Chrome-tanned leathers, acrylic fibers containing benzene, solvent-based glues – it’s hard to find the right fit when you want shoes guaranteed without chemicals or designed in an eco-friendly way.
We recently opted for a sustainable and ethical shoe in the spirit of walking towards a greener future. So, strong and beautiful ecological shoes and sustainable sandals, yes, it is possible.
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What does ecological footwear mean?
It is, above all, a question of favoring solid shoes, which can be kept for several years. The manufacture of these ecological sandals combines respect for the environment with the aesthetic requirements of women, men, and children.
The advantages of ethical, ecological footwear :
First, remember that being vegan means committing not to use animal products. This mode of consumption allows you to protect animals against potentially cruel processes.
For example, leather is obtained without suffering or sacrifice. Therefore, it is an ethical choice based on real convictions for animal protection. Outside, The treatment of vegan leather is different. By opting for vegan shoes, you are therefore encouraging healthier design processes.
In addition, vegan shoes have the advantage of excluding toxic products. Good animal leathers must go through chemical treatments to give them strength and durability.
Above all, it should be noted that not only the environmental aspect makes ethical and ecological shoes the best. The latter also find their positive aspect at the social level because they are manufactured with respect for human rights and the environment.
Today, ethical and responsible consumption is no longer a choice but rather a lifestyle to be respected by many people.
In addition, this method is imperative to achieve fairer and more environmentally friendly savings.
Ecological shoes, which material to favor?
Eco-friendly shoes are produced with renewable materials or have a more reliable ecological footprint. No synthetic or active chemical material is used to manufacture eco shoes. The brand advocates organic ingredients and natural processes without harmful effects on the world’s health. For example, Simple uses hemp coated with beeswax to make its shoes waterproof. The brand also relies on natural extracts (silk, wool, organic cotton, bamboo) and recycled materials (car tires, bicycle inner tubes, carpet waste, corks, newspapers). In addition, all of its models are delivered in recycled cardboard boxes.
The manufacture of an ecological shoe requires the assembly of several elements. On each element, an ecological alternative exists:
The outer sole:
This can be made from natural latex (rubber) or recycled used products (tires, plastic bottles, etc.).
The insole:
Made from vegetable-tanned leather, latex, or cork oak bark.
The rod (upper part):
-For ecological fabric shoes, the use mainly of cotton or organically grown hemp allows, compared to other materials, to reduce the environmental footprint.
– For ecological leather shoes, other questions arise: Even if it is difficult to replace leather with another material as flexible and resistant, its use requires a breeding industry that is not without effect on the sustainability of natural resources (water, deforestation). On the other hand, rawhide goes through two processes, tanning, and coloring. These processes traditionally use products containing heavy metals (chromium, aluminum, nickel, etc.). These are spread in the environment when used evilly and cause skin allergies in some users of these shoes.
Choosing a pair of shoes can be done in an environmentally friendly way today. A trend that is good for the planet.
I offer you here the Top of the most eco-responsible, ethical, and environmentally friendly shoes. Various styles, colors, and commitments that allow you to consume greener and more equitably:
Best Brands of Sustainable Sandals
Here are some of the best brands of sustainable sandals:
El naturalista:
el naturalista is a selection of shoes made to preserve the environment, ensuring optimal comfort: Vegetable tanned shoes and vegan shoes.
Veja:
A Brazilian brand that is already known to all certified B Corp., it is also a famous brand that produces zero waste. It has a reputation for ethically producing shoes and uses fair business practices. The materials composing these famous sneakers are organic and recycled, equivalent to zero waste. They are committed to purchasing their materials from family farms in Brazil and the Amazon.
The colorful V logo allows instant recognition, which is the brand’s strength. In association with a charitable organization, they help disadvantaged people to reintegrate into society through work.
Stella McCartney, the luxury vegan brand
Famous American luxury brand Stella McCartney has always been sensitive to environmental issues. Stella McCartney is a 100% vegetarian designer who activates with PETA” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” for the protection and rights of animals. After 3 years at the head of the Chloé house, she is launching her eponymous brand. Since then, the stylist, sensitized from an early age to reasonable and reasoned consumption, has taken advantage of her notoriety to communicate her commitment to the environment and the animal cause.
Stella offers ready-to-wear collections for women and accessories, lingerie, glasses, perfumes, and a line for children. Concerned with protecting life and the planet. The designer uses the most recycled and sustainable materials like recycled polyester, which has a 24 times lower impact than calfskin. She utilizes ecological materials as much as possible in her collections that she wants to make 100% organic in the years to come.
Zou Xou, pre-order so as not to waste:
This Argentinian start-up based in Buenos Aires has decided to produce in an artisanal way with fair labor standards. A brand that emphasizes practicality, comfort, and style. Zou Xou works with 100% Argentinian artisans respecting centuries-old traditions and working with quality materials. Shoes are designed to last to limit over-buying. A rather feminine brand that offers sandals, heels, boots, and mules.
Alice + Whittles, waterproof shoes without plastic
Alice + Whittles is a Canada-based brand specializing in waterproof boots and sneakers for adults. It is one of the Canadian brands operating a thoughtful and environmentally responsible supply chain. They go exclusively through small local producers and artisans who work by hand. These are, therefore, boots made with 100% natural rubber and certified fair trade. Very resistant to any weather, you will have boots made from natural and recycled materials without virgin plastic on your feet.
Victoria
Born in 1915 in a Spanish village in the heart of La Rioja, the brand takes its name from the wife of the founder, Gregorio. The shoes are made without toxic products; Victoria has obtained the OEKO-TEX standard 100 labels, which further certifies that a product has been reliably tested for harmful substances, which guarantees a harmless product suitable for direct contact with the skin. Victoria uses quality and eco-responsible raw materials in the manufacture of her sneakers. All collections are made from organic cotton, natural rubber, and faux suede obtained by recycling used clothing. Sneakers made with a rubber sole can be recycled and used for other purposes.
Despite that, its head office has been designed to use a minimum of energy. As well, the packaging is responsible, made from recycled cardboard.
Converse Renew, Converses recycled in old jeans.
Converse Renew evolves into a zero-waste future with another premium take on the Chuck 70, a reconstruction that pays homage to the original 1970s All Star with a modern design.
For you, the Converses surely has nothing to do with the environment. Yet the Converse Renew is made in the United States with recycled products like our old jeans. They collaborate with Beyond Retro, a sustainable ready-to-wear brand and a vintage retailer that supplies Converse with jeans. The rear upper that holds the shoe is also made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
This timeless yet still trendy brand is now committed to producing more ecologically.
Cariuma
A Brazilian eco-responsible brand founded in Rio de Janeiro tends to use natural materials of responsible origin. The dyes used for the different models are BLUESIGN certified: This certification covers the entire life cycle of a textile product to reduce its environmental footprint.
Cariuma is an ethical, handcrafted manufacturing rich in color and shoes.
A durable and elegant composition that has conquered the planet. The materials used for eco-responsible shoes are organic cotton, bamboo, recycled polyester, low-impact ink, and herbal insoles.
And the best thing about this brand is that for the purchase of a pair of Cariuma shoes, you plant 2 trees. A responsible and altruistic gesture that will do good to our Earth.
Adidas x Parley
Adidas x Parley is a brand that fights to preserve the oceans.
You know the giant sportswear Adidas, and you may know that it is one of the American brands that do the most in sustainability and environmental protection.
In 2015 in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, an eco-design to fight against plastic pollution, they created a sneaker using yarn made from plastic dumped in the oceans.
These recyclable features are introduced on most models like the Ultra Boost and the Terrex Two. They aim to switch to 100% recycled products by 2024.
Jules & Jenn
jULES & JENN is a brand of shoes and accessories: bags and belts, ethical and timeless. After a trip around the world, Jules and Jennifer decided to launch their fashion brand. In addition to its leather goods, the brand manufactures its creations locally and relies on vegetable tanning of leathers and recycled materials.
And the most in this brand, Jules & Jenn has decided to be transparent with its customers, the brand details under each product all of its production costs.
Minuit sur terre
Minuit sur terre offers shoes and bags in vegetable and recycled materials: grapes, apples, cereals, plastic bottles fished in the Mediterranean.
It is a global ecological and ethical approach: 100% recycled products, from the sole to the laces, recycled and recyclable packaging, zero plastic in the packages, and of course, no components of animal origin.
Brother Vellies
Founded in 2013, Brother Vellies intends to promote African craftsmanship while respecting the environment. Soles made from old tires, vegetable tanning, or even natural dyes are part of the vocabulary created by Aurora James.
Amrose
Amrose is the first brand of hand-knitted sneakers. Founded in 2018, the brand modernizes traditional know-how by creating pop and colorful designs in a 100% responsible approach.
Amrose can pride itself on offering a truly unique product inspired by traditional Kurdish craftsmanship with its knitted sneakers.
The brand calls on unemployed Iranian women to embroider these original sneakers, whom it pays through a cooperative.
Designed in cotton or wool, Amrose shoes have a natural rubber sole.
The more that there is the possibility of inventing your pair of shoes thanks to a personalization space accessible on the website.
Un si beau pas
Un si beau pas is a brand of women’s shoes. 100% made in Romans-sur-Isère, it showcases the region’s tricolor know-how dating back to the Middle Ages.
Created in 2017, the brand manufactures shoes on-demand in noble materials. Neither lost nor wasted, she uses them wisely according to the needs of the collections.
Un si beau pas does not offer a turnkey model, but the models are all customizable. So you can create a unique shoe that looks like you!
A shoe 100% in leather: shoes, soles, heels absolutely everything is in leather!
The “full-grain” leathers are selected from kid goat and lamb for the suppleness and finesse of the skin texture. The insoles incorporate memory foam to bring you absolute comfort.
Indeed, each model is made to order to avoid losses and offer all the options in terms of colors and heel heights.
In all cases, the shoes must meet a certain number of expectations. Essential clothing accessory: all colors, shapes, and uses.
We almost forget that they still do not reduce our ecological footprint.
