What happens to your shoes after you throw them out? They will most likely end up in landfill and contaminate our air and water for more than 30-40 years to come. 

It may sound too harsh for throwing out a pair of shoes. But, the reality isn’t just a single pair of shoes. Annually, about 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown out. 

But, there’s more. More than 24 billion pairs of shoes were made in 2018 worldwide, generating an annual amount of about 700 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in manufacturing and material extraction. 

So, is it all doom and gloom? Not quite. 

As sustainability has been one of the key topics in the fashion industry, the footwear industry has pushed hard for change. While experts do warn us that the pace of change in the fashion industry as a whole is slowing down, the use of recycled materials in footwear jumped 70 percent in 2019. 

With rising awareness, both mainstream and startup brands are coming up with innovative technology and fashion-forward designs to make shoes that are not only comfortable and beautiful, but also sustainable. 

Plastic and packaging 

When it comes to modern shoemaking, one of the biggest unsustainable practices is the use of plastic. 

Most modern shoes are partly, or sometimes wholly, made of plastic or plastic-like materials, such as synthetic rubbers and polyvinyl, which is a type of plastic that looks like leather. Think of the foam soles, eyelet holes, heel spikes and polyester covers. They’re most likely all made of plastic.

According to National Geographic, nearly half of the footwear exported in the world is made of synthetic rubber or plastic. 

Plus, most modern shoes are stitched, glued and molded together with multiple materials like plastic, cotton and leather, making them impossible to recycle properly. 

Additionally, shoes require a lot of packaging. Normally, you have the shoes that are wrapped in layers of tissue paper or baggies, cardboard inserts for extra protection, the shoe box and the shipping box. 

According to the EPA, containers and packaging, including shoe packaging, make up about 30 percent of America’s trash. In 2017, while 50.1 percent of all generated packaging and containers was recycled, still about 23 percent was landfilled. 

However, every cloud has a silver lining and so does the footwear industry. 

Change is already here

For the past few years, the footwear industry has witnessed enough success stories of sustainability-focused startup companies, such as Rothy’s, Allbirds and Everlane, to know that customers are looking for sustainable footwear. 

And mainstream brands like Adidas and Nike have invested in sustainable practices the past few years, using their resources and influence to invest in innovative materials, such as 3D printing and biofabrication. 

Here are some notable footwear brands, both mainstream and startup, you should look into. 

Nike 

One of the mainstream sportswear brands, Nike has been recognized for its sustainability efforts for the past few years. 

In 2018, Textile Exchange reported that Nike used the most recycled polyester in the industry. From 2010, Nike has transformed more than 7 billion plastic water bottles into recycled footwear or apparel. 

Known for comfort and durability, Nike’s signature Flyknit material, which is used on footwear throughout the brand’s catalog, is made partly with recycled plastic. 

Check out a list of sneakers made with Flyknit material. 

Nike also launched Flyleather, a new material made from at least 50 percent recycled leather fiber. In April 2019, in celebration of Earth Day, Nike collaborated with Steven Harrington and launched a collection consisting of an Air Force 1, Cortez and Blazer made with Flyleather. 

Moreover, since 2008, the iconic Nike Air soles have been made with 100 percent renewable energy and used at least 50 percent recycled manufacturing waste. 

In 2019, Nike launched a sustainable line called the Nike Plant Color Collection, including Air Max 95 and Blazer Low, that uses plant-based dye to make the collection’s summery pastel colors. 

Currently, 93 percent of the brand’s supplier factories rated bronze or better based on the brand’s definition of sustainability. By 2025, Nike plans to power all facilities with 100 percent renewable energy. 

Nike also recycles old Nike shoes by transforming them into Nike Grid material, which is reused in making other products. So, when you want to throw out a pair of old Nike shoes, consider dropping them off at a nearby Nike store to help the planet. 

Adidas

Another mainstream sportswear brand, Adidas is very vocal about its sustainability efforts. 

The Parley collection is its flagship sustainable line that launched in 2016 in collaboration with an environmental organization called Parley for the Oceans. So far, Adidas has made about 17 million pairs of shoes made with recycled plastic from the ocean. 

The collection includes not only running shoes, like the Alphabounce+Run and Ultra Boost, but also trail shoes like the Terrex Two. 

For all the Superstar fans, Adidas made limited edition sustainable Superstars from recycled plastic. Sign up here to win a pair because the item will not be for sale. 

In 2018, Adidas teamed up with Stella McCartney to create a range of sustainable, vegan-friendly and 3D-printed footwear, including a Stan Smith made of vegan leather. 

Also in 2018, investing in future technology, Adidas teamed up with a 3D-printing technology company called Carbon to create trainers using a Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology — a step beyond 3D-printing — that creates various shapes and designs by projecting UV light into a pool of resin. 

Using this technology, Adidas manufactured a line of trainers called Futurecraft 4D. These trainers are made from 100 percent recyclable Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), which is an extremely flexible and durable material like plastic and rubber, but is degradable and non-toxic. Using TPU as the only material, Futurecraft 4D can be 100 percent recycled endlessly. 

As a whole business, by 2021, Adidas plans to work with its key U.S. sports partners to transition to more sustainable uniforms. Plus, by 2024, Adidas plans to use only recycled polyester in all its products across the business. 

And to celebrate its commitment to a more sustainable company, Adidas made a brand new, sustainable turf field, composed of approximately 1.8 million plastic bottles or 40,000 pounds of plastic waste, at South Florida’s Miami Edison High School.

Converse

One of the most timeless sneakers, Converse has recently launched a sustainable line called the Renew Collection that includes its most iconic Chucks. 

For the collection, Converse used recycled plastic bottles and discarded denim to make canvas uppers. For Recycled Chuck 70’s, the brand used discarded denim and cotton canvas waste from its factories to make canvas uppers and recycled polyester to make laces. 

Plus, the collection shoes are fully customizable. Check here for custom options. 

Allbirds

Reaching $1.4 billion valuation in 2019, a remarkable feat for a 6-year-old company, Allbirds satisfies the taste of young consumers, mostly living in affluent metropolitan areas like Silicon Valley and New York City, with its simple and clean design, sleek website that is easy to navigate, and a business statement unmistakably centered around sustainability. 

Allbirds shoes are covered with uppers made from merino wool or eucalyptus trees, padded with soles made from sugar cane, strapped with laces made from recycled plastic bottles, and packaged in boxes made from 90 percent recycled cardboard. 

Plus, starting in 2019, Allbirds went carbon-neutral for its entire supply chain, meaning it will pay back every ton of carbon it emits as a business by investing in third-party verified emissions reduction projects that protect and plant trees, build wind energy and more.  

Click here to check out their best-selling runners available at $95. 

Rothy’s 

Another successful sustainable footwear startup, Rothy’s is a 4-year-old company, valued at $72 million, that is best known for its sustainable flats and loafers. 

The uppers of Rothy’s shoes are knitted with thread made from plastic bottles and sustainably sourced merino wool. So far, they have saved more than 47 million plastic water bottles. Plus, instead of being cut from larger pieces of fabric, Rothy’s shoes are knit to shape, reducing fabric waste by 30 percent than other traditional footwear brands. 

Rothy’s outsoles are made with either carbon-free rubber or luxe vegan leather, and the insoles are made with bio-based castor oil and recycled materials. Then, the shoes are packaged in fully biodegradable boxes that are strong enough to ship without an extra shipping box.

Check out Rothy’s best-selling pointed toe flats, available at $145. 

Everlane

Known for its transparent pricing and simple yet aesthetic designs, Everlane is a young apparel company with a separate sustainable sneaker line called Tread. 

The uppers of Everlane’s leather sneakers are made with leather sourced from the world’s cleanest tannery. Their soles, laces and linings are made from recycled plastic bottles. 

Check out their leather sneakers, available at $98. 

Additionally, Everlane as a whole boasts of partnering with the best, ethical factories around the world. It only partners with factories that scored 90 or above on their compliance audit that evaluates factors like fair wages, reasonable hours and environment. Everlane  introduces and links to every partnering factory on its website. 

For example, Everlane’s 40-hour flat, available at $115, is made from a family-owned factory in Tuscany, Italy, that met Everlane’s stringent standards for ethical manufacturing and fair labor conditions. 

Moreover, for every order placed during Black Friday, Everlane donated $15 to Oceana, an organization that works to protect and restore the world’s oceans, for up to $300,000, which is enough to fund a full year of the organization’s campaigns.

Reformation  

Also introduced in our sustainable fashion story, Reformation is known for its sustainable and beautiful clothing items. Recently, it launched a shoe line that includes strappy sandals, booties and heels, which were largely ignored by many other sustainable footwear brands. 

Reformation’s dress shoes are made from materials like sustainably sourced silk and traceable leather. For heels, Reformation uses bio-based materials instead of plastic and a water-based adhesive instead of toxic glues. Plus, Reformation’s shoes save an average of 52 percent on carbon dioxide emissions, 70 percent of water and 65 percent of waste, compared to other footwear companies. 

If you’re thinking of investing in high-quality, classic black heels, check out the Giulia Satin Heel that is made from eco-silk and saves 3 pounds of carbon dioxide, 6 gallons of water, 1.2 pounds of waste per pair, which is available for $218. 

Conclusion 

Consumers have never had as many sustainable alternatives as they do now. In the footwear industry as well, we are given so many choices, from startup brands to all-time classics. However, the choice for the planet ultimately comes down to each and every consumer. 

And before you buy another pair of sustainable shoes, remember that consuming more should not be the very first sustainable choice that comes to your mind. 

Instead, take good care of the shoes you already have so they last longer. If you really feel like you have to say goodbye to them, ask around to see if there are any takers or donate them to a nearby thrift store.