40 Sustainable Footwear Innovations

From Hay-Based Sneakers to Biodegradable Vegan Stilettos

These sustainable footwear innovations range from hay-based sneakers to biodegradable vegan stilettos. While adidas has recently made waves with its Parley ocean plastic initiative -- showcased with its new AM4LA sneaker release which features ocean plastic yarns -- nat-2's low-top sneakers feature an upper that consists of recycled hay. Additionally, examples like Berlin-based artist Magdalena Woodmann's shoe creations are crafted using found objects like wooden furniture parts which are broken down to create heels and couch upholstery which is recycled to create a fabric upper.

Other sustainable footwear innovations to note include Rothy's range of comfortable and chic flats which are crafted out of recycled plastic bottles along with Explicit Wear and Iamsterdam's 'Gumshoe' design which was launched in collaboration with environmental firm Gumdrop. Playing off the company's name, the shoes appropriately consist of recycled chewing gum.

SCORE
6.5 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Europe, Asia
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 94%
Activity 92%
Freshness 8%
Ethical Boat Shoe Designs
CATEGORY
Eco
Ethical Boat Shoe Designs
Sustainable Toddler Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Toddler Shoes
Eco-Friendly Baby Shoes
CATEGORY
Fashion
Eco-Friendly Baby Shoes
Eco-Friendly Kids Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Eco-Friendly Kids Shoes
Transparent Sneaker Websites
CATEGORY
Eco
Transparent Sneaker Websites
Lightweight Recyclable Sneakers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Lightweight Recyclable Sneakers
Haute Eco-Friendly Footwear
CATEGORY
Eco
Haute Eco-Friendly Footwear
Upcycled Furniture Footwear
CATEGORY
Eco
Upcycled Furniture Footwear
Eco Sugar Cane Flip-flops
CATEGORY
Fashion
Eco Sugar Cane Flip-flops
Recycled Waste-Crafted Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Waste-Crafted Sneakers
Repairable Slip-on Sneakers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Repairable Slip-on Sneakers
Recycled Shoe-Crafted Bags
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Shoe-Crafted Bags
Sustainable Printed Toddler Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Printed Toddler Sneakers
Footwear-Repurposing Projects
CATEGORY
Eco
Footwear-Repurposing Projects
Recycled Gum-Created Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Gum-Created Sneakers
80s-Inspired Ethical Shoe Silhouettes
CATEGORY
Eco
80s-Inspired Ethical Shoe Silhouettes
Sustainable Wool Running Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Wool Running Shoes
Long-Lasting Sneaker Designs
CATEGORY
Fashion
Long-Lasting Sneaker Designs
Sustainable Wool High-Top Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Wool High-Top Shoes
Eco-Friendly Knit Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Eco-Friendly Knit Sneakers
Recycled Bottle Flats
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Bottle Flats
Olive Leather Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Olive Leather Sneakers
Sustainable Hay-Based Sneakers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sustainable Hay-Based Sneakers
Biodegradable Vegan Stilettos
CATEGORY
Eco
Biodegradable Vegan Stilettos
Pineapple Leather Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Pineapple Leather Sneakers
Eucalyptus Fiber Running Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Eucalyptus Fiber Running Shoes
Eco-Friendly Wool Runners
CATEGORY
Eco
Eco-Friendly Wool Runners
Tire-Constructed Sustainable Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Tire-Constructed Sustainable Shoes
Exclusive Sustainable Everyday Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Exclusive Sustainable Everyday Sneakers
Sustainable Zero-Waste Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Zero-Waste Sneakers
Repurposed Coffee Ground Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Repurposed Coffee Ground Sneakers
Recycled Leather Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Leather Sneakers
Upcycled Ocean Plastic Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Upcycled Ocean Plastic Sneakers
Sustainable Burger-Themed Sneakers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sustainable Burger-Themed Sneakers
Ocean Plastic-Crafted Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Ocean Plastic-Crafted Shoes
Mushroom Leather Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Mushroom Leather Sneakers
Recycled Reusable Shoeboxes
CATEGORY
Eco
Recycled Reusable Shoeboxes
Sustainable Corn-Based Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Sustainable Corn-Based Sneakers
Convertible Summer Shoes
CATEGORY
Eco
Convertible Summer Shoes
Recyclable Modular Sneakers
CATEGORY
Eco
Recyclable Modular Sneakers