I need new shoes and want to buy shoes that can be disposed of without a bad conscience when worn out.
I’ve understood plant-based materials and biodegradability is some sort of holy grail for sustainable products, but I am struggling to understand really how biodegradable the different materials are.
Some brands tout 100% plant-based, but might still need industrial composting conditions to properly decompose.
Then again recycled plastics from old fishing nets and such is good if it takes them out of the oceans. But then, how do I dispose of then when worn out?
Or should I go nuclear and buy something new, non plant·based, but super high quality product that might last me longer?
I feel a little lost in this jungle.
I liked the concept of the OAT shoes, but they seem to have gone out of business.
Any advice? Certifications, brands, materials to look for?
Get shoes that can be resoled. Then only the part that wears out needs to be replaced. Find a local shoe repair shop, and ask them where to go.
I’ve picked up super nice shoes at thrift stores and had them resoled. At that point they’re essentially new, at a fraction of the cost.
That depends on your wear pattern and your walk. If you have, say, a right toe that points out slightly, then the upper of your left shoe will wear down as your heel brushes against it. Or if you don’t pick up your toes when you walk, the toes will scrape the ground and wear down.
A good cobbler will obviously give much better advice than some rando on the internet though, so feel free to ask someone who actually knows their way around their own bench.
I recently looked into this myself and there are barely any options. There is always one material that does not degrade in the shoes and the marketing of biodegradable is not clear. It has to be compostable and so far the only shoes that looked promising where crocs made from algea.
i think you’re coming at this problem from the wrong direction. don’t take it personally, it’s a common way of thinking. that oat thing proves it.
a product being biodegradable isn’t much help if you need to buy a new one every year. the process of making the thing is most likely more energy-intensive than is recycling it. the the most sustainable product is one that doesn’t wear out at all, because then they only need to make one.
basically, what you should be looking for isn’t shoes that break down easily, because then you have a pair of shoes that will… break down easily. instead, look for shoes that last. that means less waste, less energy used in production, and most likely a better repair policy. hiking boot manufacturers like Lundhags usually offer in-house re-soling services because they can re-use the old material when making new boots. that’s basically as sustainable as it gets.
I am trying to replaxe my every day sneakers.
There may exist shoes built like tanks, but do they look any good? I want a relatively good looking sneaker shoe in neutral colors.
This is why I’ve been looking at shoes like the https://purified.eco/ and similar.
Dr.Martens for example will last a lifetime, but they are not at all my style.
fashion is inherently unsustainable, so some compromise might be needed.
the best way to make sure sneakers don’t wear out is apparently to rotate between a few pairs. evens out the wear pattern i suppose.
honestly, i see no reason why a regular pair of canvas or leather shoes with rubber soles should be hard to break down. i don’t think there are and synthetics in there.
Dr. Martens don’t last a lifetime anymore. They’ve become absolute garbage.
Shoes are fashion and there’s a limited lifespan. That said, a pair of well constructed leather shoes or boots will last a lifetime, with several re-solings. It is my strong suspicion that the plant based products have a good-sized carbon footprint and typically don’t last as long as a really well made leather shoe. But before you commit to an expensive shoe it needs to be well fitted to your foot and your needs and lifestyle. Wide toe box!
I would prefer the shoe is vegan, so leather isn’t really going to cut it.
But maybe if I can find some hemp-shoe with re-soleing possible…?
I collect and restore shoes.
Do you wear men’s shoes, or women’s? I may be able to recommend brands that are durable over time, and that can be repaired rather than thrown away.
Also, if you don’t mind used shoes, you can save a ton of money.
I wear mens shoes. Looking for something clean sneaker-ish in a neutral color. Preferably vegan.
Any advice or pointers would be greatly helpful 🙏
Also, second hand might be okay for me, but I don’t want sweaty or wonky looking shoes just to get them second hand.
In practise what I am looking for is a good trade-off between sustainability and style.
So, sneakers aren’t repairable. There are plenty of shoes that offer great support, but if you’re looking for a sneaker look, you’re probably going to be stuck with disposable shoes.
Similar for vegan. Vegan leather-like shoes are made of plastic or canvas, and they will wear through/crack.
Leather is one of the most sustainable shoe materials. I own, and I regularly wear, shoes that are older than I am. The leather needs conditioning and care, but it does not disintegrate the way vegan shoes do.
Leather wears in. Plastic wears out.
If you’re interested in learning more, I can share more info about shoe construction and what to look for.
I’m still not sure what route to go down, but I would be interested in learning more!
It’s hard to find a single article that covers everything, but this might be a good place to start: https://www.allenedmonds.com/the-journal/made-here/process?icid=BottomNav_Our_Process
Allen Edmonds is one of the last big companies to manufacture traditional men’s shoes in the U.S.
Their quality isn’t as good as it used to be, but they still follow many of the same processes. That page will give you some of the basics on how they are made.
Welted shoes are designed to have their soles replaced. Allen Edmonds does make sneaker like shoes that can be resoled, but they aren’t really “buy it for life” like a welted shoe.
https://vcleat.com/ has lots of articles about older brands and high-quality shoes. Might not be the style you’re going for, but some of the information should still be good.
I mentioned used because eBay and thrift stores can be good sources for high quality shoes, if you know what you’re looking for - and if you don’t go in with expectations. Usually, I leave a thrift shop empty-handed. But I’ve also thrifted some real gems that are either in great shape, or just need some cleanup.
