Eco-Friendly Trail Running Shoes
Image: sportpoint, Adobe Stock
Finding a balance between sustainability and performance can be an ongoing journey for the earth-conscious athlete. As of today, many of the products that are built to last or to withstand the elements are created from resource-intensive materials that can take a long time to biodegrade.
The good news is that more and more companies are bringing sustainability to the forefront of their mission without cutting back on performance features.
Here are three companies that make a few models of trail running shoes that are both effective on the trails and better for the planet.
Icebug
Icebug is a Swedish company that became the first “climate positive” outdoor footwear brand in 2019. Not only do they offset more carbon than they produce, they also have a deep commitment to using sustainable materials and practices. As an example, the company ships all of their shoes by boat to reduce carbon emissions. Perhaps most importantly, Icebug offers transparency and depth into their sustainability initiatives and humility in admitting that they aren’t perfect.
Icebug Men’s Trail Running Shoes | Icebug Women’s Trail Running Shoes
La Sportiva
La Sportiva is a small Italian brand with big sustainability initatives. They release a detailed report that demonstrates their commitment to the environment and highlights activities such as the use of renewable energy, reduction of textile waste through cutting techniques (leather) and recycling (rubber), and encouragement of product longevity by offering and promoting resoling solutions.
La Sportiva Men’s Trail Running Shoes | La Sportiva Women’s Trail Running Shoes
On
On is a popular Swiss brand that is working towards greater sustainability. They recently launched the first zero-waste running shoe, though this shoe is not a trail running shoe. On their website, On includes sustainability information about each of their shoes. For example, their Cloudvista shoe is made from 15 percent recycled materials, 70 percent of the polyester used is recycled and is DWR and PFAs free. Additionally, On releases detailed sustainability reports that highlight some eco-conscious company-wide practices including using 15 percent recycled polyester and 87 percent organic cotton (with a 2024 goal of 100 percent), joining the #CEO4Climate and Science-Based Targets Initiatives Network, and working with a LEED Gold certified supplier.
On Men’s Trail Running Shoes | On Women’s Trail Running Shoes
As Icebug states on their website, “you can’t save the planet by buying Icebug shoes.” But, because the fashion industry significantly contributes to global warming through water use, waste and emissions (10 percent of total emissions), when you do need to buy new trail running shoes, you can choose to purchase from a company that is doing their part to protect the environment.
