The Most Eco-Friendly Road Running Shoes
Image: jzf, Adobe Stock
Traditionally, running shoes are made from a laundry list of problematic materials. From synthetic rubber that leaches dangerous chemicals and microplastics into the environment to polyester, which is made from petroleum, emits large amounts of pollutants and creates microplastics when washed and decomposed, your average running shoe is a silent source of trouble for the planet.
Related: Where to recycle your old running shoes
With an ever-growing global shift towards sustainability, more brands are creating running shoes that tread lighter on the earth. The below brands have crafted quality running shoes out of renewable materials and some offer recycling programs when your shoes have reached the end of their lifecycle.
Here are the most eco-friendly running shoes on the market in August of 2022:
Prefer running on trails? Check out the most sustainable trail running shoe brands out there right now.
Hylo
Hylo is a running shoe that was created with sustainability in mind. They offer running shoes for men and women that are made from innovative renewable materials, such as corn fiber, natural rubber, organic cotton and Algae Bloom™. The company claims that the Hylo Run 2 has a 52 percent lower carbon footprint than the average running shoe. Hylo also offer shoe recycling once you are ready to toss your shoes and use FSC-recycled cardboard for packaging.
On Cyclon Cloudneo
On’s subscription-based Cyclon shoes offer a unique model for sustainable running shoes. The Cloudneo shoes are made from over 50 percent bio-based materials made from castor beans and are fully recyclable through the company.
Allbirds
Allbirds has a few options for sustainable running shoes, and all boast great sustainability stats. Take the Tree Dasher 2 for men and women for instance. This shoe is made from sustainable materials such as FSC-certified TENCEL™ Lyocell, sugarcane-based EVA and castor bean oil-based insole foam. The company claims that the Tree Dasher 2 is a carbon neutral shoe that has a lower starting carbon footprint than previous models and is offset by company investments in carbon reduction projects. Allbirds also offers Rerun, where you can purchase gently used Allbirds from a trusted source.
The answer to living a sustainable lifestyle is not the constant purchase of new, sustainably made goods, but instead buying less, buying durable, repairing when possible, and recycling at the end of your item’s lifecycle. When it is time to buy a new pair of running shoes, opt for the most sustainably-made version you can find.
