“Fortunately, exciting innovations are cropping up, from the use of regenerative leather, apple waste in vegan leather, to sourcing ethical, organic, and recycled rubber.”

If you’ve been hunting for ethical and sustainable footwear options, you’re not alone. Azure Road editors have spent the last year researching brands, innovations, and testing shoes in all price points. While there’s no easy answer, or one-shoe-fits-all solution, several companies are tackling problems like cruelty and waste in the manufacturing of leather to poor and unsafe labor practices. Affordable shoes often come from fast-fashion manufacturers, companies that have harmed society and the environment in ways we’re only now coming to terms with. Even vegan leather, a buzz word for the cruelty-free consumers, presents problems.

Vegan leather is crafted from synthetic materials like polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), mimicking the appearance and texture of genuine leather without using any animal products.

One of the main drawbacks of vegan leather is its reliance on petroleum-based materials. Polyurethane is a type of plastic derived from petrochemicals. The process of manufacturing PU involves extracting and processing crude oil, which is a non-renewable resource and contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the production of vegan leather often involves the use of toxic chemicals, posing risks to both the environment and human health.

Moreover, the durability and biodegradability of vegan leather are problematic. While it can last longer than genuine leather, most synthetic leather products do not easily biodegrade. When disposed of, they contribute to landfill waste while the breakdown of synthetic materials like PU can release harmful microplastics into the environment.

These challenges emphasize the complexities surrounding sustainable fashion choices and the necessity of seeking more eco-friendly alternatives.

Fortunately, exciting innovations are cropping up, from the use of regenerative leather, apple waste in vegan leather, to sourcing ethical, organic, and recycled rubber. While these companiesrange in size from small to medium, hopefully their innovations will help them scale while simultaneously influencing larger brands to make changes.

These five shoe companies show that style, substance, and sustainability go hand-in-hand.

Allbirds has become well-known to Americans, initially as the preferred footwear of Silicon Valley and now as the go-to comfort slip-on for ethical consumers. The company launched with a mission to exceed industry standards by using eco-friendly production methods and incorporating natural materials. Allbirds’ shoes are crafted from sustainable materials such as FSC-certified Tencel lyocell and Merino wool, ensuring both environmental sustainability and animal-friendly practices. Azure Road editors have worn Allbirds since the first iteration of the wool shoes launched. The company has since evolved into a variety of styles and has launched a new arm of the business called Allbirds ReRun™, a marketplace where you can shop for slightly imperfect and gently used products, extending their life and lowering our impact on the planet.

Statement of Sustainability

Price Range | $40–$155

Best For | Casual Slip Ons

Veja has sold 12 million shoes since launching in 2004. Seen as a leader in eco and ethical production for street shoes, including a new line of running shoes, the brand buys organic and ecologically friendly materials from fair trade family farms in Brazil and the Amazon while partnering with a charity that employs marginalized people in production chains as a way to reintegrate them into society. Veja prioritizes low to zero waste practices, low energy production, and recyclable packaging. Their vegan shoes are made with C.W.L. (Cotton Worked as Leather). This material is a vegan alternative to leather, with a similar appearance. The material uses a 100 percent organic cotton canvas coated with P.U., corn starch, and Ricinus oil and is 54 percent biomaterial based. Our editors love Vejas for both travel (running through an airport) and street kicks for Europe’s walkable cities, and they pair with everything from jeans to dresses.

Statement of Sustainability

Best For | Fashion-forward Street Shoes

Price Range | $105–$210

For a stylish take on sneakers and boots, check out the extensive styles on Koio. Thoughtfully designed both in shape and color, while also made to last, these shoes are handcrafted in Italy from either regenerative, Leather Working Group Certified (LWG) leathers, or vegan leathers based on apple skin waste. The soles and other components are ethically sourced and use recycled rubber. The brand’s fashion cache extends to a collaboration with the famous Positano hotel Le Sirenuse. Koio’s regenerative line is 99 percent biodegradable, with further claims that every pair of regenerative-leather Koios saves 43.75 pounds of carbon.

Statement of Sustainability

Best For | Fashionable Travel Sneakers

Price Range | $165-$395

You’d never know it by looking at the cute leather boots and woven huarache sandals that Nisolo shoes fall into the Azre Road approved camp. Yet, this brand has been known for its committment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices for awihle. The company prioritizes ethical production, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for their artisans. Their products are made using environmentally friendly materials, such as vegetable-tanned leather and natural rubber. Nisolo also focuses on reducing waste by producing durable timeless designs. Additionally, the brand is dedicated to transparency, regularly sharing its sustainability practices and goals with customers. Nisolo’s commitment extends to offsetting their carbon footprint by investing in reforestation and other environmental projects.

Statement of Sustainability

Best For | Huarache leather sandals

Price Range | $90–$250

Our editors regularly meet women who travel with Rothy’s for their flat, packable, machine-washable designs. Each pair is shaped through a 3D knitting process that employs ocean-bound plastic. The brand claims to have diverted 100 tons of single-use plastic so far through material innovations like building uppers knit from single-use plastic to strobel boards made from algae-based foam. They also ship in boxes made with 95% post-consumer recycled materials. Each shoe is the result of innovations in the repurposing of materials. They produce women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes and accessories so the whole family can join the cause in style.

Statement of Sustainability

Best For | Comfortable Travel Flats

Price Range | $80-$260

*The Azure Road editorial team is guided by its North Stars and vets all recommended products personally. When you buy something using our retail links, Azure Road may receive a small commission at no cost to you.