It’s estimated that
Leather, for instance, is the most widely used fabric in sneaker manufacturing. The manufacturing process is closely linked to the agriculture sector, which accounts for 18% greenhouse gas emissions. It also contributes alarmingly to deforestation. The leather tanning industry is also one of the most polluting industries in the world.
The industry was bound to find ways to combat this issue. Sustainability is often used as a buzzword to describe a variety of ethical decisions, such as the growing veganism in the UK (where an insurance firm, Compare The Market, estimates that there are now 3.5 million vegans). Vegan alternatives to leather may not be environmentally friendly or sustainable in themselves. The majority of faux-leathers, like leather, are made from plastic and take hundreds (if not thousands) of years to degrade. The environmental impact of faux-leather is less than that of leather. As a result, most environmentally friendly and sustainable sneaker brands also use vegan materials.
Why Are Sneakers Not Sustainable?
“It’s a double-edged issue,” says Umberto De Marco, founder of sustainable and vegan sneaker brand Yatay. “On the one hand, you have to look at the energy expenditure of the overall production process, and then there is also the direct environmental impact of the raw materials used.”
The fashion industry is not doing enough to use renewable energy sources, such as solar panels installed on factory roofs. But that’s not the only issue.
“Material-wise, most sneakers are both oil-based, and also heavily employ environmentally damaging chemical solvents in their production process like cheap solvent-based glues.”
A shoe’s almost every part can cause an environmental problem. It has been shown that with the right research and development the impact of shoes can be greatly reduced without compromising quality.
How sustainable sneakers became cool
In the past, sustainable and vegan footwear was viewed as being a little, um, naff. In recent years, the movement has grown. These aren’t like walking around with haystacks on your feet. The sustainable sneaker market today is awash with stylish options and made-in Italy choices.
Adidas, the world’s largest shoe manufacturer, joined the initiative in 2017 by collaborating with Parley for the Oceans and re-releasing its EQT Sneaker made from recycled plastic waste found on the Maldives’ beaches. Veja’s simple sneakers have been among the most popular in recent seasons. Stella McCartney, a luxury fashion house, has also adopted the chunky trainer trend into its sustainable fashion line.
Want more convincing? Need more convincing? Here are 10 sustainable vegan sneaker companies that will have you thinking with your feet.
The Best Vegan Sneakers and Sustainable Sneakers
Yatay
It’s not the delicious, nutty Indonesian poultry. Yatay is a sleek, ultra-modern sneaker company that produces all of its footwear in Italy. You’re still not convinced? What about shoelaces from organic hemp cotton, a sole made of bio-based polyurethane or an upper made out of recycled materials? Yatay also plants a tree for each pair of shoes in an area that has been deforested. Sold? Right you are, damn it!
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Tretorn
Tretorn is a Swedish outerwear company that has established a reputation for sustainability through their Eco Essentials line, which includes jackets made of discarded nets. Soon, a sneaker collection will be released with suede uppers made from farm-grown materials and using less water. If you’re an impatient eco-warrior, you can still find elements of sustainability in its current collection, such as the environmentally friendly EcoOrthoLite soles.
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Nat-2
Ask anyone who has a pair Adidas or Puma sneakers on their feet. Nat-2 was founded in Munich in 2007 and draws its inspiration from German industry. As for sustainability, there’s a lot of innovation here, from a line of sneakers which are half covered in recycled coffee, to antibacterial soles made out of real cork. What’s next for them?
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Veja
Veja, a shoe brand of the moment, has managed to create a winning combination between simple and stylish sneakers with a clear millennial marketing strategy and sustainability expertise for capturing modern consumers. Get the plain white styles that feature a soon-to be iconic V before they become a classic.
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Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney has been at the forefront of ethical and sustainable fashion since before it was even a ‘thing’. Stella McCartney is a famously vegan designer. Her ethics are reflected in the production of her products, including the way her sneakers, which can be completely dismantled, are sewn together without glue.
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Toms
Toms, a non-profit Californian brand, built its reputation by introducing the espadrille into the mainstream. For every pair of shoes sold, a new pair is given to disadvantaged children. Since then, it has expanded to include sunglasses, bags and sneakers. The designs remain vegan with a variety of shapes and colors.
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Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat (short for material and nature) isn’t shy about its vegan credentials. Since 1995, when the brand was founded in Montreal, Canada, it has been committed to being vegan. The brand also uses eco-friendly materials in its designs, including recycled rubber and nylon.
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New Movements
New Movements, a Scandinavian footwear brand, launched its first collection of sneakers in 2017 on Kickstarter. A year later it began on Indiegogo. For a pledge, you’re promised a stylish pair of sneakers partly made in Portugal out of recycled materials with the promise of 1kg of ocean plastic being removed for every pair sold.
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Po-Zu
Sneakers by London-based Po-Zu look like they’ve been beamed straight out of a spaceship (that probably explains the collaboration with Star Wars). A micro-honeycombed cork midsole gives you a little extra bounce, and the aClimatex and Cradle to Cradle certified shoes ensure sustainability and consideration for future generations.
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Marks & Spencer
Do you want to do all of your shopping for vegan products under one roof? High street stalwart Marks & Spencer marks the vegan options in its footwear range with an identifiable logo, so you can easily spot which sneakers meet your needs, just like it does in its food department. These sneakers are also available at high-street prices, which makes them an affordable option in a market that is still on the pricey side.
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