24 Jun

9 Ethical and Sustainable Sandals for Summer

Sandals are a summer wardrobe must-have. But finding a pair of sandals that is cute and comfy, and also has a better impact on people, the planet, and animals, is not as easy a sit seems. Lucky for you, we went on the hunt for some of the best sustainable and ethical sandals to see you through the summer. 

Summer sandals: the indispensable warm weather staple

As the weather gets warmer, a great summer sandal is a must-have shoe that will see you through all your warm-weather adventures—from those long walks on the beach, to picnics in the park, and backyard pool parties.

To ensure you are comfortable and well-equipped for the season, we rounded up some of our favourite comfortable, trendy, and ethical sandals to keep your feet happy this summer. We’ve included different options, like practical alternatives to Birkenstocks from NAE (Portugal), classic thongs or “flip-flops” from Etiko (Australia), Will Vegan Store‘s (UK) chic heeled sandals, as well as some second hand pieces.

The Nude Label

Rated: Good
sustainable wood sandals by the nude label

The Wood Sandal – Ships internationally from Spain

The Nude Label curates comfy vegan underwear, swimwear, and sandals that feel as good as they look. Made from bio-vegan leather and responsibly sourced wood to create the lowest possible footprint, these lightweight wood sandals are great for a comfy and casual look. Find them in EU sizes 36-42.

See the rating.

Shop The Nude Label.

NAE

Rated: Good
unisex black pinatex sandals by ethical footwear brand NAE

Darco Piñatex Sandal – Ships internationally from Portugal

NAE is a Portuguese footwear brand using innovative materials to create shoes with “No Animal Exploitation”. Their sustainable shoe materials include recycled PET from bottles, OEKO-TEX® certified microfibres, recycled car tyres, natural cork, recycled thermoplastic, and even pineapple leaf fibre. These unisex ethical Birkenstock lookalikes are hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. They are available in UK sizes 4.5-12.

See the rating.

Shop NAE.

Shop NAE @ Staiy.

Shop NAE @ Urbankissed.

NOAH

Rated: Good
woman holding black and white sandals by noah

Maxi Sandals – Ships internationally from Germany

NOAH creates cruelty-free and 100% vegan shoes and accessories. This German’s brand high-quality and long-lasting shoes are hand-crafted in Italy, using a small proportion of eco-friendly material, like in these wooden-soled slippers. Find them in EU sizes 35-42.

See the rating.

Shop NOAH.

Shop NOAH @ Immaculate Vegan.

Etiko

Rated: Great
black ethical flip flops by etiko

Natural Rubber Thongs – Ships internationally from Australia

Offers

man wearing ethically made black Etiko tshirt with red logo

Etiko – Clearance Stock

Save on Etiko by shopping old stock sneakers and clothing, and stock with slight aesthetic faults. 50% off clearance stock. (Ends: 30 JUN)

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person wearing blue and white ethical sneakers by Etiko

Etiko – Site-wide

Vegan clothing and shoes that are both comfortable and sustainable. Good for the Earth and your body. 25% off sitewide. (Ends: 30 JUN)

Shop now

Etiko is a designer of organic, eco-friendly, and fair trade clothing and shoes. Its range of natural rubber thongs AKA flip flops donates 10% of profits to specific charities—this classic black pair directly supports Sea Shepherd and their ocean conservation activism.  Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Good Guys

Rated: Good
A pair of black chunky strappy sansdals by Good Guys.

Strappy Leather Sandals – Ships internationally from France

Good Guys creates cruelty-free shoes for women and men, founded and designed by Marion Hanania in Paris. These vegan chunky sandals are unisex, and made from sustainable soft and supple material. They are adjustable on the back with a buckle strap, and come in EU sizes 36-46.

See the rating.

Shop Good Guys.

Shop Good Guys @ Immaculate Vegan.

Shop Good Guys @ thegreenlabels.

Nomadic State of Mind

Rated: Good
vegan rope sandals by nomadic state of mind

Romano Camel – Ships internationally from the US

Nomadic State of Mind hand-crafts vegan sandals made of rope, up-cycled sailcloth, hemp, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand also provides jobs for workers from disadvantaged communities in Nicaragua. The Romano Camel sandals are one of the best selling styles, and we can see why! They are secure fitting and available in EU sizes 34-45 for everyone.

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Shop Nomadic State of Mind.

ABLE

Rated: Good
A pair of beige sporty sandals by ABLE.

Macy Sandal – Ships internationally from the US

If you’re going for a more sporty look, then we recommend the Macy Sandal. It has an ultra cushy outsole and velcro straps which allow them to adjust perfectly to your foot. ABLE is a US-based clothing and accessories brands, that works with communities all over the world to stop the cycle of poverty by producing slow fashion and paying a living wage to women who have faced extraordinary circumstances. Find the shoes in US sizes 5 to 11.

See the rating.

Shop ABLE.

Will’s Vegan Store

Rated: Good
A pair of brown vegan leather sandals with a low heel by Will's Vegan Store.

Vegan City Sandals – Ships internationally from

Created with Italian vegan leather in a carbon neutral process not too high, these sandals have a small heel, not too high, not too low, which makes them perfect for both day and night looks. Will’s Vegan Store produces animal and human friendly women’s and men’s footwear, clothing, and accessories at affordable prices. Find the women’s shoes in US sizes 5-10, and men’s in 7.5-14.

See the rating.

Shop Will’s Vegan Store.

Shop Will’s Vegan Store @ Immaculate Vegan.

Gucci (Pre-Owned)

Rated: It's A Start

Pre-Owned Gucci Sandals – Ships internationally

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.

See the rating.

Shop Gucci Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Editor's note

This article was updated in June 2022. Feature image via ABLE, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.

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