Eco shoes are hot, and it seems like everyone is jumping on the "green shoes" bandwagon. But unlike with most trends -- where you actually start to tire of they the more popular they become -- it's actually refreshing that more brands are beginning to manufacture enviromentally-friendly footwear. Below are a few of the biggest names in eco shoes, with more information about their practices and policies.
"The nice little shoe company getting in touch with its inner hippie," Simple makes shoes sandals and boots for women, men and kids. Using materials such as jute, crepe, cork, water-based glue, and recycled car tires, this brand is committed to making products that are 100% sustainable, but they have a couple of other things going for them as well: cool designs and affordability. Offering styles ranging from retro-styled sneakers to urban lace-ups, there's something for everyone, with most styles priced between $50 and $100 (U.S.) Simple Shoes Official Site
Keen is another brand that is working towards 100% sustainability for their products, and has made lessening their environmental footprint one of their company's core issues. Some of the steps they've taken include using recycled polyester webbing, water-soluble glues, natural cotton for canvas, and shoeboxes made from biodegradable materials that collapse for recycling. Most noted for their original "Newport" toe-protecting sandals Keen makes footwear for women, men and kids, and offers everything from hip canvas sneakers to pretty ballerina flats. Prices range from about $40 to $130. Keen Footwear Official Site
Paying fair prices to producers, promoting traditional skills, operating with transparency, recycling materials when possible, and promoting the use of natural materials and dyes. These are just a few of the many socially-responsible goals that the people at El Naturalista are working to achieve. Along the way, they've made some of the most unique and funky eco shoes available. Available in men's and women's styles, El Naturalista offers boots, shoes and sandals, with prices ranging from $150 to $200. El Naturalista Official Site
Birkenstock has been employing eco-friendly practices since long before the recent "green shoes" movement. Their boxes are made from 90% recycled paper, the actual production process of their sandals and shoes creates little waste, and Birkenstock sandals themselves can be repaired -- and that's just the tip of the eco iceberg at Birkenstock. In addition to their ubiquitous sandals -- which are available for kids, women and men -- Birkenstock also offers clogs and shoes, which range in price from $75 to $200 (U.S.). Birkenstock Official Site
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