Recycled products are becoming easier to find these days. One of the products where companies are making headway towards the use of recycled materials is footwear. These recycled shoes are stylish and comfortable. As with swimwear, activewear and backpacks, there are plenty of options for shoes made from recycled materials.
Check out our favorite recycled shoes below.
Of course, don’t forget to shop for shoes with the 3 Rs in mind! We suggest you:
- Buy second hand when you can. Some of my favorite shoes were purchased secondhand, I wore them everyday.
- Buy recycled, look below, and you will see some great options
- Buy natural materials – another great option is to look for more natural materials that will break down.
- Buy good quality that will last.
- Always look after everything you have, including your shoes. You can find some more tips on looking after your shoes in What to Do With Old Shoes.
What is a sustainable shoe?
Shoes are a complex mix of materials used to support our feet and ensure they can breath. This can make it difficult to make a sustainable shoe when it has so many different materials. To help you out here are a few things to look for when you are choosing shoes:
- Natural materials – natural fibers are those that are sourced from a plant or animal. Some examples include organic cotton, natural rubber wool, leather, hemp, flax, and natural cork. The benefits of natural materials are that they are from a renewable source (one that replenishes itself over a period of time) and these materials are more likely to biodegrade. Although how well they biodegrade can depend on how they have been treated or how much glue is involved.
- Recycled materials – recycling materials used in shoes can include:
- recycled food waste such as pineapple or coconut
- repurposed materials like old tires
- recycled materials such as recycling PET plastic sources from recycled water bottles
Below are examples of brands making shoes out of recycled materials.
Cariuma
Cariuma sneakers are made using recycled PET combined with natural materials like bamboo, organic cotton, rubber, sugarcane, cork, and mamona oil.
As a company, Cariuma is transparent and dedicated to looking after its workers. Plus, they give back where they can by donating sneakers to Soles4Souls and getting their hands dirty cleaning up their local beach.
Their range includes low-cut and high-cut sneakers in many bright colors. We particularly like the Pantone colors.
Thousand Fell
Thousand Fell is on a mission to empower the community to step up and create a better future. They have a family-owned factory in Brazil where they source many local ingredients. They use materials that are responsibly sourced and are either biodegradable, recyclable, or upcycled.
The brand uses many different materials in its sneakers including recycled bottles, and recycled rubber. They also use natural ingredients like castor beans to make a breathable foam and they have replaced the plastic components of their footwear with coconut husks, sugar cane, and locally sourced palm leaf fibers from food waste in Brazil. Food waste is a big part of our overall waste problem so any action to reduce it is positive.
Thousand Fell not only embraces the use of sustainable and recycled materials in their design, but they also partner with TerraCycle to provide a closed-loop recycling program for their sneakers. They’ve designed their shoes so they can be taken apart easily and the materials are given a second life.
Their range includes lace-ups, slip ons, and court sneakers that are stain-proof and water-resistant.
Sole Footwear
Sole Footwear is all about making a positive impact on people’s lives. How do they do this? Well, they do so with great design, caring about your goals and skill levels, and considering sustainability. Not to mention they love giving back whether it be through direct donations, volunteering, and of course donations of shoes to Soles4Souls.
These shoes use recycled cork, one of the unsung heroes. In its natural form cork is a carbon-negative material that grows on trees. A great renewable and sustainable replacement for plastic foams from fossil fuels. The recycled stuff is even better given it is doing its second round already. Learn more about how to recycle old cork wine bottles here.
As well as their footwear Sole provide custom moldable footbeds that form to the shape of your feet to support and protect them. Check them out.
Indosole
Made from 100% recycled tire soles the Indosole Women’s Cross Slides are comfy and made to last.
Did you know that every year 1.5 billion tires are discarded worldwide? Tires do not decompose and are often burned, releasing toxic gases and pollutants. Indosole is helping to solve this problem by turning tire waste into trendy soles. So far they have prevented over 100,000 tires from going to landfills.
Rothys
Rothy’s Weekend Slider has knit straps made with their signature recycled PET plastic thread which is blended with a hemp to make it breathable and soft. They are fully machine washable and made to last.
Rothy’s are working to make better choices not only in materials but in the manufacturing process. In 2023 they achieved zero waste certifiation at their factory.
Rothy’s are helping to clean up the single-use plastic water bottles by diverting them from landfills and transforming them into stylish recycled shoes, recycled bags, and recycled accessories.
Reebok
Reebok’s REEcycled collection is sourced from plants and recycled materials. Their goal is to create innovative solutions to help build a fitter planet while achieving the same performance.
The Reebok Zig Dynamic is made with recycled or repurposed materials.
Adidas
Help your kids be more eco-conscious with these revamped kids’ recycled sneakers. They are designed by Hawaiian artist Stan Smith in collaboration with surfer Aaron Kai.
These shoes not only look fantastic, but they are made using Parley Ocean Plastic and contain no virgin polyester.
Timberland
These colorful women’s sneakers work towards protecting the planet. The upper is made from ReBOTL™, a fabric exclusive to Timberland made from recycled plastic bottles.
Not only that, but it has PET laces and fabric lining made from recycled plastic bottles. Purchasing from Timberland, you know you are supporting an innovative company leading the way in sustainable and eco-friendly shoes.
Vivobarefoot
Vivobarefoot products bring us closer to nature – and the closer people are to nature, the more they will protect it. Well, it certainly needs a lot of protection these days.
The shoes are foot-shaped (not shoe-shaped), wide, thin, and flexible, all to let your feet do their natural thing. They are made from sustainable materials, including recycled waterproof plastic lining and a recycled membrane.
Find more great recycled shoe brands in The Best Recycled Shoe Brands for Eco-conscious Shopping. Oh and don’t forget about complimenting your sustainable shoes by choosing eco-friendly socks.
Find more ways to vote with your wallet in our buying guides.
- Buy Recycled: Sunglasses
- Buy Recycled: Backpacks
- Buy Recycled: Wallets for Women
- Buy Recycled: Swim Trunks for Men
- Buy Recycled: Swimsuits for Kids
- Buy Recycled: Swimsuits for Women
- Buy Recycled: Leggings & Activewear
- Buy Recycled: Dog Products
Or head over to our Buy Recycled Guides Page to find more.
