They offer men’s and women’s shoes, apparel and accessories
Based in California
They use ZQ Merino certified wool, Tencel Lyocell, SweetFoam made from sugarcane, eucalyptus tree fibres, recycled plastic bottles, recycled nylon, TrinoXO
Certifications: FSC, Certified B Corporation
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Women’s Tree Dashers
Ecoalf
They carry men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel, shoes and accessories
Based in Spain
They use recycled polyester, recycled nylon, recycled cotton, recycled wool, recycled tires, post-consumer coffee grounds
Certifications: Bluesign
Give Back Programs: ECOALF Foundation
Price: $$
Favorite: Oregon Sneakers Women
Nae
They carry women’s boots, flats, sandals, sneakers, heels, men’s boots, sneakers, sandals
Based in Portugal, ships worldwide
They use Pinatex, organic cotton, cork, recycled PET, vegan leather (mix of cotton, polyester and nylon)
Certications: PETA
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Jor Re-PET White Vegan Sneaker
Native Shoes
They carry men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes
Based in British Columbia
They use microfibre, recycled elastalite, rubber, algae
Price: $
Favorite Item: Apollo 2.0
Veja
They carry men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes
Based in France
They use recycled plastic bottles, ricinus oil, sugar cane, latex, rubber
Price: $$
Favorite Item: Nautico Pierre Black
Will’s Vegan Store
They carry women’s shoes, accessories, knitwear, men’s shoes, accessories, knitwear, kids’ shoes
Based in UK, ships worldwide
They use vegan leather, rubber, vegan suede
Certications: PETA
They use non-treated paper and cardboard packaging.
Price Range: $$
Favorite Item: WVSport Freedom Trainers
For a deep dive into some of the materials mentioned in this list, check out this post.
What to Look for When Selecting Sustainable Sneakers
Below is a guide with the best materials to look for when shopping for sustainable sneakers.
How to Care for Sustainable Sneakers
To remove dirt or dust, gently wipe with a dry cloth.
For more persistent stains, or a deep cleaning, separate all parts of the shoe, starting with removing the laces and insoles.
Some shoes can be put into the washing machine in a delicates bag and washed on the gentle cycle with cold water.
Always check the care guide of the particular brand of sustainable sneakers you’ve purchased for information about whether or not the shoes can go into the washing machine.
When in doubt, hand washing is your best option.
To clean, using a toothbrush or soft scrubbing brush dipped in warm, soapy water, gently scrub the stained area.
Rinse with a wet towel, and lay out to dry.
For more information on how to sustainably care for your clothes, check out this post.
End of Life Recycling Programs
Below are some awesome recycling programs to donate your gently used shoes to.
- Soles4Souls
- Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program
- TerraCycle’s Shoes and Footwear Zero Waste Box
- One World Running
- Running Free’s Re-Use Shoe Program
Do you have any tips for shopping for sustainable sneakers?
Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
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