A Guide To 5 Sustainable Footwear Brands
- Sabrina Cowper
- Aug 29, 2022
- 3 min read
Searching for sustainable footwear can be more difficult in comparison to the clothing market. Brands have previously released footwear labelled as 'vegan' or 'made from recycled materials'. However, this does not determine whether they were manufactured in a eco-friendly and sustainable way. This post shares just some of the brands who are exploring environmentally friendly footwear, alongside the use of sustainably sourced materials.
Although they do offer some leather trainers, VEJA are known for their use of organic materials and work on social projects. As well as this, VEJA offer a range of vegan shoes made from organic cotton and recycling rubber and polyester used for lining.
Image: VEJA URCA CWL White Natural
Debuted in 2005, VEJA are known for their streetwear styles, but most recently have also introduced a range of running shoes. Factories of VEJA's are situated in Brazil, where they use Brazilian and Peruvian organic cotton for the shoe canvas and Amazonian rubber for the soles.
Using recycled materials, "VEJA is the first sneaker brand to use fabric entirely made from recycled plastic bottles: B-mesh." B-mesh is made from recycled polyester. The plastic bottles used are collected, sorted and broken down into flakes. These are then turned into new fibres and later used to create one pair of trainers, where 3 bottles is averagely used for one pair.
Made from sugarcane-based materials that offer a comfortable and smooth feel this summer. The content of this slider includes SweetFoam®, which Allbirds describe as "our proprietary material made from sugarcane and the world’s first carbon negative green EVA." Details of this shoe also include the 100% recycled polyester strap.
Image: Allbirds Sugar Slides
For transparency, Allbirds discuss the sustainability methods involved in their products. These include country of origin, carbon footprint levels and details of materials used. The Sugar Slides come in a choice of 5 colours and sizes ranging from UK 2 to 13. Plus, they're unisex!
Known as "the original ethical brand since '88", Komodo offer sustainable and vegan footwear, including trainers, beachwear and house shoes alongside Genesis.
Image: Genesis
The image above are the G-MARATHON Eco Trainer by GENESIS in Green & White. The perfect trainer for everyday wear, this Eco Trainer is made from eco-friendly vegan leather with a mesh content of recycled PET plastic bottles.
On their website, Komodo note all details of their shoe content. These include details of the sole, laces, seams and lining of the shoe, which are all eco-friendly sourced materials. Some materials used include Abacá banana canvas, recycled EVA and cork used for the soles of the trainers. So, you not only get a trendy street-style pair of trainers, but you can be proud to support sustainable production in footwear.
Cork is another material used within their footwear, which is both durable and environmentally friendly for the planet. Other materials that NAE have explored include Pinatex, which is leather made from pineapple, vegan velvet and recycled PET.
Image: NAE VEGAN SHOES
The image above shows the NAE's Jackie Blue Organic Cotton Heeled Sandals. Made from OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 Organic Cotton, this heel is both comfortable, hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, keeping the lining of the shoe odour free.
Thesus are an outdoor footwear and accessories brand who focus on social and environmental impacts. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Thesus have addressed the importance of issues including climate change and ocean pollution.
Image: Thesus Allegra Weekend Boot
Above is an image of the Allegra Weekend Boot by Thesus, available in 11 different styles. Perfect for walking, hiking and completing everyday errands, this boot will keep your feet comfortable all day long. Thesus have also shared the amount of waste removed from each pair, highlighting all details of the shoe and its material content. An example of this is presented in the image below.
Image: Thesus Waste Details
Sourced materials include recycled plastic collected from oceans and recycled PU taken from car dashboards. The total amount of waste saved from entering our oceans from each pair of the Allegra Weekend Boot is 1,527g.
Hopefully this post has give you some ideas on where you can find your next sustainable shoe. Research is the best practice to carry when looking for honest and transparent brands, which is totally worth it when you find that perfect shoe for you!
Sabrina Cowper
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