7 Best Eco-Friendly Barefoot Shoes
Here are some of our favorite natural footwear brands using vegan, environmentally friendly material that will last for years.
Hands holding a small plant in some soil
As consumers become more educated on the environmental impact of their buying decisions, the demand for sustainable products is on the rise. Veganism has expanded beyond food choices and into shoes, clothing, and other products. Concerns about carbon emissions, landfill waste, and animal welfare are influencing buying choices more than ever.
Here are some ways that conventional shoe manufacturing impacts the environment:
The manufacturing process of conventional shoes is responsible for a large percentage of carbon emissions.
Materials can take 30-40 years to decompose.
In America, 300 million pairs of shoes are tossed out every year, with 95% ending up in landfills.
Burning shoes to dispose of them releases toxic chemicals into the environment.
If you are joining the global movement to reduce your footprint (pun intended!), one of the best things you can do is make the switch to sustainable footwear. While vegan, eco-friendly shoes aren’t exactly mainstream yet, they are out there. Whether you’re concerned about carbon emissions, landfill waste, or animal welfare, finding shoes that align with your values can be quite a chore.
To make it easy, we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of our favorite brands. These are at the forefront of making the change toward sustainability.
Quick note: These are affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products that align with our mission and add value to your life.
Wildings Tanuki
Wildling Tanuki
Wildings is a B Corp company, meaning it must maintain high standards for accountability, transparency, and charitable giving to be certified. Commitment to sustainability is not just the philosophy behind its shoes; it is woven into the fabric of the entire organization through ethical practices.
The Tanuki model, Wilding’s best-selling shoes, are made from a surprising material- paper!
Japanese washi paper, also known as rice paper, is gaining attention from the fashion industry for being durable, lightweight, and sustainable. The Tanuki is the lightest-weight shoe available, giving your foot ample opportunity to move and strengthen with each step. But don’t let the light weight fool you—they can still be worn in the winter, as they leave plenty of room for warm socks.
Sourced from a variety of tree fibers mixed with rice water, washi is an ancient practice that is finding a new purpose in footwear. Materials used in other Wilding models include hemp, cotton, linen, cork, and rubber. Some of the winter models contain sustainable wool sourced from conservation projects, so if you’re shopping vegan, be sure to check the product descriptions for materials.
Check out Wildling Shoes and get free shipping with code: AWN_HEALTHYFEET
2. Vivobarefoot Primus Series
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite
Vivobarefoot’s bestselling trail runners are made from synthetic, vegan, recycled material to help keep waste out of landfills. The Primus is designed to navigate terrain on hard-packed trails so your feet can feel the ground and connect with nature. The sole is just the right thickness for sensitivity, flexibility, grip, and protection. Its 98% recycled insole is durable and long-lasting, so you won’t have to replace them as often as conventional shoes, leading to less waste.
Primus is also great for the gym, strength training, and high-intensity workouts. Its versatility makes it that much more appealing- having one pair of shoes instead of four reduces household waste and saves money.
3. Mukishoes
Mukishoes Indigo
For a high quality shoe with instant comfort that requires no break in period, look no further than Mukishoes. To reduce their carbon footprint, this Portugal-based brand prioritizes local partners who share their standards of quality.
The soft uppers of Mukishoes are made from organic cotton, linen, burel, or leather. They choose textiles that are grown on regenerative farms with an emphasis on permaculture and then dye them with GOTS-certified pigments. The Hope Kids shoe is even dyed from an onion!
Mukishoes also saves a high quantity of textiles from going to the landfills by purchasing other company’s deadstock, or materials that would’ve otherwise been thrown out due to surplus or even just a few minor defects in a roll of high-quality material.
We recommend Mukishoes not only for the care they put into manufacturing, but also for the comfort and width. They offer a spacious toe box and flexible sole that are hard to pass up!
Save 10% on your Mukishoes order by using code: HFAMUKI
4. Lem’s New Boulder Boot
Lem’s Vegan Boulder Boot
This vegan, lightweight version of Lem’s Boulder Boot is even more packable than the original, so it fits easily in a backpack. It is their first shoe with insoles made from ultra-thin cork, a completely sustainable material. Cork comes from tree bark, so harvesting doesn’t require any cutting or harming the trees. The material also provides natural coolness and forms to your feet for added comfort.
5. FeelGrounds
FeelGrounds Docks in Gum Moss
FeelGrounds uses innovative technology to create footwear made from recycled and sustainable materials. They use recycled and natural materials whenever possible, such as recycled PET bottles and bamboo.
The Banbū Leather used in FeelGrounds is a new iteration of vegan leather designed by von Holzhausen, a company dedicated to creating plant-based products to replace wasteful plastic. Their vegan leather, made from bamboo fiber, rivals the quality of animal leather and is fully biodegradable.
Banbū leather is estimated to produce 5x lower carbon emissions than conventional leather. It’s water resistant and weighs less than animal leather, making it a perfect material for natural footwear.
Their standards for material include:
100% cruelty-free and vegan
Lowest carbon emissions possible
Non-toxic
Ethically produced
Minimal production waste
6. EarthRunners
EarthRunners Circadian Sandals in Canyon Clay
Makers of the original grounding sandal, EarthRunners are lightweight and completely free of animal products and toxic dyes. They are designed with secure laces, so the shoe moves with your foot and you don’t have to grip with your toes. Copper and stainless steel are used in the earthing system, helping facilitate the sense of groundedness we feel when we touch the ground with our bare feet.
The benefits of earthing are numerous. It regulates the nervous system and helps with issues like inflammation, sleep, heart health, circulation, pain, cognitive function, and even helps wounds heal faster. To learn more about earthing, check out this blog post on their website.
7. Origo
Origo Everyday Sneaker, Cotton Canvas in black
Using locally sourced materials with a focus on low carbon emissions, Origo offers a variety of fashion forward styles. Not only are their shoes healthy for your feet, but they also are easier on the environment! Origo Shoes minimizes long-haul transport, ensures ethical working standards, and uses smart, compostable packaging. And, with every pair of shoes purchased, Origo donates to help with the reforestation of the Amazon! Now that is a company you can feel good about supporting!
Check out Origo Shoes and save 10% with the code: HFA
Have You Tried These Yet?
We’ve highlighted some of our favorites in this blog, but there are so many more out there! The world of footwear is slowly changing in response to customer demand for less plastic, attention to animal welfare, and eco-friendly products. More vegan choices are becoming available as companies embrace the need for alternatives to conventional materials. The Healthy Feet Alliance is here to help you make informed decisions about your shoes and join the massive movement toward sustainability.
If you’ve already tried some of the shoes on this list, let us know what you think! Got ideas for more? Send them our way.
To see our full list of recommended footwear, go here.
