Sustainable steps: sneakers that won’t cost the planet

Kaycee Enerva

Kaycee Enerva

Twenty20

Sneakers have always kept their status as a staple wardrobe piece. Unlike our functional running or gym shoes, which can stay on our shelves for a few years, “trend” sneakers are replaced more often as a product of fast fashion.

Consumers are usually conditioned to get a new pair of trainers when they become “out of style”. Investing in a pair of good quality shoes and learning to keep them in tip-top shape is the best for the planet (and your wallet).

Looking to replace your favourite pair? We’ve rounded up ethical and sustainable sneakers that are helping consumers align with their values and setting new standards in the fashion industry.

Sustainable sneakers that won’t cost the earth

Loci

Loci
Loci

Every pair of Loci sneakers is made from premium renewable materials and ocean plastic. The brand says it doesn’t look to imitate leather, rather use sustainable materials for a greener tomorrow.

Cork, a natural, lightweight, and durable material, is used for the trainers’ insoles, and recycled ocean plastic for the outer layer. They are lined with bamboo and recycled nylon, while the eyelets are made from recycled brass and the insoles from natural rubber.

The company partners with environmental organisations such as See Turtles, Mission Blue, British Divers, and Sea Shepherd. In addition, for every pair of sneakers purchased, the company saves 20 plastic bottles from the ocean and landfills.

Cairuma Oca Therma High-Tops

Cariuma Oca Therma High-Tops
Cariuma Oca Therma High-Tops

The Cariuma Oca high-top sneakers are made with 100 per cent vegan suede and shearing lining made from GRS-certified recycled material. The company also uses slip-resistant natural rubber, with laces made from recycled plastics and organic cotton.

Designed for winter, the shoes are water-repellent, thermal-proof, and crafted for comfort that allows wearers to sport them without socks.

For every pair purchased, the company plants a pair of trees in the Brazilian rainforest for the restoration and preservation of natural habitats.

Saye

Saye
Saye

Saye, a Barcelona-based shoe company established in 2018, has designed a line of vegan sneakers using a blend of bio-based and recycled materials.

The company ensures that it only partners with suppliers that treat its employees with respect and provide them with a fair wage.

The label’s recent sneaker collection is made from mango waste and organic cactus leaves.

The company plants two trees in India, Australia, Zambia, or the Amazon rainforest for every pair of sneakers sold.

New Balance x Jaden Smith Vision Racer

New Balance x Jaden Smith Vision Racer
New Balance x Jaden Smith Vision Racer

Sportswear brand New Balance has partnered with artist and singer Jaden Smith and launched a sneaker made with surplus and recycled materials. The Racer sneaker uses Spinnex fibre made with 30 per cent textile waste factory offcuts, combined with 16 per cent recycled polyester and 10 per cent spandex.

“In our commitment to contributing to a healthier planet, we’ve continued to think bigger in terms of unconventional innovation, and the Vision Racer ReWorked is a great example of that,” said Alex Carlson, designer, New Balance.

Allbirds

Allbirds Tree Dashers trainers
Allbirds Tree Dashers trainers

New Zealand-based activewear company, Allbirds, has one of the widest range of sustainable footwear available in the market. Each sneaker also comes with a tag telling you its carbon footprint, which the company offsets.

For the sneakers’ material, Allbirds uses ethically farmed Merino wool and eucalyptus pulp for the uppers, recycled plastic bottles for the shoelaces, castor bean oil for the in-sole filling, and packaged in 90 per cent recycled cardboard.

In addition, the B-corp certified company use 100 per cent renewable energy for all its “owned and operated” facilities.

Veja sneakers

Veja sneakers
Veja sneakers

The French brand Veja makes most of its designs using a list of preferred materials that includes recycled PET, organic cotton, chrome-free leather, and bio-based plastic. It is actively looking to reduce the amount of leather it uses in its range.

At the same time, its shoeboxes are made from 60-per-cent recycled cardboard and 40 per cent FSC-certified virgin materials.

The company also describes its products’ lifecycle in depth on its website, from acquiring raw ingredients to shipping.

Veja is the first sneaker brand to use a fabric called B-mesh, composed entirely of recycled plastic bottles.

Yatay sneakers

Yatay sneakers
Yatay sneakers

Vegan shoe label Yatay uses bio-plastics made from corn, natural rubber, and recycled plastic to create its sustainable sneakers.

According to the Italian-based company, it was established in a bid to offer high-quality sneakers that are also kind to the environment.

Each pair of Yatay trainers comes with a unique code on its soles which allows the owner to plant a tree that can offset the carbon footprint of their shoes.

Pangaia Grape Sneakers

Pangaia Grape Sneakers
Pangaia Grape Sneakers

Pangaia is derived from the words “pan,” which means “all inclusive” and “Gaia,” the Grecian earth goddess. The sustainable clothing brand ventured into footwear with the launch of its Grape sneakers in 2020.

Made from discarded grape skins, pulp, seeds, and stalks, the materials are processed into a leather-like fabric to produce a breathable pair of sneakers. 

In addition, the lightweight shoes feature a 100 per cent recycled rubber sole made from industrial waste and laces made from 100 per cent recycled plastic. 

“Pangaia is driven by problem-solving materials science, so we have this innate passion for innovation within this space,” the brand told Observer. “The sneaker felt like the perfect way to showcase this new material through a simple everyday product and showcase the qualities of the material.”

Adidas Ultraboost Made to be Remade

Adidas Ultraboost trainers
Adidas Ultraboost trainers

The cream-coloured Adidas “Ultraboost Made to be Remade” is a fully recyclable sneaker with a QR code on its tongue that can be scanned using a phone when the shoes are ready to be “disposed of”. The pre-loved shoe will then be sent to an Adidas store, where it will be broken down and upcycled to create a brand new pair.

Adidas stated in a release that it is on a mission to be plastic-free by 2024. It has created other eco-friendly sneakers such as the 100 per cent recyclable Futurecraft Loop and the Stan Smiths that now use uppers made with Primegreen – a patented material made from recycled plastic. 

Clarks Origin white suede trainers

Clarks white suede trainers
Clarks white suede trainers

Clarks‘ most sustainable sneaker to date, these trainers are crafted without glue and just five pieces of material – which means less waste and a lesser impact on the environment.

The materials used for the Clark Origin include laces made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, unlined sustainably sourced suede leather for upper, Ortholite recycled footbed, and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) made from 51 per cent recycled plastic.

Kaycee Enerva

Kaycee Enerva

A digital content manager based in the Philippines, Kaycee Enerva has written for multiple publications over several years. A graduate of Computer Science, she exchanged a career in IT to pursue her passion for writing. She's slowly practicing sustainability through period cups, and eating more plant-based food.

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