Shoes take you everywhere, but they shouldn’t take a toll on the planet. This page highlights sustainable footwear brands using recycled materials, plant-based leathers, organic fabrics, and ethical production. From sneakers to boots to sandals, these eco-friendly picks prove that style and sustainability can walk hand in hand.

But first, consider when you really need a new pair of shoes. In 2018, North Americans averaged 5.6 shoe purchases; in Africa it was 1.7 pairs. I would venture that many of us…including me…have way more shoes than we really need. Just some food for thought.

Common natural materials used in shoes

Leather

When shopping for leather shoes, look for those certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), a non-profit organization that works to ensure responsibly and ethically produced leather. Conventional leather production is resource-heavy and often involves toxic tanning chemicals, such as chromium and formaldehyde. The tanning process affects leather’s biodegradability. Learn more about issues concerning leather production here.

Wool

Shoes made from wool should ideally be Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or ZQ certified to ensure animal welfare, land management, and social requirements. Wool is biodegradable. Learn more about ethical wool here.

Cotton

Cotton is a great natural, biodegradable material. However, conventional cotton agriculture uses vast amounts of water and pesticides. If possible, choose organic cotton, which relies on less water and no pesticides. Be aware that shoes made from canvas are not necessarily cotton; canvas refers to the type of weave, so any fiber, whether cotton or polyester, may be used. Learn more about sustainable cotton here.

Rubber

Real rubber comes from the rubber tree, but most ‘rubber’ today is synthetic, made from plastic. Real rubber is biodegradable.

Plastic in shoes

Plastics were added to shoes, especially sneakers, to make them lighter, faster, more comfortable, and more accessible worldwide. Most shoes contain a variety of plastic types, which makes them extremely difficult, if not impossible, to separate and recycle. Plastic is often used for any or all components of a shoe–the upper fabric, the laces, and the inner and outer soles. Any shiny embellishments, such as glitter or fake crystals, and shiny celluloid finishes on dress shoes are plastic. And plastic, of course, is petroleum-based, not a renewable resource, contains harmful chemicals, sheds microplastics, and is not biodegradable. Learn more about plastic here.

For an interesting article + video on plastic in shoes, head over to National Geographic.

Plastics frequently found in shoes

• Expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane (ETPU)
• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
• Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
• Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
• Polyurethane (PU)
• Polyamide (PA)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Polyester
• Nylon
• Vinyl

Synthetic or vegan leather

I have bad news for you: synthetic or vegan leather, while arguably a more ethical choice, is not necessarily the more sustainable option. Why? Because the vast majority of leather substitutes are made of plastics like polyurethane, PVC, or nylon.

Sustainable shoe brands

In a perfect world, shoes should be constructed entirely of natural materials. Those options are rare, and so the next best option is those created with recycled PET, nylon, etc.

Allbirds

Allbirds is a certified B Corp with a strong focus on sustainability and the use of natural materials in their shoes, including organic cotton, wool, and sugarcane. All shoes are machine washable. The factories where products are made must agree to the company’s Code of Conduct and are subject to third-party social assessment to ensure they are meeting expectations for a safe and ethical workplace.

The ReRun program is available to shop for slightly imperfect and gently used shoes at lower cost.

I would love to try these shoes, as the quality and design seem excellent, but unfortunately, half sizes aren’t offered, and the shoes I tried on didn’t work for me.

Cariuma

Cariuma produces sneakers and boots made from a variety of natural materials, in addition to recycled nylon and PET (certified by the Global Recycled Standard). Any leather used is sourced from Leather Working Group Gold-Rated suppliers. And shoes are colored with non-toxic, bluesign-certified dyes, and carry OEKO-TEX certification, further verifying their non-toxic status. Shipping materials are FSC-certified and are biodegradable.

In addition, production is audited to ensure the manufacturer meets Code of Conduct standards; Cariuma’s manufacturing partner is certified WRAP – GOLD, which means they comply with a strict set of social standards.

Saola

Saola’s dope dyed sneakers may be made with a variety of recycled materials, including PET, PU, PEVA, and cork. Or they main contain ethically sourced ZQ wool, or a plant-based vegan leather, derived from grape leftovers from Italian winemaking, vegetal oils, and natural fibers from agriculture. Laces are made from organic cotton.

Saola is a certifiably non-toxic brand, with shoes tested by OEKO TEX to confirm the absence of up to 350 harmful chemicals, including PFAS. Shoes are also REACH compliant, an EU safety certification that is much more stringent than the FDA. Recycled materials are GRS (Global Recycled Standard).

The company works with factories that have existing ethical and environmental standards, such as the BSCI certification, which audits for ethical labor practices.

Thousand Fell

Thousand Fell is a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member that designs its shoes with a circular economy in mind. Sneakers are made with bioleather (recycled PET and corn waste resin), biofoam (soybean oil), natural rubber, sugarcane, and an aloe vera lining.

Send in your old shoes and/or clothing from any brand for recycling, and receive 20% off your next order.

Vivaia

Vivaia’s diverse catalog includes sneakers, flats, heels, boots, and sandals, which are constructed with materials like recycled PET, sugarcane EVA, rice husks, herbal insoles, and natural rubber.

Keen

Keen only sources leather from LWG-certified suppliers, and utilizes a variety of upcycled waste in shoe production: recycled wool (virgin wool, when used, is RWS certified); plant-based PU, made from industrial agricultural waste like husks, leaves, and stems; and recycled PET.

Shoes have been PFAS-free since 2018, and numerous other harmful chemicals have been eliminated from Keen’s production process. Some shoes are made without glue–which tends to contain toxic ingredients–instead being joined by a strong mechanical bond.

Keens are constructed with durability and long life in mind, and they do just that. I’ve had two pairs of Keen shoes for several years (some hiking boots and sandals) and they are like new–I know I’ll have them for many more years to come.

Teva

All of the straps found on Teva’s iconic sandals are made from 100% recycled PET. All leather is certified by the LWG. 97% of paper packaging materials are FSC-certified and/or recycled.

Check out Sustainable Jungle’s list for additional sustainable and ethical sneaker brands, plus those making shoes from recycled materials.

Where to donate shoes

In addition to thrift stores, numerous organizations collect shoes in good condition for various causes. One option is Soles4Souls, a non-profit that creates various opportunities for local entrepreneurs and thrift stores to resell shoes, as well as people in developing low-income countries to create their own small businesses selling donated shoes and clothing. Find a drop-off location or ship for free with Zappos for Good.

How to recycle shoes

I know that recycling helps us feel better about our choices, but in some cases, like shoes, it is a difficult process. Shoe construction is complex — multiple materials glued together — which makes them nearly impossible to recycle at scale. ‘Recycled’ shoes are often downcycled, such as being ground up into crumb to create play surfaces and tracks. Or at best, a pair of sneakers can be recycled once before they end up in a landfill, so recycling extends the lifespan, but doesn’t solve the underlying problem.

• Terracycle has a Shoes and Footwear zero waste box for recycling shoes. The downside, like all the zero waste boxes, is that they are very pricey; this box starts at $156. Free programs for specific brands are sometimes available.
• Got Sneakers offers free shipping for your old sneakers. If in good condition, they are recirculated to secondhand markets; if heavily used and damaged, footwear is recycled to reuse materials or to convert waste into new energy.
• Native shoes + Zappos have a joint program to recycle any brand or style of shoes.
• A handful of Nike stores are participating in their Recycling + Donation program. They accept gently worn or worn Nike athletic footwear. Not accepted are sandals, dress shoes, boots, or any shoes with metal (like cleats or spikes).
• Thousand Fell’s Trade In by TF program accepts shoes–as well as any type of textiles–for recycling. Create an account and they will send you a pre-paid shipping label to ship your well-worn goods. Once it is received, they give you points towards future purchases.
• Timberland has a recycling program that is currently on hold.

Final thoughts on sustainable shoes

First things first, buy fewer shoes. Do you really need the same shoe in every available color?

Sustainable shoes can be tough to find. Most of the shoes on this list are sneakers or boots; styles such as dress shoes are a little more difficult to come by. Seek shoes made of natural materials, ideally with minimal components, and be sure to donate or recycle them at the end of their life.