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Which sneakers stand up to the great eco-ethical challenge? Whether recycled plastic, reclaimed rubber, organic cotton or hemp, we’ve got the intel on all fresh, new kicks of 2021. Whether you the ultimate of vegan athletes, or the more casual athleisure-wearing power-walker, these shoes will make you feel great during your physical activities and your activewear outfit will be seen as awe-inspiring.
1.Nothing New
After 15 months of prototypes, a 100% post-consumer recycled plastic shoe company was born. One of the first example of a tennis shoe that resembles Chuck Taylors/Converse, we adore these recycled plastic shoes. It’s all in the name these shoes are made from “nothing new.” MY favorite pair is the lavender low-tops, second-favorite is pink.
2. Elliott
This vegan sneaker company came out recently and is now positioned to take charge of the sustainable athletic/casual shoe market. Soon to be available for purchase on its’ vegan footwear website, elliottfootwear.com, Elliott features high-tops that also mirror Converse/Chuck Taylors with a striped circular label on the side.
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3. Po-Zu
Po-zu is back with their vegan cruelty-free low-top and high-top trainers, with their signature Po-Zu butterfly emblem embossed onto the organic cotton, these shoes have pizazz. Check out their new mint blue color below.
If you’re committed to a cruelty-free lifestyle and seeking a cool pair of kicks that are free from animal byproduct and are planet-friendly we’ve got you covered. Whatever your style preferences, tastes and budget, we hope this list helps you discover your perfect pair of eco-friendly vegan sneakers – whether you’re working from home, needing a pair for travel adventures or just need some dope footwear for your street style.
4. ethletic
Made for both men and women, award-winning German brand ethletic has what you’re after. The fair, sustainable, vegan brand uses organic cotton that is Fairtrade and GOTS certified and the sneakers are ethically produced in Pakistan by workers who are paid a living wage. For each pair of sneakers sold, one US dollar is paid as a premium to the Talon Fair Trade Workers Welfare Society. You have got to admit, ethletic is a pioneering ethical footwear brand, because it is becoming the first trainer brand to be certified and marketed with the Fairtrade quality seal.
5. Stella McCartney x Nike: Happy Pineapple Collection
Her latest and greatest shoe collection to date, Stella McCartney is rocking the socks off of us and PlantBasedNews. Her latest fashion collection includes a pinatex collection. Pinatex is a materials made by Ananas Anam from pineapple leaves. This collaboration with Happy Pineapple, a Nike collection, is a part of Stella’s most sustainable collection to date. Known in the past for collaborating with Adidas’ Parley Ultraboost sneakers, and their patented sustainable threads, Bionic Yarn, Stella McCartney has been in the sustainable fashion world for 20 years as of this year. Now that’s my kind of go-to gal!
Moreover, the company behind piñatex, Ananas Anam prevented 825 tons of leaves from being burnt by using the waste of pineapple harvesting and therefore saved 264 CO2 eq tons being released into the environment.
6. Bohempia
With a full range of vegan, cruelty-free, hemp shoes for sale and a few new colors just added this month (available on Presale), Bohempia is positioned to be the new hi-top and chukkha style boot that you’ve been waiting for. Shoes are made with PETA-approved vegan materials and happen to be manufactured in Prague, Czechia.
7. Etiko
Made in Australia this extremely stylish shoe is designed to look just like our favorite American brand of Chuck Taylors, aka Converse. So communicate with this shoe brand by releasing your credit card digits upon its’ website – it is after all the sustainable twin you always knew you wanted.
8. Saola
This new, stylish range of eco-friendly footwear includes casual shoes and sneakers for both men and women. This brand called Saola is a member of 1 for the Planet, and all footwear is made in America. All of its footwear is 100% vegan, made with eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastic bottle uppers, cork insoles, recycled Algae Foam, and organic cotton laces. Donating one percent of its’ profits to Mwalua Wildlife Trust, a Kenyan charity that supplies sustainable water systems to wildlife communities, Saola is a brand name sure to be heard around the world.
9. 8000 Kicks
Have you ever wanted the most epic of sneakers? Do you love the carbon footprint of organic cotton but need something a little say…better? Try these hemp kicks by 8000 Kicks. New on the scene , this awesome company provides a stylish, wearable, all vegan and cruelty-free shoe with a hemp upper, and a sole made from recycled algal blooms. Currently these trainers come in six great color combinations. Go here to get 10% off your own hemp kicks.
10. TOMS
Everyone whose anyone knows of the great and somewhat controversial shoe company, TOMS Founded by Blake Mycoskie. TOMS with its’ one-for-one business model was brand on the map by Mycoskie after won the spotlight in an American reality competition show. TOMS produces an affordable range of shoes for men and women, including avegan trainer made from canvas upper and rubber outsole. TOMS is nothing to sniff at. As a certified B Corporation, this business meets high standards of social and environmental performance and transparency.
11. Thousand Fell
Circular fashion is becoming more mainstream because of brands like Thousand Fell . They produce full circle, recyclable vegan shoes for men and women designed to never go to landfill. Brought to launch last November, Thousand Fell focuses on circular fashion and closing the loop by recycling all materials at the end of life. Soon to be wildly popular, their partnerships stand up for Mother Earth just as much as you’d think. They have recycling partnerships with TerraCycle and United Parcel Service, making this may be one of THE most environmentally-conscious vegan sneaker brands on the planet. Now it’s not just for the wealthy, to incentivise customers to recycle their shoes, the brand offers $20 which is paid upon receipt of the old or worn shoes.
Thousand Fell footwear are crafted in a family owned factory with 30 years of high end shoe-making experience and meets high standards of ethical production. The brand offers a range of lace-up sneakers and slip-on footwear.
Thousand Fell designs and makes their shoes responsibly in New York City, and Brazil, respectively. Containing plant-based and recycled materials such as aloe vera, natural and recycled rubber, recycled plastic (upcycled from plastic bottles) and palm leaf fibres, this brand is sho’nuff going to make bank.
12. Vivobarefoot
Known for their odd-looking feet-shaped shoes, Vivobarefoot specifically produces ergonomic barefoot-style shoes for men and women. These shoes not only follows the form of the foot but they also provide great comfort and performance. The brand has a history of using of unique materials such as algae biomass and recycled plastic enabling it to produce some of the most sustainable, vegan sneakers and footwear on the market. My pick for for this brand is the Geo Court Eco Womens recycled canvas shoe.These stylish pink, esneakers are ethically made, highly functional, and perfect for outdoorsy and athletic types.
Now you know mainstream brands are going to want to join the vegan and sustainable bandwagon. Afterall that product sector is projected to increase by at least 5% by 2025. So it’s no question why Reebok recently produced its first 100 sustainable, cruelty-free running shoe called the ‘Forever Floatride Grow‘, just after debuting the sustainable [REE]cycled line of trainers.
This plant-based running shoe is available in a selection of colors, mens, and womens sizes. As far as its’ composition goes, it is rather superior in a sense. It contains a midsole crafted from sustainably grown castor beans, an upper made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus trees, natural rubber outsole and a sock liner utilising sustainably-harvested BLOOM algae foam.
14. Veja
Well-known and beloved in the trainer industry, the French-designed, Brazil-made footwear and accessories brand Veja launched in 2005 and has been producing its’ responsibly-made its sneakers ever since. In South Brazil under fair-trade conditions, the production materials include sustainable, organic cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled plastic. It also includes locally-sourced vegetable tanned leather from tanneries audited and certified by Leather Working Group and wild rubber sustainably sourced from the Amazonian forest. Veja sells both veganand non-veganshoes so make sure to search for within the vegan category when perusing their website.
16. MIRET
This shoe is crafted with 7 amazing plants: hemp, kenaf, cork, corn, jute, eucalyptus, rubber tree and New Zealand wool. Miret is telling a story. This story is of a pair of brothers from Croatia who followed in their father’s footsteps by working in the shoe industry. Their desire to think differently transposed into the style and protection of the eco-friendly sneaker industry led them to make thousands of dollars through their recent crowdfunding campaign. Their “Hempies” range is made from hemp and their “Veggies” range is made vegan AND is Cradle-to-Cradle certified.
17. Allbirds
One of our favorite shoe brands to date, Allbirds is now encompassing great, sustainable shoes, AND clothing. Go to this one-stop-shop to acquire the latest and greatest of technical shoe design, elegant styling, and recycled materials along with merino wool, tree fiber, and sugar. Such a great shoe!
18. Aks
These organic cotton, 10% fair trade sneakers are made in Pakistan, designed in San Francisco. Aks is supporting the artisans by providing about three times their standard wage. That’s quite a well-rounded way to look at sustainability in its’ entirety.
19. Rothy’s
These remarkable recycled plastic shoes have been touted by the Duchess of Sussex. IF that’s not an excellent shoe company, I don’t know what is! Popularized by Mrs. Markle in recent years, we have come to love and appreciate a shoe company that can be made from plastic waste. Their sneaker styles are found in the men’s section and can be worn by all genders as soon as you adjust your sizing accordingly.
20. Zouri
An Honorable Mention for their amazeballs 2019 crowdfunding campaign which launched their vegan, organic cotton, pinatex, recycled plastic, and natural and recycled rubber tennis shoe, Zouri was another Converse look-alike with an albeit intriguing sole made quite obviously with many colored pellet of, well…trash. IT was epic, so we decided to post it here. Now their company mades sandals which we appreciate. Zouri shoes are 100% made in Portugal.
UPDATE: Now Zouri ALSO has low-top sneakers, HEMP sneakers, plus MORE colors!
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