The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Sneakers

“Love Fashion, Think Organic, Be Responsible” are the maxims of LANIUS. The brand uses eco-friendly materials, like GOTS certified cotton. All LANIUS facilities are SA8000 certified and it is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation. These sneakers are made from chrome-free vegetable tanned leather, so not one for the vegans. Find the shoes in EU sizes 36-42.

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“Womsh” is an acronym for Word of Mouth Shoes, referring to shoes that communicate and convey a message of sustainability and respect for the environment. In 2014, the Italian brand began producing sustainable footwear, combining traditional craftsmanship with ethical production. Their effortless and fresh design fuses Stan Smith and Golden Goose making a statement without ever saying a word. By using non-toxic, raw materials Womsh limits the production of hazardous waste and harmful emissions. While not entirely vegan, the brand does boast an extensive animal-free line. Find the shoes in EU sizes 35-42 for women, and 40-46 for men.

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CARIUMA is a sustainable Brazilian sneaker brand that wants you to feel super comfortable while providing effortless style in organic canvas, leather, and suede styles. These off-white canvas kicks are perfect for walks in the park, city, and pretty much everything in between. Find CARIUMA’s shoes in US sizes 5-13.

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Etiko is a small family owned business that has won several sustainability awards and all products are vegan and Fairtrade certified. The Australian brand produces ethical hi-top and low-cut sneakers in a range of colors to suit any style or outfit. Find the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

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ABLE is a US-based clothing and accessories brands, that works with communities all over the world to make a meaningful impact, producing slow fashion that pays a living wage to women who have faced extraordinary circumstances. It works with partners to intentionally design items that utilize materials, including upcycled leather from deadstock and scraps like the bold but versatile Blake Sneaker. Find most in sizes 5-11

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Good Guys creates cruelty-free shoes for women and men, founded and designed by Marion Hanania in Paris. Through Good Guys, Hanania aims to create the perfect cruelty-free, made in Europe closet, where no animal product is involved, and the production guarantees fair trade working conditions. Find most shoes in EU sizes 36 to 46.

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Shop Good Guys.

Shop Good Guys @ Immaculate Vegan.

Shop Good Guys @ thegreenlabels.

Although many luxury brands have been criticised for their wasteful and harmful practices, British designer Stella McCartney has been committed to operating a modern and responsible business for almost two decades. Since 2012, the brand has been creating sneakers out of recycled polyester and plastic waste. While a lot of the brand’s products are vegan, keep an eye out for wool and cashmere in some cases. Find Stella McCartney shoes in US sizes 5-11 for women, and 6-12 for men.

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Shop Stella McCartney @ LVR Sustainable.

Shop Stella McCartney @ Labell-D.

Shop Stella McCartney Kids Pre-Owned @ Retykle.

Shop Stella McCartney Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Stella McCartney.

Made in Brazil from recycled cotton and wild rubber, these practical sneakers from French Brand Veja are perfect for pairing with your favorite pair of jeans. While the brand has vegan options, be aware that they also use leather from Brazil. Veja shoes are available in EU sizes 35-46 for women, and 35-47 for men.

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Shop Veja.

Shop Veja @ LVR Sustainable.

Shop Veja @ thegreenlabels.

Shop Veja @ Outerknown.

Shop Veja @ Threads 4 Thought.

Shop Veja @ Labell-D.

Shop Veja Kids second hand @ Retykle.

NOAH creates cruelty-free and 100% vegan shoes and accessories. This German brand’s high-quality and long-lasting shoes are hand-crafted in Italy, using a small proportion of eco-friendly material. We love these vegan off-duty white sneakers that features a removable insole. Find them in EU sizes 35-42.

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Shop NOAH.

Shop NOAH @ Immaculate Vegan.

Based in France, COG is a footwear label that creates sustainable, vegan sneakers from 100% recycled materials, including natural corks, used cotton scraps, end-of-life rubber, and plastic bottles fished out of the sea. Find sizes in EU 35-46.

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Saye is a Spanish footwear label that creates ecological sneakers using organic and recycled materials, restoring forests and empowering local communities. Shoes are available in sizes 36 to 46, and you can find the unisex clothing collection sizes XS to XL.

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Shop Saye @ SlowCo.

ID.EIGHT is an Italian brand that was born from the meeting between Dong Seon Lee and Giuliana Borzillo, both come from the world of footwear, where they worked and met. Together they have created a collection of sneakers with a refined design and at the same time sustainable and ethical. The shoes are made in Italy with low environmental impact materials from food industry waste such as apple peels, grape stalks and seeds, pineapple leaves, recycled cotton and polyester.

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Love the look and feel of Nike but hate the brand’s unethical practices? Look no further! Spanish fashion label Ecoalf makes lightweight trainers from recycled PET bottles and renewable Sonora fibres. Ecoalf creates high-quality, long-lasting products by repurposing waste such as fishing nets, old tires, and even coffee grounds, into high-quality materials. While most of their shoes are animal-free, they do use recycled wool and down in some products. They come in EU sizes 35-42.

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Shop Ecoalf @ Farfetch.

Shop Ecoalf @ Labell-D.

Shop Ecoalf.

100% vegan and PETA certified, Ella & Witt is a cutting-edge German brand that offers sneakers, boots, and more. Believe it or not, these red sneaks are made from corn leather and recycled PET bottles as carrier material. Find sizes in sizes 41-47.

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UK brand Komodo puts people and the planet first with its ethically-sourced and eco-friendly range of menswear and womenswear. These classics do that and much more for your everyday aesthetic. The label uses some eco-friendly materials including GOTS-certified cotton and hemp, and ensures that most of its suppliers pay a living wage to their workers. Find most of the range in UK sizes 8-16.

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Shop Komodo @ Staiy.

Shop Komodo @ Immaculate Vegan.

Shop Komodo.

Ah, a classic white sneaker. Po Zu makes sure their shoes are healthy for your feet and the planet by carefully selecting ethically sourced and natural materials. The brand also uses GOTS certified cotton and reduces its carbon footprint by manufacturing its products locally. Despite an extensive vegan collection, the brand does also use leather without specifying its sources. The brand’s shoes come in EU sizes 36-42 for women, and 41-46 for men.

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NAE is a Portuguese footwear brand using innovative materials to create shoes with “No Animal Exploitation.” These fun sneakers and the rest of the brand’s footwear line feature sustainable shoe materials including recycled PET from bottles, recycled car tires, natural cork, recycled thermoplastic, and even pineapple leaf fibre. Bonus, the brand is 100% vegan. Find NAE shoes in US sizes 5-10 for women, and 8-12 for men.

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Shop NAE.

Shop NAE @ Staiy.

Shop NAE @ Urbankissed.

A blast from the past. Flamingos’ Life creates retro-style sneakers for men and women 100% animal-free. The brand uses eco-friendly and PETA vegan approved materials, including upcycled materials. Find the range in sizes 36-46.

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Shop Flamingos’ Life.

A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. Although their sneakers are not vegan and made from cow leather, their tanneries are audited by the Leather Working Group. Elk also uses renewable energy in its supply chain and reuses most of its offcuts to minimize textile waste. Like its tanneries, Elk’s facilities are audited and follows a Code of Conduct that covers all the ILO’S Four Fundamental Freedoms principles. Elk shoes come in women’s EU sizes 36-42.

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O.T.A is a footwear label that creates recycled tire sole sneakers made in Europe. Find sizes in EU 36-46.

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LOCI is a UK-based footwear brand that offers vegan shoes and is committed to creating sustainable luxury. Handmade in Portugal, these sneakers are 100% vegan and designed for maximum comfort. Find pieces in EU sizes 36-47.

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Adidas is one of the largest sportswear makers in the world. The company has set some good environmental and labour standards, including an absolute target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its own operations.

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Shop Adidas Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Nike is an American sportswear and activewear manufacturer. The brand has good policies to audit suppliers in its supply chain, but it is not taking adequate steps to ensure payment of a living wage for its workers. By buying Nike second hand you're helping keep clothes out of landfills and helping protect workers by slowing down the fast fashion cycle and the relentless demands on low-paid workers in the supply chain.

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Shop Nike Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Founded in 1921, Gucci is an Italian luxury fashion house that produces menswear, womenswear, as well as shoes, bags, and other accessories. The brand has good policies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but still uses exotic animal skin. The good news is that you can find many of Gucci's modern luxury pieces second hand.

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Shop Gucci Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Reebok has set some good environmental and labour standards over the years. It is a founding member of the Better Cotton Initiative, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and is partially certified by Bluesign.

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Shop Reebok Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Balenciaga is a luxury fashion house founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián. The Kering-owned brand has been making some efforts to reduce its environmental impact, setting targets to reduce its direct and indirect emissions, and implementing initiatives to reduce water use.

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Shop Balenciaga Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

The iconic British fashion house, owned by Kering and now run by Sarah Burton (who designed Catherine Middleton's dress for her wedding to Prince William), is characterised by theatrical and bright styling. The brand has started to improve its environmental practices by setting a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gases in its own operations and supply chain by 50% per unit of revenue by 2025. It also has a policy to eliminate environmental pollution from the use of chromium and other chemicals in its leather tanning processes, and implements initiatives to reduce water use. Thanks to these policies, Alexander McQueen is on the right path and stands out from the majority of luxury fashion houses.

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Shop Alexander McQueen Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.