Today we are answering the most frequently asked questions in our sustainable sneaker FAQ! Sustainability is of course a super big and important issue and the sneaker industry has already taken several steps in this direction in the past.
However, the actual meaning of terms that are used in the mainstream are sometimes lost. When we talk about sustainability, we generally mean a long-lasting effect. This means that it is also sustainable to use something for as long as possible and to utilise the value of the item as much as possible.
What is sustainability in shoes?
Sustainable shoes are not made from the usual materials such as chemically tanned leather, but from other materials such as corn waste, pineapple leaf fibres or cactus leather, for example. The upper material is then usually made from organic cotton, natural rubber, recycled artificial leather or canvas.
If you want to tan the leather of a sneaker naturally, plant-based tanning agents are used - for example oak bark, rhubarb roots or mimosa bark. This means that no toxic substances are released into our environment and nothing toxic ends up in the end product.
The advantage of naturally tanned leather is that this material is easy to process and can even be biodegraded or recycled later on. Sustainable sneakers therefore mean: environmentally friendly, kind to the skin and, in the best case, with a good energy balance during production.
Are Nike's recycled?
Many Nike's are now recycled. In September 2021, 78% of all Nike products were made from recycled materials. Nike is working on further increasing the proportion of recycled materials and optimising sustainable materials. The company works a lot with the material polyester, which is mainly used in clothing. For example, Nike produces this material from recycled plastic bottles by cleaning the bottles and shredding them into granulate.
To date, Nike has processed 112 million plastic bottles that would otherwise be lying around in landfill or in the oceans.
Apart from this, Nike is running various projects aimed at protecting the environment. One of these, for example, is the ‘Nike Move to Zero’ campaign. Here, a tree is planted for every kilometre run. We have explained how you can take part here:
What is the ecological footprint of a sneaker?
A typical pair of sneakers has a carbon footprint of around 13.6 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. According to a study by Quantis, the sneaker industry is responsible for 1.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By comparison, all air travel worldwide is responsible for 3.5% of all emissions.
The Circular Fashion section also fits this topic very well.
How sustainable is VEJA really?
VEJA sneakers are 100% vegan and sustainable. The brand sources all raw materials from Brazil and Peru: organic cotton for canvas and laces, natural rubber for the soles and vegetable-tanned leather for the uppers. VEJA also helps local organic farmers to make a living from their products. They have opted for soles made from natural rubber to prevent further deforestation of the rainforest.
If you want to find out more about VEJA, you can watch the YouTube video that we have included for you below. Here VEJA explains its history:
What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing is when a company tries to appear particularly sustainable through marketing measures. It is also known as a ‘green image’. It should be noted here that the sustainable statements made by companies are usually true in essence - but the core business is usually not environmentally friendly.
Many companies and brands in the sneaker scene are taking many important steps towards greater sustainability. Nevertheless, the topic is very complex and being REALLY sustainable is unfortunately still almost impossible in many cases.
Which sneakers are produced in Europe?
Among others, the ‘Filling Pieces’ brand produces exclusively in Europe, in Portugal to be precise. Filling Pieces is an Amsterdam fashion house that was founded in 2009 by Guillaume Philibert. On its website, the company explains the difference to other sneakers quite transparently:
Sole
The soles of the Filling Pieces sneakers are not made from a petroleum-based composite, but from a bio-based alternative made from sugar cane.
Insole
Instead of a plastic-based insole, recycled cork or organic leather is used here. A chrome-free process is used for leather soles, which is therefore not chemical.
Lining
Recycled PET mesh is used, which is one of the most responsible alternatives.
