Don’t let your socks get all soggy! Sustainable boots are an important part of an eco-friendly wardrobe, so let me give you a hand (or a foot) and introduce you to some of my favorite brands.
“Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day.” While it’s true that a sunny, dry day is usually better weather for playing, most kids aren’t too upset about stomping in rain puddles or building snowmen. As an adult, I’m not immune to some childlike fun, but I’m definitely not interested in soggy socks. If you live in a colder climate, you know that the winter and spring months are full of unpredictable weather. It might rain one day and snow the next. And heaven forbid we get an ice storm – better have some traction on those shoes! Let’s just say that boots are a closet essential for most of us.
But what do you look for in a good boot? Does it need to be waterproof? Breathable but still warm? Ready for snow, rain, or both? With all the needs of your poor weathered feet, it might seem like finding a sustainable boot option would be difficult. After all, creating a quality shoe takes many different materials. Just like with clothing fabric, there are ethical concerns with boot-making to think about. I always look to support companies that have a small carbon footprint (WARNING: many bad puns ahead). In this case, it’s also important to me to find companies that choose eco-friendly boot materials and are transparent about their practices.
Boot Connoisseur for Life
As a current Minnesotan, being a boot connoisseur is an absolute necessity. So, let me make your life easier by doing the research for you. The following eco-friendly companies are ones that I greatly admire for their business and environmental practices. Time to put your feet up and keep reading for recommendations on sustainable boots.
Alice + Whittles
This company has been on my radar for a long while, and I look forward to the day when I make my first Alice + Whittles purchase! I love their stance on sustainability, as well as the fact that they offer both a snow and a rain boot. I’ve noticed that it’s difficult to find sustainable companies that offer snow boots (sounds like a marketable opportunity if anyone is interested!).
Adventures with Alice
Alice + Whittles is on a mission to use 100% sustainable and traceable materials, and they are already at 90%! Their materials include fair trade rubber, re-claimed ocean plastics, recycled PET, and vegan water-based glue. In addition, they focus on the quality of their boots just as much as the environmental impact, so your sustainable boots are sure to survive a long hike or a wet, city day. I appreciate that they also value a diverse employee base, including the leadership of a CEO who is a woman of color. So, you can be sure that these boots include the input of people from many backgrounds. One thing is certain from the design of their boots – the team members all share a love of the outdoors!
I enjoy the simplicity of the Alice + Whittles shopping experience. They specialize in just a few types of shoes, which means they are crafted with great care. Their rain boot is made from the sap of rubber trees in Sri Lanka, and of course, we are talking about sustainable forests. And not to worry, the rain boots are also plastic free and waterproof! Next on the menu is the weekend boot. Although not marketed as a snow boot, the company does call it a year-round boot that promises to keep your feet warm and dry. In addition to company photos of the weekend boot in snow, there were also many reviews talking about how well it performs in snow. It does have a temperature-controlled lining made from 100% recycled synthetic wool. Sounds pretty cozy to me!
Roma Boots
Now, let’s talk about a company that is slightly more affordable than Alice + Whittles and also provides options for men, women, and kids. Though Roma Boots doesn’t have a snow-specific boot option, they do offer both ankle and mid-calf length rain boots. And not to worry, they have many colorful options to choose from. While I am pretty boring with my color choices, I know there are those of you out there who could rock a bright pair of rain boots.
Sustainable Boots with Heart
Roma Boots’ mission is to “give poverty the boot,” and they are doing just that. For every pair of boots purchased, they donate one pair of boots to children in Eastern Europe. Why “Roma?” Well, the Roma People (also known as “Gypsies”) are some of the poorest and least understood people in Eastern Europe. The founder of Roma Boots, Samuel Bistrian, hopes that his boots can be a small step to breaking the cycle of poverty in his home country of Romania. This isn’t just a boot company, it’s a philanthropic mission. While that definitely pulls on my heartstrings, this is a sustainability blog, so let’s chat environmental impact.
While sustainability isn’t their main initiative, Roma Boots does boast an eco-friendly, vegan rain boot made out of natural rubber. Aside from this, I couldn’t find much information on their sustainable practices as a company. However, they do adhere to a strict code of fair business practices with their manufacturer, making sure their workers are treated with respect. Not in need of a new pair of rain boots? Thanks for reading this post anyway. Perhaps you would consider donating a pair of boots to a child in need through the Roma Foundation. I would love children all around the world to have dry feet.
Nisolo
But what about a boot that keeps your feet dry and looks good while doing it? Nisolo is all about high-quality, sustainable boots that are sleek, stylish, and bound to last you many years. After all, shouldn’t a really great pair of boots be a closet staple that doesn’t require yearly replacement? One look at this company’s selection, and you’ll know these boots will never leave your feet. Better yet, they’ve got shoe options far beyond just boots!
Notes on Nisolo
Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation focused on fair wages, quality work conditions, and carbon neutrality. Nisolo’s factory is located in Peru where shoemaking is considered an art form. By supporting these artisans with fair wages, Nisolo reports that, on average, their employees experience a 47% pay increase when they begin working for them (this increases to 152% after 3+ years!). From their company profit, they’ve donated significant amounts of money to forest conservation in the Peruvian Amazon. Do you have used shoes that are headed to the garbage can? Partner with Nisolo and Soles 4 Shoes instead by donating your used shoes to be repaired and sold in developing countries.
Side note for my vegan friends, Nisolo boots are leather. They do make sure to carefully source all their materials and are deeply concerned with ethics, but at this time, this is not a safe option for vegans. The company does state that they hope to offer more vegan leather options in the future.
Timberland (Familiar Sustainable Boots)
Have all of these options been too exotic and unfamiliar up to this point? I do think it’s so important to provide options that are familiar and accessible. For example, Timberland is a pretty widely known company, and they have made some significant strides toward sustainability. In fact, they do offer some sustainable boots made out of recycled materials and natural rubbers. Not bad, Timberland! Let’s take a closer look at some of their eco-friendly practices.
Talks with Timberland
Timberland is committed to several big initiatives as a company including creating a net positive impact on the environment by 2030 and planting fifty million trees by 2025. They are transparent about what materials they use, which include responsible natural rubber and some 100% recycled materials. Like other innovative companies, Timberland has found ways to create useable materials out of recycled water bottles. Though they haven’t reached all of their sustainability goals yet, you can easily check out how they’re doing at the bottom of their Better Product website page.
My best advice when looking for boots on the Timberland website is to read through the features and details that accompany each product. You can easily see the boot materials, recycled content, and more. While it can take a little more work on your end, Timberland provides you with all the information you need to shop responsibly. Thanks for doing the work, Timberland! Now it’s our turn.
Hunter Boots
Looking for another familiar name? Hunter Boots are pretty iconic in the world of rain boots, but it turns out that they aren’t doing too badly for the planet either. As a UK Brand, the designers are well acquainted with rainy days and created boots to withstand all types of outdoor adventures. Of course, if your company is based around excellence in all weathers and landscapes, then the environment should matter to you. Though Hunter Boots didn’t start off on a sustainable foot, they continue to evolve in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
Hunting for Sustainable Boots
What changes are they making to their company practices? Great question. To start, Hunter Boots is determined to advocate for social sustainability. This means living wages and safe factory conditions for employees and absolutely no child labor. For their products, they are moving toward all-natural rubber sourced from well-managed farms. In addition, they are doing their best to shift from using animal products. Vegans rejoice! They offer several boots that are guaranteed vegan.
Hunter Boots took a big step when they created their first FSC-certified rain boot! The Forest Stewardship Council partners with companies in sustainable forest conservation and management. So, check for the FSC logo on Hunter Boots if you want to further this mission. All in all, I am so impressed with the strides they are taking to change the way their company operates. Have an old pair of Hunter Boots? Check out their Hunter ReBoot recycling program!
Time to Adventure
With the right pair of boots on your feet, any adventure is possible. It seems funny, but the environmental choices we make are important all the way down to the tips of our toes!
Stay dry, stay spry, and don’t forget to do your best for the environment and just try! I think all the boot research is making me lose my brain a little bit. Until next time!
Be Well. With Love.
All images taken from the highlighted companies’ websites or unsplash.com. No copyright infringement intended.
Leave a Reply