Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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Its sales have skyrocketed and many brands, both large and small, are now producing this type of footwear. What sets many of them apart is their strong commitment to sustainability. We review the most 'eco' brands and models on the market
'Make it to last, not to be discarded' is perhaps the phrase that best defines the concept of circular economy. More and more brands are embracing sustainability to keep up with consumers who are becoming increasingly aware about their purchases. That’s the case with sneakers; once just for sports, they’ve now become the perfect addition to everyday outfits.
This type of footwear is having its moment right now. Sales have skyrocketed, with projections showing an average annual growth of 5.3% over the coming years, reaching 1.5 billion pairs of sneakers sold worldwide by 2029. In fact, the variety is so extensive that you could say there’s a sneaker for every occasion.
Let's take look at some of the most sustainable brands and models on the market, from those companies that were born with this mission to iconic franchises that have incorporated an environmentally friendly philosophy into their portfolio.
1.- Saye
This brand, born in Barcelona in 2018, manufactures vegan sneakers. They’re defined mainly by the materials used to make their sneakers. Each one is made from biological, organic and recycled materials, such as cotton and rubber; or corn, apple, and cactus leather, used as nappa; or bamboo thread, recycled PET, or plastic sourced from the oceans.
Laces, velcro, ankle boot-style... Their models have a classic, unisex and timeless design; moreover, they’re handmade in Portugal and Spain. They also have a tool at their disposal that helps them measure their impact throughout the value chain. How? By monitoring the entire process: from the selection of materials -bio-based or recycled -, using the minimum number of prototypes, applying the principle of responsible packaging, manufacturing ethically or with an ambitious reforestation project, among other initiatives.
2.- Allmyeco
We're still in Barcelona with another slow fashion brand that has even made its way to New Zealand. The 'AMEs' are locally made in Spain and are made with pineapple and apple fiber, cork and recycled PET plastic, mainly taken from the oceans and seas, among other 100% vegan materials. To add to that, for every pair of sneakers sold, the brand plants five trees, thus offsetting their carbon footprint.
3.- Flamingos Life
They're probably the best-known sneakers in Spain when it comes to sustainability. Just like Saye and AME, their sneakers are made in our country. Their goal is to produce fully biodegradable sneakers, but for now, they're using organic and natural materials like corn, apple, bamboo, cotton and latex made from rubber tree sap.
4.- Veja
Another really popular one and possibly the one with the longest history. They were launched in 2004, with a goal of making unique sneakers. These French sneakers use organic Brazilian and Peruvian cotton for the canvas and laces, and Amazonian rubber for the soles. To add to that, upcycling is very much at the forefront; the fabric of its 35 models is made from plastic bottles, as well as recycled polyester and waste cotton from the textile industry. They're also conducting research on a type of leather made of corn residue.
6.- Camper
The iconic Spanish brand introduced Roku last year: modular sneakers made up of six pieces that can be effortlessly assembled and disassembled. A completely customizable sneaker that is designed to be repaired and recycled.
7.- Salomon
The brand specializing in mountain sports has a recyclable model. These are the Index, their road running sneakers, which are made with two main components: polyurethane plastic (TPU) at the bottom of the sneaker and polyester on the upper, making it easy to disassemble and subsequently recycle them.
They recently launched the third generation of these sneakers, successfully reducing material waste from 40% to 26%. How? They've optimized the cutting technique on the top part, including a lighter material in the midsole and a 100% recycled polyester upper.
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