Sustainable Footwear
Sustainable and ethical footwear
7 rated brands in this category — full 5-pillar HSS breakdowns on each brand page.
Wondering how these ratings work? Read our EU Taxonomy guide and CSRD explainer to see the evidence standards behind HSS.
Allbirds
Allbirds leads on carbon footprint transparency and natural materials (merino wool, TENCEL, sugarcane EVA). However, their "carbon neutral" claims rely heavily on offsets rather than absolute emission reductions, and the price point (£95-135 per shoe) puts them above many competitors. Strong B Corp credentials (82 score) and FSC-certified packaging are genuine positives. Known downside: the wool shoes have durability concerns reported by users, and the shift into synthetic materials (Tree Dasher) muddies their natural-fibre positioning.
Veja
French sneaker brand using wild Amazonian rubber, organic cotton, and recycled plastic bottles. Genuinely transparent supply chain — they publish factory lists and pay fair wages. No marketing budget (relies on word of mouth/influencers). The "but": the shoes are expensive (£95-150), some styles have limited cushioning, and the wild rubber supply chain is harder to scale. Still, the most credible sustainable sneaker brand on the market.
Nisolo
US-born, Peru-anchored B Corp footwear brand making handcrafted leather shoes and boots through audited, living-wage factories with radically transparent pricing.
Adidas
German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Vivobarefoot
UK barefoot-footwear brand made largely from natural and recycled materials, with repair, resale (ReVivo) and ocean-plastic lines — genuinely circular intent in a niche category.
Nike
American multinational corporation engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of footwear, apparel, and equipment.
Rothy's
US footwear and bag brand knitting shoes from recycled plastic bottles, with a take-back recycling program and durable, machine-washable designs.