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The fashion industry’s impact on the planet is no secret. Long thought of as one of the most wasteful, carbon-emitting, and eco-unfriendly industries out there, fashion is being forced to change. Athletes and athletic brands worldwide are increasingly turning to environmentally friendly materials and sustainable practices to create eco-friendly athletic shoes.
These companies recognize that their customers care about the environment and are willing to pay a premium to purchase sustainable products. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best sustainable athletic shoes on the market, the materials they’re made of, and the companies that put them out. Here are the brands and models leading the way in sustainable athletic footwear.
1. Adidas
Adidas has long been at the forefront of sustainable athletic shoe production with its Parley for the Oceans line. This range of shoes features eco-friendly materials, including recycled plastic bottles and textile waste, to reduce ocean pollution. Adidas uses a unique knitting process to create the upper parts of the shoe, which minimizes scrap and cuts down on waste. In 2021 Adidas launched a Zero Waste Running shoe that the company was able to design with recyclability for 100% of its parts in mind. The company also uses recycled rubber and sustainable leather alternatives to make its shoes eco-friendlier.
2. Allbirds
Allbirds is famous for its sustainably produced wool runners. The wool is sustainably sourced, and the shoelaces and insoles are made from recycled materials such as recycled plastic bottles and castor bean oil. The low-carbon footprint of the wool runners comes partly from choosing a renewable material and using a manufacturing process that emphasizes minimizing waste.
3. New Balance
New Balance has committed to using 100% recycled polyester, and the brand has set up rigorous standards for sustainable materials in all its shoe manufacturing. The brand designs and tests innovative eco-friendly shoes, including the Fresh Foam Hierro v6 trail running shoe, which features a unique mesh fabric made from recycled plastic bottles and a sole made from recycled rubber.
4. Veja
French brand Veja works with organic cotton and recycled materials to make practical, sustainable sneakers. The company’s shoe models emphasize natural and eco-friendly materials, and the brand carefully tracks each product’s lifecycle to ensure the material’s durability. Veja’s Christophe Dervyn says the company has a small, young team committed to expanding its environmentally conscious practices in every aspect of its business.
5. Reebok
Reebok focuses on using sustainable materials such as recycled polyester and plant-based or biodegradable alternatives like castor beans or sugarcane in the shoe construction process. The brand also has testing procedures to ensure that it is using the right materials and reduces waste. Reebok’s Floatride Energy Grow running shoe, for example, uses a sustainably sourced eucalyptus tree upper and a sole made with rubber sourced from wild rubber trees.
Sustainability and high-quality performance and style can find a converging path in the world of athletic footwear products, and the brands that are making strides to reach that balance are certainly worth considering. With these brands and models, you can work out comfortably, stylishly, and sustainably. If you’re looking for even more eco-friendly options when it comes to your athletic shoes, check out SneakerTwins DE – we offer an extensive range of sustainable sneakers from all over the world so you can get your hands on some truly unique kicks while doing something positive for our planet!