From slick everyday styles to functional pairs that’ll keep you active, discover some of the most sustainable sneakers worth investing in for your feet and the environment.
Whether you need to run errands, meet your fitness goals, stand at a concert for hours, or offer your feet some respite from the agony of high heels, sneakers are easily the most practical piece of footwear you’ll find yourself repeatedly reaching for.
However, sneakers don’t have the most environmentally friendly reputation once we’re done putting them to good use. Not only are they hard to recycle, but discarded sneakers are piling up in landfills taking up to 1,000 years to decompose, showing just how little thought is going into their post-consumer lifecycle.
But as material innovations and sustainable alternatives become increasingly available, we see no reason why eco-friendly sneakers shouldn’t be on your radar for your next pair of investments. Now, if you’re thinking that “sustainable” translates to “thoroughly unfashionable”, think again. We found brands that are proving sustainable sneakers can be just as stylish as their conventional counterparts.
Which begs the question…
What are sustainable sneakers?
A great way to tell if a pair of sneakers is more sustainable is to check if they are crafted well using plant-based or recycled materials that have a low impact on the environment. While no sneaker will check all the boxes when it comes to sustainability, additional aspects like integrating circularity so shoes can be resold or recycled for a second lease on life are a win in our book.
Many of the brands we’ve listed in this guide also ensure workers are earning fair wages while sharing a fully traceable supply chain.
And a key part of sustainability is longevity. While brands hold a lot of the responsibility when it comes to manufacturing long-lasting sneakers, wearers can also do their part to extend the lifespan of their sneakers by employing proper care.
What can you do to extend the life of your sneakers?
While most brands provide tips on aftercare, dedicated cleaning kits, and even repair stations in-store, you can always simply use a damp cloth or toothbrush to gently get any stains or scuff marks off your pairs at home. Simple swaps like replacing the laces and insoles also help make your shoes appear like new again.
With that in mind, explore 15 sustainable sneaker brands that walk the talk when it comes to having a low impact.
Where to Find More Sustainable Sneakers:
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through some of these links at no additional cost to you. As always, brands included are vetted against our rigorous sustainability criteria and are brands we love that we think you’ll love too.
1. Thousand Fell
Materials | rPET, Bio Leather, Palm Leaf Fibers, Sugarcane, Coconut Husk, Castor Bean, Quartz, Natural & Recycled Rubber, Aloe Vera
Conscious qualities | Plant-Based & Recycled Materials, Recyclable, Take-Back Program
Best for | Casual Wear
Designed in an array of understated and minimal lace-up, slip-on, and court styles, Thousand Fell’s sneakers were made to last and built to recycle. On a mission to ensure they take responsibility for every product created, the brand only sources materials that can either safely compost in less than a year, be recycled to make new shoes, or upcycled into materials for new projects.
2. Veja
Materials | Organic Cotton, Rubber, Leather, Recycled Polyester, Recycled Cotton
Conscious qualities | B Corp, Fair Trade, Repair Program
Best for | Casual Wear, Running
French brand Veja has an effortlessly chic selection of seasoned sustainable sneaker offerings available in versatile neutrals, highly saturated hues, and harmonious color blocking.
Veja’s kicks are made using organic cotton, traceable leather, and rubber that supports producer families in Brazil and Peru through long-term direct trade relationships and fair prices. And the brand has incorporated repairs by setting up cobbler stations across several store locations.
3. Cariuma
Materials | Organic Cotton, Rubber, Bamboo, Sugarcane, Cork, Mamona oil, Recycled nylon, rPET, Leather, Suede
Conscious qualities | Plant-Based & Recycled Materials, Traceability, Reforestation Program
Best for | Casual Wear, Skateboarding
Cariuma offers a treat for the minimalists who prefer monochromatic tones with hints of details that pop. With timeless styles that possess an enduring quality, Cariuma’s kicks are just as easy on the eyes as they are on the environment. Their design philosophy involves iterating a sneaker style for a year before it’s brought to production while reducing the number of steps to manufacture with fewer components for resource efficiency.
4. Rothy’s
Materials | RWS Certified Merino Wool, Hemp, rPET
Conscious qualities | Natural & Recycled Materials, Low Waste Production, Washable
Best for | Casual Wear
Creating a slick range of machine washable shoes, Rothy’s wants you to stop worrying about getting your pristine white sneakers dirty. Designed with durability in mind, the brand offers a range of styles to remind you that you can wear them without a care in mind.
Using an assortment of hemp, wool, and recycled plastic, you can also take a peek at just how many plastic bottles were used to create each pair.
5. ECOALF
Materials | Recycled Polyester, Recycled Tires, Piñatex, Sorona, Recycled Algae
Conscious qualities | Recycled & Plant-Based Materials, B Corp Certified, Circular Practices
Best for | Casual Wear
Creating sneakers in the most covetable color combinations, ECOALF is a Spanish brand that is passionate about circularity. Most of their footwear is made using recycled fibers that come from sources like recycled PET bottles, waste rubber from car tires, and reclaimed ocean plastic.
All sneakers feature the brand’s circular symbol while some styles even feature their signature phrase “Because there’s no planet B”.
6. 8000Kicks
Materials | Hemp Blends
Conscious qualities | Plant-based Materials, Carbon Capturing Hemp Farms, Reforestation Program
Best for | Casual Wear, Running
Deriving its namesake from the first use of hemp fiber back in 8000 BC, 8000Kicks is a Portuguese brand creating sustainable tennis shoes and runners using hemp. The fiber makes up 55% of their shoe compositions — the rest is blended with recycled polyester and spandex for elasticity.
Crafted for resilience, most of their styles are impressively waterproof featuring soles that come from recycled old shoes. Their running shoes also boast a high-performance midsole that includes a carbon speed board for an added kick in your stride.
7. Nothing New
Materials | Recycled Plastic, Upcycled Leather, Chrome-Free Suede
Conscious qualities | Recycled Materials, Repair Kits, Circular Efforts
Best for | Casual Wear
Nothing New was born out of the belief that by offering better-looking products than legacy sneakers in the market, more people would consider the sustainable option. And you might just be swayed after looking at their offerings.
Crafted in slick neutral hues, along with some metallic and pastel options, their material mix mainly consists of post-consumer recycled materials — plus they offer a take-back program so they can disassemble used pairs for material reuse.
8. Allbirds ReRun
Materials | Merino Wool, rPET, Castor Bean Oil
Conscious qualities | Secondhand, Natural & Recycled Materials, Washable
Best for | Casual Wear, Running, Hiking
Price Range | $$
Known for offering unparalleled comfort, you can snag a snug pair of Allbirds kicks at nearly half its original price through their resale platform ReRun.
Spanning a range of casual, outdoor, and performance shoes, you’ll be sure to find a great pair that’s anywhere between near mint and wearable condition. Did we mention they are machine washable too?
9. Flamingos Life
Materials | Corn, Bamboo, Hemp, Organic Cotton, Natural & Synthetic Rubber, Recycled Polyester
Conscious qualities | Vegan, Many Plant-Based Materials, Gives Back
Best for | Casual Wear
Holding veganism as one of its core values, Flamingos Life is a Spanish footwear brand using many plant-derived materials. Their sneakers are released through collections that highlight a community-based program while offering maximum style, proving sustainable can be fashionable.
Upon perusing through their pairs, you’ll come upon details like a life cycle assessment of the impact each shoe has made along with a gentle reminder of their “responsible purchase” policy that allows customers to buy a maximum of two products per order.
10. MoEa
Materials | Vegan Plant “Leathers”, Organic Cotton, Recycled & Natural Rubber, Bamboo
Conscious qualities | Innovative Bio Materials, Recycled Materials
Best for | Casual Wear, Hiking
Shortened from “Mother Earth”, MoEa is a French brand creating hard-wearing shoes from some of the most intriguing plant-based biomaterials. Ranging from cactus to grapes, mushrooms, and corn to name a few, their sneakers look just as flavorful as their base materials.
These cool biomaterials are made using waste fruits or vegetables that are blended with a stabilizer like cotton, recycled, or bio polyurethane for added durability.
11. GIESSWEIN
Materials | Merino Wool, Mushroom Leather, Eucalyptus Fibers and rPET
Conscious qualities | Natural & Recycled Materials
Best for | Casual Wear, Hiking, Running, Trekking
A third-generation family business, GIESSWEIN is an Austrian brand that started as a knitwear manufacturer and eventually created running shoes through decades of honing their skills as wool specialists.
What makes their shoes unique is their collection of high-performance wool footwear that prevents sweat and odor, offers temperature regulation, is lightweight, and comfortable enough to wear without socks.
12. Ethletic
Materials | Organic Cotton, Natural Rubber
Conscious qualities | Plant-Based Materials, Ethical & Traceable Supply Chain
Best for | Casual Wear
From creating fairly manufactured soccer balls to responsibly made sneakers, Ethletic is a brand that puts ethical sustainability front and center. The brand asserts that its entire supply and production chain complies with the criteria of fair trade, ensuring that workers are paid and treated fairly.
Ethletic also has a transparent supply chain, that allow you to “trace your sneaker.”
13. Thaely
Materials | Recycled Plastic Bags, rPET, Recycled Rubber
Conscious qualities | Recycled Materials, Pays Fair Wages
Best for | Casual Wear
Deriving its name from the Hindi word for a plastic bag, Thaely was born out of the mission to address the issue of plastic waste in India while promoting ethical practices and supporting marginalized communities.
Crafted from recycled materials like plastic bags, bottles, and rubber, Thaely’s range of sustainable footwear comes in classic neutral hues making them perfect for everyday wear.
14. SAYE
Materials | Corn Vegan Leather, Organic Cotton, Apple Leather, Cactus Leather, Recycled Rubber & PU, rPET, Seaqual® (Upcycled Marine Plastic)
Conscious qualities | Vegan, Bio-based Materials, Natural & Recycled Materials
Best for | Casual Wear
Offering a range of stylish vegan sneakers infused with pops of color, SAYE is a Spanish brand using bio-based, recycled, and organic materials to create their kicks. All of their styles are unisex and some of them feature gorgeous details like these embroidered appliqués.
They have a dedicated “Greens Capsule” range featuring sneakers made mainly using their bio-based materials that come from reused fruits and vegetables.
15. Komrads
Materials | Apple Leather, Seaqual® (Upcycled Marine Plastic), Recycled Cotton, rPET, Recycled Rubber
Conscious qualities | Bio-Based & Recycled Materials, Recycling Program, Inclusive Hiring
Best for | Casual Wear
Based in Belgium, Komrads is a low-impact brand creating minimalist kicks in subtle neutrals and pastels. Their sneakers are crafted from a mix of bio-based and recycled materials and can be sent back to the brand once worn out to be shredded and converted into a pair of slippers.
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About The Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her.
When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
