When it comes to buying sustainably, very often our thoughts go to smaller items such as swapping out for toothbrushes and q-tips, but have you considered buying sustainably for your feet?
When you’re looking for great shoes, you’re looking for comfortable shoes that won’t pinch, burn, rub, or cause blisters. You also need them to look stylish and last a long time. And if you’re anything like us, you’re looking for an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative.
This is where we can come in.
At Beagle, we’re constantly searching for the very best planet-friendly options. We know that making sustainable choices can be difficult at the best of times, especially if you’re low on time and navigating hundreds of options. When you’re looking for the best way to protect your feet, this can make it even harder.
We’ve researched hundreds of sustainable shoe brands for you, and from these a few have stood out. One of the top brands we’ve found is Allbirds; offering both style and substance, Allbirds shoes are top quality, extremely comfortable, and are designed to last; perfect for the slow-fashion acolyte. Allbirds were founded in 2016 after they took one look at the waste of the mainstream fashion industry and invented a completely new approach that focuses on natural, sustainable materials.
Allbirds uses top-quality, sustainably sourced materials for design and production, and is a certified B-Corp which means they meet strict qualifications on ethical practices and sustainability. They completely reimagined the materials and packaging used for their products. Instead of plastic mailers, Allbirds uses 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard to create packaging that serves as a shoebox, shopping bag, and mailer all in one, pushing sustainable innovation in packaging.
Why do we recommend Allbirds?
There are plenty of things to love about the eco-friendly shoe brand. Here are some of the reasons why we think they’re worth it:
Transparency
They measure pretty much everything from the factory floor to the lights in their offices. When they have measured their impact they lead the way in putting their results clearly on display, which is hugely helpful when trying to decide how much carbon is emitted by the brand you’re shopping from.
Carbon Neutrality and Beyond
They're not claiming to be carbon neutral in 30 years when it's possible to be carbon neutral today. By shifting farming practices to regenerative agriculture they're not only creating healthy soil but effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Not satisfied with being 100% carbon neutral, they're actually lowering their carbon footprint. Their bold sustainability commitments will see them cut their carbon footprint in half by 2025 and reduce it to near zero by 2030.
Natural and Ethical
Across their supply chain, Allbirds use natural ingredients, from replenishable sources that already exist. They work with leading suppliers to ensure their wool is held to the highest standards of farming, land management and animal welfare. Their manufacturing process uses 60% less energy than materials used in typical synthetic shoes.
Designed to last and for endless re-use
We’re all about slow fashion - one of the best things we can do for our planet is choose great products that will last for as long as possible. So how do Allbirds achieve this?
Re-use helps keeps items out of landfills and makes it easier for individuals to reduce their carbon footprints. Allbirds are machine washable, and good-as-new is only a 30* spin away. When they start to look old and tired, genuinely just run them through the washing machine and they look great again! We’re huge believers that conscious consumption saves you money over time and restoring your favourite items is a great way to make your investments last.
They are seriously comfy
We all love how comfortable and durable they are; CEO Dan swears by the Tree Dashers, and COO Dave loves the Runners. We love the style and comfort and we know that they’re serious about their sustainability too. We'll shout about the products we've tried and love, because we think you'll love them too.
A quick note:
Every product we feature has been thoroughly researched and is often used by the team. Some of the brands we work with will provide a comission when our readers or users buy their products. Some of the links on this blog may be such affiliate links - but this is covered by the brand, so you won't pay more as a result!
Beagle is on a mission to make it easy for everybody to shop sustainably. The Beagle Button is a completely free-to-use browser extension that recommends eco-friendly products while you shop normally online, from a database of independently-verified sustainable brands. We support eco-initiatives with every installation of our extension, and we hope that you will join us and build a more sustainable future.