Sustainable Sneakers: Your Sole Responsibility
Every year, more than 300 million pairs of sneakers are thrown away, and over 23 billion pairs are produced. In other words, Planet Earth is being walked all over. And while She may take it in stride, there are still huge steps to be made in reducing our carbon footprint. Did you know that one pair of sneaks will spend 30-40 years decomposing in a landfill? In response, there are now several eco-friendly shoe companies who have hit the ground running with inventive, more sustainable methods of production. Kick back and check out our recommendations for a high-quality sustainable shoe.
Allbirds:
Whatever Wool Be Will Be
Primarily using breathable wool from happy Merino sheep, Allbirds has managed to reduce its energy use by 60% compared to a typical footwear manufacturer. Their shipping boxes use 90% recycled material as well. Allbirds claims that they have made “the world’s most comfortable shoes”, and we have to admit- these are pretty comfy and cozy kicks. Allbirds has a great selection of slip-on casual shoes, but if you literally can knot, their lace-ups are stylish too (not to mention, their laces are made from recycled plastic bottles).
Veja
Out of the shoes we tested, Veja’s look and feel the most like what we’ve come to know, which is quite a feat. With styles designed for Men and Women, and founded in France, Veja (which means “look” in Portuguese) sustainably sources Fair Trade cotton, recycled plastic bottles, and wild rubber from the Amazonian Forest to create their stylish and comfortable kicks. Approaching its 20th year in business, this B Corp has prioritized social and environmental responsibility since the day it began. Veja has spent the last 5 years working on their vegan sneaker line by finding ways to optimize recycled plastic bottles, corn/rice waste, and wild rubber. This is not a shoe you want to skip out on.
Adidas
All Day I Dream About Sustainability. Adidas has teamed up with Parley to fight against plastic pollution in the oceans by using the trash collected from the coasts as raw material for an entire sports line. In 2019, about 11 million pairs of the Adidas x Parley shoes were made using upcycled marine plastic waste. The Stella McCartney style we tried was incredibly comfortable, and definitely our pick of the litter.
Rothy’s
Rothy’s specializes in women’s flats, so you will certainly find a pair you can pull off. Not only is their signature thread made from repurposed plastic bottles (over 42 million and counting), Rothy’s is continuing to look for ways to strive for zero waste throughout their entire manufacturing process. Dress them up or down, Rothy’s are also great for travel and are machine washable
Oliver Cabell
Now one for the guys. Much like Rothy’s, the Oliver Cabell Phoenix sneaks are made with a yarn sourced from shredded plastic water bottles. But here’s the kicker: the yarn is then spun through a 3D printing machine to form the upper part of the shoe. We are printing shoes now, people. The Phoenix sneakers are lightweight and cool, and like the Phoenix itself, Oliver Cabell is rising to the eco occasion.
Everlane
Everlane’s wish is that their products are everlasting, even when it comes to an everyday sneaker. When crafting the Tread sustainable shoe line, Everlane’s goal was to make the “world’s lowest impact sneakers” in the most carbon-neutral way possible. These sneaks are made from renewed plastic and other recycled materials proving that low impact can also have a high impact when it comes to sustainability.
Cariuma
This up and coming Brazil-based company is going toe to toe with some of the more sizeable competitors. Cariuma's “old-school sneakers, new-school ethics” standard gives a clean look to a familiar style, using fair-trade cotton, natural rubber, and recyclable packaging. These unisex, sustainable sneakers are comfy, cool, and definitely deserve a spot in the everyday rotation.