Even the world of sneakers is becoming a spokesperson for the great global change that involves the fashion system, and beyond. Sustainability is much more than a way to rethink clothing and accessories, it is a much deeper concept, a way of living, which people are increasingly embracing also due to the pandemic. Here are some of the brands most attentive to environmental issues, brands that have built their identity and philosophy around respecting environmental issues, favoring natural, recycled, and even sea-recovered materials.

Saucony Originals

Cotton. Jute. Wool. Rubber. Wood. Gardenia. Beet. The new Jazz Court RFG by Saucony Originals contains only these seven natural and renewable materials. No plastic or petroleum derivatives, the brand’s commitment to a more sustainable future is to carefully choose materials and processes to continue creating the best possible sneakers with the least environmental impact. The shoe will be launched on March 10, 2021, marking a new beginning for the company, a turning point that will lead to a 100% circular economy by 2030. Many details make the difference in this change: gardenia flowers were used to dye the collar’s lining blue, beet juice to print size information on the insole. Paint has been replaced by a mix of flour and water to mark the stitching points while chalk was used to mark and align the upper and midsole. A true side stitching joins the upper to the midsole without the use of synthetic adhesives. Naturally, the packaging has been designed to have the least possible impact: paper and cardboard used are 100% recycled while traditional ink is replaced by soy-based ink.

Saye

Perhaps still not well-known, Saye is a Spanish brand based in Barcelona that produces sustainable sneakers using organic and recycled materials. For every pair of shoes sold, the brand commits to planting two trees: to date, more than 130,000 trees have been planted in India, Zambia, the Amazon, and Australia. The brand’s philosophy is to collaborate with suppliers who respect their workers, improve their living conditions, and provide them with a good working environment. For spring/summer 2021, Saye is launching a new version of its Modelo 89 sneaker made from recycled mango. This 100% vegan sneaker is mainly made from recycled mango fruit, a vegan bio-based suede, and a bamboo lining. To produce an organic and recyclable leather composed of discarded mangoes, the brand partnered with Fruitleather Rotterdam, a Dutch company specialized in transforming fruit into durable, leather-like material.

Yatay

Founded in 2018 by Umberto De Marco, president of Coronet Spa – an Italian company pioneering in the production of ecological materials – Yatay is a luxury sneaker brand that combines craftsmanship and ethical resources to create minimal design, chic allure footwear. Handmade in Italy and developed to drastically reduce the impact on the ecosystem, the shoes are made with eco-friendly products, including cruelty-free materials (bio-polyols, polymers extracted from cereals and corn, wood, recycled rubber, and plastic) and advanced technologies, combining lasting comfort with impeccable style. Yatay sneakers are machine washable and have ecru natural hemp laces and/or tone-on-tone bio-leather. Fun fact: the brand has reinvented the box cover as a backgammon board to play instead of throwing it away. The dice (and game pieces) are inserted in a small bag made with bio-based materials, scraps from the production process, all different and unique.

F_WD

F_WD is a footwear line as well as clothing and accessories that combines streetwear with references to the outdoor, military, and sport worlds. “Hybridization” is the key word for F_WD where different worlds come together, influence each other, contaminate each other. Vegan leather, suede treated without toxic agents, recycled rubber, recycled plastic from fishing nets transformation, recycled polyester, and recycled PET are the starting point for collections where graphics convey strong and clear messages urging ecological activism. Through the use of innovative materials and messages, F_WD declares war on plastic, one of the greatest enemies of the earth’s ecosystem. The mission is to actively contribute to the planet’s safeguard through research and experimentation with new materials and production techniques. The project was launched by the Onward Luxury Group, an international group leader in the production and distribution of footwear and ready-to-wear, with creativity entrusted to Raphael Young.

Veja

The new model from Veja is called Urca, presenting a sneaker with a distinct sporty touch and a structured sole. Made from C.W.L, an alternative to leather made from cotton covered in corn. A timeless and minimalist model with 100% organic cotton laces. Urca is produced in Brazil and is available in a variety of shades on a classic white background.

Timberland

At the core of the Timberland brand is the belief that a greener future is a better future. This comes to life through a decades-long commitment to responsibly producing products, protecting nature, and strengthening communities worldwide. The brand will commit to planting 50 million trees worldwide by 2025 and has also announced the goal of achieving a “net positive” impact on nature by 2030, giving back more than is taken. The new spring shoes, coming soon, feature GreenStride comfort soles made with 75% renewable natural sugar cane and rubber derived from trees. The leather is also special, coming from Leather Working Group Silver-rated tanneries based on responsible use of energy, waste management, and water treatment.

Ecoalf

The Spanish brand Ecoalf needs little introduction, celebrating its 10th year this year as a pioneer in developing responsible fashion. With the motto “Because there is no planet B,” the brand is the first Spanish entity to obtain B Corporation certification, demonstrating very high standards in social and environmental performance, focusing on transparency and responsibility at all levels. Founded by Spaniard Javier Goyeneche, the brand transforms waste collected from the sea by fishermen through sophisticated processing procedures into yarns and fabrics suitable for making clothing and accessories, mixing these materials with other scraps, from tires to coffee grounds. The brand’s sneakers have soles composed of seaweed, while the fabric part is the result of yarn made from plastic. Those shown in the photo below are made of 100% recycled nylon.