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Are you looking for shoes like Vans? We’ve rounded up the best sustainable Vans alternatives from sustainable brands focusing on using eco-friendly materials and ethical production.
Vans shoes have dominated the casual footwear market since the brand entered the scene in 1966. Thanks to their classic skate shoe style, the brand’s popularity grew popular among skaters and BMX riders across California.
Fast forward forty years, and the Vans shoe is still a classic staple in both the skating community and fashion world and today is owned by one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the world VF Corp.
As we look toward a more sustainable future, however, it’s important we support footwear brands using more sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing.
We’ve compiled the best sustainable footwear brands creating high-quality and sustainable shoes that look like Vans.
The Best Sustainable Shoes Like Vans
1. Cariuma

Sustainability: Certified B Corporation using sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing. Every pair = two trees planted.
Best for: Skate shoes like Vans, slip on styles
Ships to: Worldwide
Cariuma is the ultimate sustainable Vans alternative. The Brazilian footwear brand focuses on creating its shoes as eco-friendly as possible using sustainable materials, including responsibly sourced leather, suede, and natural fabrics, including organic cotton and bamboo.
The result is a high-performance sneaker that can keep up with everyday wear and the demands of a skateboarding shoe, thanks to its cushioning soles and robust design. In addition, the brand has styles to rival Vans Old Skool, Vans authentic, and Vans slip on styles.

2. Allbirds Lounger Slip Ons

Sustainability: Sustainable and natural materials, including eucalyptus tree fibers, carbon-negative EVA sole, and recycled plastic laces. Certified B Corp.
Best for: Shoes like Vans slip on
Ships to: Worldwide
Allbirds are one of the most popular sustainable shoe brands right now, thanks to their ultra-comfortable sustainable sneakers.
The brand is a certified B Corp, meaning they meet high ethical and environmental production standards.
We love the Allbirds slip on style as an alternative to the Vans style, as it’s made with natural fibers and features a durable EVA sole made from sugarcane.
However, one drawback of Allbirds is that they don’t offer any vegan styles.

3. Etiko

Sustainability: Vegan sneakers with sustainable materials and ethical production
Best for: Sustainable shoes that like Converse Chuck Taylor and Vans Old Skool
Ships to: Worldwide
Etiko is perfect if you’re looking for shoes like converse or vans.
Etiko is an Australian brand creating shoes that do good for people and the planet. The brand only uses sustainable materials, including hemp and a natural rubber sole, making its shoes in audited ethical factories.
We love the slip on and skate-style shoes which look like Vans but aren’t; they’re much more eco-friendly.

4. Rothy’s Slip On Sneaker

Sustainability: Minimalist shoes made from recycled plastic bottles
Best for: Slip-on and minimalist sneakers
Ships to: Worldwide
If you’re looking for shoes like Vans made from recycled plastic, look no further than Rothy’s, an American shoe brand turning recycled plastic bottles into sustainable shoes.
Like Vans, Rothy’s features a minimal drop sole and a slip-on style. Rothy’s shoes are completely machine washable, making them easy to care for and maintain.
Unfortunately, Rothy’s doesn’t have the same slip-on sneaker styles available in its men’s collection and currently only offers one slip-on style for men.

5. Vessi Weekend Sneaker

Sustainability: 100% vegan footwear, made using reduced water and energy usage.
Best for: Waterproof shoes
Ships to: Worldwide
On the hunt for waterproof shoes like Vans, check out Vessi, the Canadian shoe brand standing out from the crowd by creating 100% waterproof knitted sneakers made from 100% vegan materials.
The Weekend Sneaker style is an excellent Vans alternative, as it features a thick flat style sole, similar to Vans. In addition, each of Vessi’s shoes is vegan, waterproof, and machine washable. Plus, the brand has recently released a knitted slip on style.
However, one drawback is the lack of color choice, with the Weekend style only available in five colors.

6. Suavs Zilker

Sustainability: Shoes made from recycled plastic bottles
Best for: Minimalist shoe with minimal drop sole
Ships to: the US & International
SUAVS Zilker shoe is a great alternative to Vans. The model features a minimalist sole with 3-5 mm heel to toe drop and is available in either white or gum sole styles.
SUAVS creates its uppers from 100% post-consumer recycled threads and has diverted almost one hundred thousand plastic bottles away from landfills and into its signature shoes.
SUAVS also makes a slip on shoe that looks like Vans slip on, the Barton; however, the shoe has a limited color choice and is currently only available in black.

7. Tropicfeel

Sustainability: Certified B Corp, creating travel shoes from recycled materials
Best for: Travel shoes
Ships to: Worldwide
Meet the most funded sneaker ever on Kickstarter, Tropicfeel.
Tropicfeel is a wildcard for the list of shoes like Vans. The brand doesn’t have any styles that match the skate shoe look of Vans. However, they are still a fantastic alternative to Vans.
Tropicfeel shoes are travel-friendly, easily packable, and ultra-comfortable for all-day wear. Plus, the brand uses sustainable materials and ethical production to create its sneakers.

8. 8000kicks

Sustainability: 100% waterproof sneakers made from hemp
Best for: Waterproof shoes that look like Vans
Ships to: Worldwide
Shoes made from hemp? Yep, you read that correctly.
8000kicks is the revolutionary shoe brand creating waterproof sneakers from the breathable, renewable material hemp.
The brand is launching its new release sneaker, the Seeker, which is perfect if you’re looking for sustainable shoes that look like Vans.
The Seeker features a flat minimalist sole and skate shoe style. Plus, it’s completely vegan and made with no animal materials.

9. Allbirds Tree Pipers

Sustainability: Sustainable and natural materials, including eucalyptus tree fibers, carbon-negative EVA sole, and recycled plastic laces. Certified B Corp.
Best for: Lace-up minimalist shoe style
Ships to: Worldwide
We’ve included Allbirds on this list with the Allbirds loungers, but we think Allbirds Tree Pipers are also a great option when looking for shoes like Vans.
The Tree piper model is lightweight, features a minimal flat sole, and is available in various colors.
As mentioned previously, Allbirds use sustainable materials and ethical production to create its shoes, making them a great sustainable alternative to Vans.
We’ve tested the shoes personally; you can read our thoughts here.

10. Thousand Fell

Sustainability: Recycled shoes made from recycled materials and plastic bottles
Best for: Stan Smith style shoes, and shoes like Vans Old Skool
Ships to: The US
Thousand Fell is smashing the sustainable shoe market with its minimalist shoes, which rival Vans and Stan Smith styles.
Thousand Fells’s minimalist design features a flat skate-style sole with a 21mm outsole height. The footwear brand creates its shoes from recycled materials, including recycled plastic bottles and natural rubber soles. Plus, Thousand Fell’s shoes are entirely vegan and cruelty-free.
11. Sperry

Sustainability: SeaCycled™ range includes shoes made from recycled plastic and five recycled plastic bottles per shoe.
Best for: Shoes like Vans authentic
Ships to: the US & International
Sperry’s SeaCycled™ range includes some great shoes that look like Vans Authentic skate shoes.
Made with recycled ocean and land plastics, up to five plastic bottles are used to create each pair of SeaCycled™ shoes.
Unfortunately, a drawback is that Sperry only currently produces this style in its men’s range.

Wrapping Up: Shoes Like Vans
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our recommendations for the best sustainable shoes like Vans.
If you want to check out other sustainable brands, make sure you read our guide on the best sustainable sneakers, and sustainable backpacks.