Last updated on March 23rd, 2024 at 08:00 am
As I lace up my shoes, I can’t help but think about the significant environmental impact of traditional footwear. We’ve done a post on eco-friendly boots and even rain boots, but they’re primarily for women. So, I thought I’d dig into men’s sustainable shoes, and do a full post on it. So, here you go! If you’re a man reading this, or a woman who wants to get some sustainably made shoes for a loved one, this list of 35+ shoe brands are all you need to get started on your sustainable footwear journey. And the best part? Many of them offer carbon offset programs that just sweeten the deal!
Our Recommendations
Sustainable Dress Shoes for Men: Nisolo | Adelante Shoes
Eco-friendly Running Shoes: Veja
Organic Men’s Shoes: Quince
Affordable Sustainable Shoes: Cariuma
Pair these shoes with some ethical men’s clothing brands! And check out women’s sustainable winter boots and these sustainable rain boots.
Our List of Top Men’s Sustainable Shoe Brands
These are the best brands for the guys, offering the most stylish footwear:
1 // Saola
Price: From $100
Sustainable manufacturing | controlled carbon footprint
Saola kicks off our list with a commitment to recycled and bio-based materials. Their shoes are not just eco-friendly but also seriously stylish. Their range includes shoes that are 100% vegan, and made from recycled and bio-sourced materials.
2 // Cariuma
Price: From $80
FSC certified | leather working group | Vegan options | recycled materials
Cariuma brings together style and sustainability effortlessly. Crafted using ethical materials like bamboo and recycled plastics, their shoes are a nod to fashion with a conscience. The company plants two trees for every pair sold.
3 // Hybrid Green Label
Price: $80 to $150
Global Recycled Standard Certified | Leather Working Group | Bio-Based Materials
Mixing street style with eco-consciousness, Hybrid Green Label uses responsibly sourced materials in their supply chain for making their footwear. They focus on offering outdoor shoes, for the adventure enthusiasts out there!
4 // Natural World Eco
Price: $60 to $80
Ethical trade | 100% organic cotton | recycled packaging
Natural World Eco is a Spanish brand that only uses 100% organic raw materials (such as organic cotton and natural rubber). They follow an updated version of a traditional production system that values local sourcing and ethical practices. As you can see from the colorful shoes, their footwear are not just comfy but also stylish and vibrant. Don’t worry, they have sober options for the classic brown shoe lovers, as well!
5 // Allbirds
Price: From $95
Carbon offsets | renewable materials | regenerative agriculture
Allbirds has become a household name for eco-friendly footwear. With materials like merino wool and eucalyptus fibers, these shoes are a treat for your feet and the planet. Allbirds measure everything that adds up to their carbon footprint, and are working to reduce that number to “beyond neutrality” and eventually become climate-positive. They are ardent supporters of regenerative agriculture.
The shoes in the photo have a Brazilian sugarcane midsole called SweetFoam®, made with the world’s first carbon negative green EVA.
6 // Nisolo
Price: From $150
Certified B Corp | leather working group | climate neutral | fair trade | circularity
Nisolo takes a hands-on approach to ethical production. Their durable and timeless shoes are made with care, using ethically sourced materials. They pay their employees a 100% living wage, and have designed their manufacturing process to be a closed loop lifecycle that accounts for all stages of the product.
Nisolo has a program where you can donate your old shoes.
7 // 8000Kicks
Price: $100
Vegan SHOES | carbon capture | fair trade
8000Kicks is a Portuguese brand built by the founder and his grandma! The brand specializes in sneakers made from recycled materials, including ocean waste. They make hemp shoes for men, and treat them with wax to make them waterproof. The soles are made from algal blooms, and insoles from natural hemp. It’s perfect for you if you love an active, outdoor lifestyle!
8 // Adelante Shoes
Price: From $200
Handcrafted | made-to-order | carbon neutral by 2030 | eco friendly packaging
Adelante Shoes Co. focuses on handmade shoes with ethically sourced leather. The leather is genuine full grain and comes from a less-processed hide that is biodegradable and more durable. Remember, good quality leather can last a lifetime with proper care.
Their direct-to-consumer model ensures fair wages for craftsmen.
9 // Brave Gentleman
Price: From $150
Vegan | fair trade | ethical manufacturing
A pioneer in cruelty-free and sustainable fashion, Brave Gentleman’s shoes are made from high-quality, eco-friendly materials. Founder Joshua Katcher is singularly focused on vegan materials for his lifestyle products, produced with slow fashion principles, and has been lauded by PETA and Vogue for his influential design.
10 // Ekn
Price: $100 to $150
Made in small batches | handmade
Ekn showcases everything you can expect from a European brand: minimalism, sustainability, and style. You’ll need Google Translate to navigate their website, but it’s totally worth it. With a commitment to eco-friendly materials, their comfortable shoes are made in Portugal under fair conditions and sustainable manufacturing processes.
11 // Ahimsa
Price: From $149
PETA-approved vegan | cruelty-free | handmade | fair trade
Ahimsa is all about vegan and eco-friendly footwear. They started their own factory in Brazil so they could have complete control over the operations. Their factory is now the “only 100% vegan shoe factory in the world.”
If you’re looking to curate a cruelty-free wardrobe, this is a good place to start for awesome sneakers and boots.
12 // Thousand Fell
Price: From $120
Sustainably sourced materials | recycling program | biodegradable
Thousand Fell takes circular fashion seriously. Their high quality shoes, designed in New York and manufactured in a family-owned factory in Brazil, are not only recyclable but also come with a recycling kit, making sustainability a breeze. This is zero waste footwear done right!
13 // Quince
Price: From $100
GOTS-certified | global recycled standard certified | bluesign
Quince’s focus on minimalist design meets sustainable manufacturing. They have a small but mighty selection of shoes for men. Their everyday sneaker is made from ethically sourced 100% organic cotton and vegan insoles.
They ship to you directly from their factory, thereby reducing their carbon emissions.
14 // Veja
Price: From €120
Vegan options | B Corp certified | fair trade | upcycling
Veja has become synonymous with ethical and fair trade practices. This European brand sources and manufactures its footwear in Brazil and Peru. They use ethically sourced and transparently priced Amazonian rubber. VEJA is reportedly the first sneaker brand to use fabric entirely made from recycled plastic bottles and recycled polyester.
They track their carbon emissions in impressive detail, and work to reduce that by systematically switching to better materials, methods, etc.
Veja also offers sustainable running shoes!
15 // Native Shoes
Price: From $50
Sustainable materials | recycling program
Native Shoes is a go-to for lightweight and breathable kicks made from innovative alternative materials such as Bio-based EVA and their proprietary material, Sugarlite™ , made with a blend of traditional EVA and a sugarcane-derived resin. Their production process releases fewer GH gasses due to their use of different materials.
16 // Octobre
Price: From $150
natural materials | vegetable-tanned leather | fair price | lean production model
Octobre’s commitment to quality and sustainability is reflected in their timeless shoes. Their formal shoes are to die for! Over 90% of their products are handcrafted in European ateliers that are audited regularly.
How sustainable are leather shoes?
17 // FAIR
From €160
Vegan | ethical manufacturing
True to their name, FAIR combines style with fair and sustainable practices. This is another Portuguese brand, and their range of footwear is incredible!
Brand Name | Description | Price | |
18 | Poppy Barley | Ethically sourced materials and craftsmanship | $250 |
19 | Psudo | Made from recycled and organic materials | $80-$120 |
20 | Kane Footwear | Crafted from recycled ocean plastics | $100-$150 |
21 | Third Mind | Avant-garde designs with sustainable materials | $180 |
22 | Beckett Simonon | Slow fashion and quality craftsmanship | $200 |
23 | Matt & Nat | Vegan leather footwear, cruelty-free and sustainable | $150 |
24 | Rothy’s | Made from recycled plastic bottles | $125-$165 |
25 | Nothing New | Made from recycled materials | $95-$120 |
26 | Vivobarefoot | Barefoot shoes made with eco-friendly materials | $150 |
27 | Nae Vegan Shoes | Entirely vegan and eco-friendly footwear | $120 |
28 | Kingdom of Wow | Sustainable handmade footwear | $100 |
29 | Sole Rebels | Crafted from upcycled & sustainable materials | $80-$120 |
30 | Po-Zu | Ethical and sustainable shoes | $150 |
31 | Baabuk | Sustainable wool shoes | $90-$150 |
32 | Greats | Stylish sneakers with a sustainable twist | $150 |
33 | Oaka Studio | Sustainable, vegan shoes | $120 |
34 | Flamingos’ Life | Sustainable shoes with trendy designs | $80-$150 |
35 | Patara Shoes | Handmade, sustainable shoes | $120 |
36 | Hey Dude | Comfortable, sustainable footwear | $70-$100 |
Why Choose Sustainable Shoes?
Conventional shoe manufacturing often relies on resource-intensive processes, contributing to deforestation, pollution, and excessive carbon emissions. For instance, leather production, a common material for shoes, is notorious for its water consumption and chemical usage, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. Additionally, the fast fashion industry’s demand for rapid production results in a considerable amount of waste, with millions of pairs ending up in landfills each year.
Environmental Impact of Traditional Footwear
Traditional footwear can have a significant environmental impact, both in terms of carbon emissions and waste generation. Some of the facts I found:
- A typical pair of running shoes produces 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to keeping a 100-watt light bulb on for one week.
- Every year, more than 20 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured, and 95% of them end up in landfills, where they take up to 40 years to decompose.
- The production of footwear requires large amounts of water (about 8,000 liters per pair), and involves the use of chemicals, such as adhesives and tanning chemicals, that may leak into the environment.
Don’t despair, though! There are, fortunately, also some solutions and alternatives that can reduce the environmental footprint of the shoe industry, such as:
- Better manufacturing practices, such as using renewable energy sources, recycling materials, and reducing waste
- Eco-friendly shoes, such as those made from natural, organic, or recycled materials, that are biodegradable or compostable
- Sustainable programs, such as shoe donation, reuse, or repair, that extend the lifespan of shoes and prevent them from going to landfill
Benefits of Sustainable Options
Opting for sustainable shoes is not just a fashion statement; it’s a conscious choice with positive implications for the environment. Sustainable footwear is often made from eco-friendly materials and embraces ethical manufacturing processes.
Sustainable shoes are designed to be durable, encouraging a longer product lifecycle. This longevity reduces the frequency of replacements, decreasing overall consumption and waste. Moreover, many sustainable brands prioritize fair labor practices, ensuring that workers involved in the production process are treated ethically. Making the switch to sustainable shoes is a small yet impactful step towards a greener, more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Materials Used in Sustainable Shoes
Innovations in sustainable fashion have given rise to alternative shoe materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and plant-based materials such as hemp and cork. These materials not only minimize environmental impact but also promote biodiversity and reduce dependency on non-renewable resources.
Eco-Friendly Materials vs. Conventional Materials
Contrasting sustainable materials with their conventional counterparts reveals the environmental advantages of the former. For instance, organic cotton cultivation reduces reliance on harmful pesticides, promoting soil health and biodiversity. Recycled polyester utilizes discarded plastic bottles, diverting waste from landfills and oceans. Plant-based materials like cork and pineapple leather are cruelty-free alternatives to traditional leather.
Advances in Sustainable Shoe Design
Sustainable shoe design goes beyond material choices; it encompasses innovative approaches to create footwear with minimal environmental impact. Designers are exploring modular designs that allow for easy repairs and upgrades, extending the life of the shoes. Additionally, advancements in 3D printing technology enable precise manufacturing, minimizing material wastage in the production process.
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing Processes
The sustainability journey extends to the manufacturing stage, where eco-friendly practices are gaining prominence. Waterless dyeing techniques, reduced energy consumption, and waste recycling initiatives are becoming standard in the production of sustainable shoes. Brands are actively seeking ways to minimize their ecological footprint throughout the entire manufacturing chain, ensuring that the end product aligns with environmental responsibility.
How to Choose Eco friendly Shoe Brands
How did we zero in on these brands? Well, we looked at a few aspects:
Ethical manufacturing processes take center stage for these sustainable shoe brands, ensuring that fair labor practices (no slave labor), safe working conditions, and equitable wages are prioritized for every worker. Look for certifications from ethical standards organizations as a clear signal of a brand’s commitment to responsible production.
These men’s shoes embrace eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, Tencel, hemp, and responsibly sourced leather alternatives. Some brands go a step further, incorporating recycled or upcycled materials to actively reduce the demand for new resources in the production chain.
What sets this list of sustainable men’s shoes apart is their emphasis on long-lasting and durable designs. By reducing the frequency of replacements, these shoes contribute significantly to sustainability. This approach aligns with the principles of circular fashion, promoting a mindset where products are designed to have an extended lifespan, minimizing environmental impact.
Finally, these brands extend their dedication by incorporating sustainable packaging. Whether using materials made from recycled sources or adopting minimalist packaging approaches, these brands aim to minimize waste and further contribute to a more environmentally conscious consumer experience.
This post was about the best sustainable shoes for men
Choosing the best sustainable men’s shoes involves more than just a fashion preference; it’s a commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of footwear production. From eco-friendly materials to innovative manufacturing processes, the world of sustainable shoes offers a path towards a more responsible and Earth-conscious fashion industry. We hope this post helped out make a stylish and sustainable choice!
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NOTE: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands/businesses.
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