20 Best Sustainable Sneakers for 2025

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The right pair of sneakers will work for almost any occasion. Getting coffee with friends. A day at the office. Running errands.

However, a large number of popular sneakers are full of plastic-based fibres, harsh dyes, and petroleum-based materials. Luckily, there’s a growing range of amazing brands creating comfy and stylish options.

We’ve collected and analyzed some of the most popular sustainable sneaker brands out there, and shared our pros and cons of each.

Don’t have time to read the full article? No problem, check out our top picks below!

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Let’s jump in.

1. Allbirds

Sustainability: Eco-friendly materials, Certified B Corp, shoe donation program.

Price: $$ – $$$

Best for: Stylish and ultra-comfortable everyday sneakers

Drawbacks: No completely waterproof styles (only water resistant)

Allbirds are sustainable sneaker brand from San Francisco. They’re growing quickly thanks to their reputation as being ‘the world’s most comfortable shoes‘.

I’ve owned the Allbirds Tree Dashers (pictured) for a few years now. I started out with the original version, then moved onto the updated version, and both times I’ve been impressed. They’re super comfy, are versatile, offer enough support, and best of all, Allbirds isn’t destroying the planet to create them.

Our editor, Georges, owns a pair of the Tree Pipers, too!

Allbirds is a B Corp and have a Forest Stewardship Council certification, meaning that their materials meet standards to ensure the protection of forests around the world.

Allbirds ethical sneakers are made from of eco-friendly materials such as merino wool, recycled plastic bottles, and TENCEL™ Lyocell.

Plus, they donate used and returned Allbirds to communities in need of shoes all over the world.

2. Tropicfeel

Sustainability: Recycled, and eco-friendly materials, 1% of sales go to environmental conservation causes

Price range: $$

Best for: Travelling and adventure shoes, including sustainable slip on sneakers

Drawbacks: Thin mesh on Canyon model may not be suitable for winter

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Tropicfeel make the perfect sustainable sneaker for anyone who loves to stay active, travel, and look good at the same time.

Their sneakers are light weight and breathable, deisgned to be comfortable all day long, whether you’re hiking up a steep trail or exploring a new city.

They’re quick-drying, and contain a blend of features to make them waterproof, comfortable, lightweight, and slip-on.

Tropicfeel’s production process is transparent, and they donate 1% of their sales to protect the environment for future generations.

3. 8000 kicks

Sustainability: Plant-based materials, made with hemp fibers and algae-bloom soles, completely vegan, and carbon neutral.

Price: $$

Best for: Waterproof, plant-based sneakers

Drawbacks: Not machine washable

8000 kicks are reinventing sneakers, by creating waterproof kicks from naturally anti-microbial and Thermo-regulating hemp fibers.

We’ve tested them ourselves (our pair is in black – pictured) and were impressed. The hemp material has a lovely texture and the sole is supportive, but with a good bounce.

8000 kicks present the world’s first hemp insole, which is super supportive and extra comfortable. They have also partnered with Bloom Foam to create a light yet durable foam sole from algae blooms – which can be detrimental to marine ecosystems if not controlled.

The hemp fiber outer is coated in an eco-friendly waterproof membrane, making these sneakers 100% waterproof.

4. CARIUMA

Sustainability: Sustainable materials, vegan options, plant 2 trees for every purchase, plant-based insoles, recycled shoe boxes

Price: $ – $$

Best for: Casual sneakers

Brand Rating: 4/5 Stars

Drawbacks: Toe box can be quite narrow in some styles

CARIUMA offer a range of stylish everyday sneakers for women and men. The brand has strong sustainable credentials. For every purchase, they’ll plant two trees.

The shoes are super comfy (if you don’t believe us, check out the 1000+ customer reviews on their website!), and perfect if you’re regularly walking and need some reliable, stylish shoes.

CARIUMA use a variety of sustainable materials including bamboo, GOTS certified cotton, cork, recycled PET, and manola oil – a natural alternative to petroleum. You’ll find a variety of styles, including low and high-tops.

6. SUAVS

Sustainability: Completely vegan-friendly shoes made with thread from 100% post-consumer recycled plastics

Price: $$

Best for: Travel shoes, slip-on sneakers

Drawbacks: Not as transparent about where shoes are made as other brands on the list

Looking for easy to clean, lightweight sneakers made from recycled plastic bottles? Then check out SUAVS, the stylish knitted sneaker brand designing breathable sneakers from recycled threads.

SUAVS are machine washable and fold flat for easy packing if traveling regularly. The moisture-wicking knitted upper means you can wear them without socks, and your feet won’t get sweaty.

Some reviewers say that they can give blisters on the first few wears, so we recommend wearing them in before traveling or a long day walking.

7. On Running

Sustainability: Completely vegan, low-waste production processes, transparency via their Impact Progress Report, shoe recycling program

Price: $$

Best for: Running, hiking, and being active

Drawbacks: Some style run narrow and may be unsuitable for wide feet

On Running makes high-performance sneakers which are perfect if you’re looking for a pair that are up to the challenges of your active lifestyle.

On make road and trail running shoes, as well as hiking boots, all with their signature sole.

All of their shoes are vegan (we reached out to them to confirm this) and they use a range of recycled plastics and polyesters. On Running also release a transparency report which shows their environmental impact, challenges they’re facing, and documenting their progress.

One final initiative we like is their Cyclon subscription service. When you sign up for it, you’ll get a new pair of Cyclon running shoes on a timescale that you choose, and you can send back your old pair to be turned into new shoes.

8. Thousand Fell

Sustainability: Vegan, recycled materials

Price range: $$

Best for: Minimalist vegan sneakers, Sustainable white sneakers and tennis shoes

Drawbacks: Customers say it can take time to wear in

Thousand Fell creates minimalist, stylish , and sustainable white sneakers in lace up or slip on options.

The sneakers are completely vegan, made from materials like recycled rubber, coconut, sugarcane, and recycled plastic bottles.

You can wear them with our without socks, and they come in a variety of colors.

9. Beflamboyant

Sustainability: Vegan handmade sneakers from sustainable materials. Every pair supports in the planting of trees. Recycled, plastic free packaging.

Price range: $$

Best for: Minimalist vegan leather sneakers

Drawbacks: Flat sole some may find uncomfortable with foot problems.

Beflamboyant are a refreshingly different vegan sneaker brand, creating high-quality and stylish sneakers, from sustainable and cruelty-free materials.

This PETA-approved brand creates unisex vegan leather sneakers ethically in Portugal. The vegan leather is made from corn, and the heel and laces from recycled PET.

We’ve personally tested Beflamboyant’s new Manimal sneakers – our pair is pictured below – and were really impressed at how high-quality the vegan leather looks and feels in person. Plus, the inner lining is made from bamboo, a renewable, natural material which is naturally breathable and moisture wicking.

10. Rothy’s

Sustainability: Using natural materials such as hemp and cotton. Turing millions of recycled plastic bottles into their signature thread. They are working towards zero waste and a carbon-neutral supply chain.

Price: $$$-$$$$

Best For: 3-D knit and handcrafted, fully machine washable sneakers in cool neutral shades.

Drawbacks: Potential to release micro plastics when washing.

Rothy’s is a stylish, sustainable shoe brand with a difference. They are leading the industry on a push for production circularity by 2025. Their collection of shoes are durable, comfortable, and fully machine washable, so you can enjoy them for years to come. Rothy’s is also piloting their shoe recycling program this year.

Their signature recycled thread has recycled millions of plastic bottles and diverted 100 tonnes of virgin plastics out of the ocean. In addition, they work with natural fibers such as cotton and hemp for their iconic shoe collections.

11. Etiko

Sustainability: Fair Trade Certified, vegan, Certified B Corp

Price: $$

Best for: Vegan alternative to Converse

Drawbacks: Reviews say shipping may take longer than expected to some areas.

Etiko is an Australian brand creating sustainable sneakers from organic cotton. They’re completely vegan and free of toxic chemicals.

The brand is Fair Trade Certified and transparent about its supply chain.

Etiko has a wide range of styles available, and they’re a great alternative to popular brands like Converse or Vans.

12. Veja

Sustainability: Vegan leather

Price: $$$

Best for: Vegan alternative to popular brands like Nike.

Drawbacks: Some styles scuff easily.

Veja sneakers are instantly recognizable by the signature ‘V’ logo.

They create a range of sustainable vegan sneakers that are cruelty-free and ethical.

They’re stylish, too. In our opinion, Veja’s sneaker designs rival any other leading sneaker brand in terms of looks, and as most of their sneakers have a minimalist design they can be dressed up or dressed down as you please.

Only 5% of shoes are recycled each year, with many ending up in landfills. When disposed of in landfills, footwear can take up to thousands of years to naturally degrade due to plastics and other materials used.

14. Adidas x Parley

Sustainability: Recycled plastic trash turned into shoes

Price: $$$

Best for: Classic Adidas styles in recycled materials.

Drawbacks: Not as ethical as other brands listed.

Adidas x Parley is a great ongoing collaboration between the major sportswear brand Adidas, and Parley For The Oceans, which is an ocean conservation and awareness project.

You’ll find some of Adidas’ popular trainers in this collection, such as the Alphabounce. The trainers are made from at least 75% upcycled plastic trash collected from beaches and coastal communities. As well as this, they’re produced in low energy, low water usage process meaning you get the benefits of sustainability combined with the performance of Adidas shoes.

15. Converse Renew

Sustainability: Upcycled materials

Price: $$

Best for: Ethically made Converse

Drawbacks: Not as ethical as other brands listed

You probably don’t associate Converse with ethical sneakers, but as it turns out, they’re making some interesting shoes to promote upcycling.

They have a few different versions of the Renew shoes. Firstly, they do one-of-a-kind Chucks made from recycled and previously used jeans. They collaborate with Beyond Retro, a sustainable fashion brand, and vintage retailer, to source the pre-used jeans that can be turned into shoes.

As well as this, they have a range of shoes whose upper is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. If you’re a Converse person, it’s definitely worth checking out the Renew range for your next pair.

Looking for Converse alternatives? We’ve got a post for that!

16. Matt & Nat

Sustainability: Vegan, sustainable materials

Price: $$

Best for: Luxury style at fair prices

Drawbacks: Made from recycled plastic.

Matt & Nat are a vegan brand from Montreal creating a range of clothes, accessories, and – you guessed it – sneakers.

Like Veja, their selection of shoes are minimalist and stylish, and can definitely be worn with a wide range of outfits.

Another benefit of Matt & Nat’s sneakers is that they’re actually very affordable, considering their style. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for some new fashionable minimalist sneakers.

17. Giesswein

Sustainability: Oil free production, ethical mulesing-free merino wool, 100% Austrian production, zero material waste or scraps

Price: $$

Best for: Minimal and comfortable wool sneakers.

Drawbacks: Not vegan as made from wool.

Giesswein is a third-generation family-owned Austrian brand creating a variety of ethical minimalist sneakers. Their sneakers are made with 100% mulesing free merino wool, which is breathable, waterproof, and comfortable.

The brand makes all of their shoes in Austria, with zero material waste, zero oil usage, and high-tech water recycling systems.

My pair of Giesswein sneakers is pictured. The quality has been great so far! However, I do find myself wearing my Allbirds more than these as they’re more comfortable, but Giesswein’s fill a similar role in your wardrobe.

18. Kengos

Sustainability: Plant based materials, completely animal-product free, no harmful glues, natural rubber, and eco-friendly dyes.

Price: $$

Best for: Unique designs to help you stand out.

Drawbacks: Not waterproof or suitable for walking long distances.

Kengos is creating unique sustainable knitted sneakers from plant-based, renewable materials, including eucalyptus, corn, cotton, and cork.

Instead of synthetic rubber, polyester, or adhesives, they opt for natural rubber and a unique knotting design to hold their shoe together. The bespoke 1Knot™ construction method allows every pair of Kengos to be easily dissembled at the end of their life cycle and recycled.

I’ve personally tested Kengo’s sneakers (my pair is pictured) and love the refreshing simplicity of this shoe, not forgetting to mention, they look very unique.

They’re nice and light and the sole feels solid.

19. Nothing New

Sustainability: Eco-friendly materials

Price: $$$

Best for: High-tops for everyday use.

Drawbacks: Flat sole with minimal arch support.

Nothing New make low and high-top sneakers that are simple, but stylish.

Every pair uses 5.6 plastic bottles that are repurposed into canvas, which saves ~160 gallons of water per pair when compared to traditional 100% cotton canvas sneakers. They also use materials like recycled cotton, organic cotton, and post-industrial recycled fishing nets.

All of their recycled plastic meets the Global Recycle Standard so you know they’re not cutting corners when it comes to sustainability. The outsoles are made from recycled rubber and cork.

What’s more, they’re super comfy. The Ortholite Eco-Step insoles will keep your feet happy all day long.

20. Vessi

Sustainability: Completely vegan waterproof sneakers, made from animal-free materials, with reduced water and energy usage

Price: $$

Best for: Walking in colder climates

Drawbacks: The waterproof nature of these shoes means feet can get sweaty in hot climates.

Vessi is the new vegan shoe brand on the block, standing out from competitors thanks to their unique, completely waterproof sneakers.

The brand champions the use of more eco-friendly materials and sustainable production that uses 30% less water and 600% less energy than conventional non-vegan alternatives.

Vessi creates six different waterproof styles from sneakers to slip-on, each with a lightweight, bouncy sole with added grip for traction in wet weather.

One drawback of Vessi shoes is the limited color choice available in the everyday sneaker style. Currently, Vessi only offers black, white, and grey shades.

Most sustainable sneakers on the market are now made from eco-friendly materials including recycled plastics, hemp, organic cotton, and more.

We’ll break down the components of a sneaker, detailing some of the most popular materials used below.

Recycled plastic such as RPET and RPU are common materials brands use to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

The footwear industry is estimated to produce more than 20 billion pairs of shoes every year, with less than 5% of shoes being recycled. This means that many shoes end up in landfills, and stick around for hundreds of years, Switching to recycled plastic over virgin plastic saves energy and reduces waste in landfills.

However, one problem with using recycled plastic is that it isn’t biodegradable, so at the end of the shoe’s life, it won’t biodegrade if sent to a landfill instead of recycled.

Some examples of brands using recycled plastic to create their shoes are Tropicfeel, Thousand Fell, SUAVS, Rens.

Hemp is a relatively new sneaker material on the block, even though the textile has been around for hundreds of years.

Hemp is a fast-grown crop that requires less water than cotton and can be grown without harmful pesticides, making it a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton. In addition, hemp absorbs large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and replenishes the soil it grows in – it sounds like a pretty good material to us!

Plus, Hemp fabric is up to 3x stronger than cotton.

Brands using hemp to create their shoes include 8000kicks, , and Bohempia.

You may already know that cotton is one of the planet’s most environmentally damaging natural fibers. It requires large quantities of pesticides and water to grow and sucks all of the nutrients out of the soil, often leaving the earth unusable.

On the other hand, organic cotton uses up to ten times less water than conventional cotton and is grown without pesticides, making it safer for humans and the environment.

Brands using organic cotton to create their shoes include Cariuma and.

Merino Wool is becoming popular for footwear brands thanks to its natural water repellency, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties.

It’s essential, however, to look out for brands using responsibly sourced non-mulesed wool to create their sneakers.

Some of our favorite brands that create responsibly sourced merino wool sneakers include Allbirds, Baabuk, and Giesswein.

Leather has been a durable and classic footwear material for decades; however as we become more eco-conscious in our buying habits, consumers are demanding that they know their leather comes from responsibly sourced and tanned leather.

The Leather Working Group (LWG) is an organization that ensures leather is obtained humanely and that tanneries take precautions for workers’ safety.

Examples of brands using LWG leather include Cariuma.

Along with the uppers, the materials used for sneaker soles are important, as many shoe brands use non-responsibly sourced rubber, which involves the destruction and deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

There are alternatives to conventional rubber being used across brands today. Below, we’ve included a few eco-friendly sole materials.

EVA is a common plastic-based ‘rubber-like substance used in the soles of shoes and is not very environmentally friendly as it requires large amounts of energy to create and is not biodegradable.

Many sustainable brands are working with innovations in bio-based EVA, which means that instead of plastic-based EVA, the EVA foam is derived from natural materials like Algae-blooms or sugarcane.

An example of a bio-based EVA is Allbirds SweetFoam™ sole, which is made with the world’s first carbon-negative green EVA. You can read more about how Allbirds creates its soles 

As we’ve mentioned, many brands obtain their rubber from the amazon rainforest, which leads to the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity.

Instead, look out for brands using responsibly sourced natural rubber from certified trees, such as the FSC.

If you’re in need of a new pair of sneakers and care about the planet, look no further than this list.

These brands are some of the best out there right now, and you can trust that they’ve all been built to last, and look good.

If you know any more sustainable sneaker brands that deserve a spot on this list, leave a comment below or shoot us an email and we’ll check them out!

Make sure you read our sustainable socks guide, to pair with your new sneakers… you can thank us later.

Thanks for reading.