The next time you’re in the market for a fresh pair, check out these 13 sustainability editor-approved shoe brands dedicated to leaving behind a lighter footprint. What our testers say: “I shouldn’t love white sneakers as much as I do… My current lineup includes popular styles like Air Force 1s, Jordans, and Cortezes—but there’s one pair that’s quickly surpassing the others to become an absolute favorite: the Cariuma Oca Low Sneakers. I’ve been wearing the off-white canvas shoe for two months now, and I’ve been astounded. The comfy style packs plenty of arch support yet still looks so undeniably chic that my husband calls them my ‘fancy sneakers.’” — Hannah Margaret Allan, mindbodygreen’s Executive Editor What our reviewers say: “Finding comfortable sneakers that look as good as they feel is always going to be a struggle, but Thousand Fell’s Lace Up Sneakers are the closest thing that I’ve found to perfection. They offer the right amount of support for long walks and require zero break-in time. And thanks to the company’s closed-loop practices, giving your clothing a second life has never been easier. Now I just have to resist buying every color.” —Braelyn Wood, mindbodygreen Deputy Commerce Editor Buying brand-new products is almost always less sustainable than buying ones that already exist. But with something like shoes—which we all need to get around but aren’t as popular on the secondhand market—it can be tricky to avoid. That’s where being a savvy shopper can help you find a new shoe that at least has a lower impact than other options. As a sustainability editor, these are the criteria I look for in a kicks company that’s actually putting its energy into making more sustainable shoes, not just greenwashing. It’s rare that one brand is able to tick every one of these boxes, but plenty of the options on our list are well on their way. 2. The shoe materials are grown or created in a way that prioritizes worker health and safety (i.e., natural materials grown organically without potent pesticides, synthetic materials created in a closed-loop production process that doesn’t leak toxic chemicals). OR The shoe materials come from recycled sources like water bottles or other shoes. OR The shoe is made from materials that would have otherwise been thrown away. OR The shoe materials come from animals that were treated humanely. 3. No ecosystems or human settlements are harmed to clear land to grow the materials. 2. The shoes are constructed in a factory that runs on alternative energy and minimizes water waste. 3. The shoes get their color from natural or nontoxic dyes. 2. The brand measures the total carbon emissions of their shoes and sets ambitious but achievable goals to reduce the emissions of each pair. They track their progress and share their results in regularly updated sustainability reports on their website. 3. The brand doesn’t ship unnecessary packaging. The packaging they do have is reusable and/or recyclable through most curbside programs. 2. The brand resells its old shoes that are still in good condition on its website. 3. If they do end up in a landfill, the shoes will not emit toxic chemicals as they biodegrade. 4. The brand’s shoes are designed to be durable, comfortable, and timeless. Clearly, there’s a lot to consider, but some certifications do the legwork of verifying that a brand is prioritizing sustainability across these key areas. A few that I trust in the shoe space are:
