These sustainable boots aren’t only made for walking. They’re made for looking good from day-to-day, trekking through snow, stomping in puddles, and hiking canyons.
Boots are admittedly one of the more difficult wardrobe items to make ethically and dispose of responsibly, so we’re putting our best foot forward to reduce our impact by scouting out the most eco-friendly boot brands.
These brands use more responsible materials, prioritize ethical labor, focus on green business practices and give to others.
Our new Brand Rating System and its 22 criteria (looking at factors like chemical use and climate impact) are now in place to ensure we’ve included only truly boot-iful brands that are stepping up (sustainably speaking) to the top of the footwear industry. See our explainer here and look out for the boot brands that have taken this extra step to transparency on the list below.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Ethical Boots Kicking Fast Fashion To The Curb
Poppy Barley crafts beautifully designed boots in minimalist styles, including ankle, tall, and warm collections, using mostly Leather Working Group (LWG) certified leather. They’ve also been comprehensively rated on their sustainability credentials by us—find the full rating here.
Tried and tested, we love wearing Nisolo’s Chelsea boots. They are one of the most sustainable boot brands prioritizing LWG-certified leather, transparent supply chains, and fair labor practices.
We’ve done a lot of walking in VIVAIA’s Square-Toe heeled boots and they are as comfortable as they are eye-catching. Focusing on low-impact materials, this brand gives virgin plastic a literal kick by focusing on biobased and recycled fabrics.
Index: Sustainable Boot Brands
- Poppy Barley Jump to brand
- Nisolo Jump to brand
- VIVAIA Jump to brand
- Matisse Footwear Jump to brand
- Sezane Jump to brand
- NAE Jump to brand
- Christy Dawn Jump to brand
- Bhava Jump to brand
Poppy Barley
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
LWG
Poppy Barley has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Female-founded and based in Edmonton, Canada, Poppy Barley offers beautifully designed and made footwear, bags, and accessories.
Their boots are crafted primarily from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified leather and the collection includes timeless styles in 3 ranges: ankle, tall, and warm boots. All are designed with comfort, style and versatility in mind and their footwear comes highly rated by customers.
Poppy Barley offer a trade-in program and repairs to promote circularity and longevity. The brand gives back through their Future Fund.
As a B Corp, they regularly report on their sustainability progress. They disclose Tier 1 suppliers on their website and audit suppliers directly at least every 2 years. Boots are packaged in certified organic cotton dust bags, FSC-certified boxes, and FSC-certified tissue paper printed with soy-based inks.
Nisolo
Nisolo is yet to be rated.
About Nisolo
Price Range: $165–$260
This Nashville-based company has a vision to bring intentionally designed, minimalist, and ethically-made accessories to people around the globe.
Nisolo covers all of your seasonal footwear needs, with a wide range of sandals for summer and an equally-impressive selection of women’s and men’s ethically-made boots for when the mercury drops.
Nisolo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Nisolo works with certified Leather Working Group (LWG) tanneries to collect ethically-sourced leather that is a by-product of the meat industry. Though they are looking into alternatives to bring vegan options into their range.
You’ll see the standard suede and rubber combination in their winter boots as well as weather-resistant leather in some of their dressier options like their sustainable booties.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Nisolo has its own third-party audited factory in Trujillo, Peru, and partners with two other factories and groups of independent artisans in Mexico and Kenya, respectively.
In their own Peruvian factory, they provide needed employment opportunities for locals, going above and beyond to ensure fair wages and financial support like assisting with home loans. Their family-owned Mexican partner factory adheres to a strict Code of Conduct, which requires that wages are at least 14% higher than the local living wage. Their Kenya-based artisans receive the same rate of higher wages, as well as learning opportunities and healthcare.
Nisolo is a Certified B Corp and started the Lowest Wage Challenge, a movement to encourage brands to be fully transparent by publishing the lowest wage in their supply chain so that improvements can be made and the status quo challenged.
They not only offer fair trade premium perks, but an in-house skills development training program with classes on finances, health, nutrition, English, physical education, and yoga.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
You won’t be chukka-ing out these ethical chukka boots any time soon, as everything here is designed for durability and repairability.
Nisolo is Climate Neutral-certified and offsets its carbon emissions through a partnership with Ecosphere+ to tackle deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. For more, read their impact report.
Community & charitable giving:
Their circular shoe reclamation program minimizes their contribution to landfill waste by donating returned or damaged shoes to Soles4Souls.
My Personal Review of Nisolo’s Ana Heeled Chelsea Boot:
“While I love the looks of their lace-up boots, I’m personally a fan of the slip-on Heeled Chelsea Boots. Not only are they made with luxuriously smooth and high-quality leather, but the chunky wooden heel provides ample stability and comfort while still providing some literal style elevation. I can also vouch for their durability as they’ve held up well with extensive wear.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
VIVAIA
VIVAIA is yet to be rated.
About VIVAIA
Price Range: $139–$199
VIVAIA is a recycled shoe brand that knows a thing or two about making women’s boots that are as functional and as they are fashionable.
They offer a large selection of different styles, including knee-high boots, ankle boots, square-toed boots, chunky wedge boots, Chelsea boots, and more.
VIVAIA’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
VIVAIA’s gives virgin plastic the boot with their use of biobased and recycled materials, like rice husks, herbal foam, recycled PET, and carbon-free natural rubber. They do use some traditional TPE and EVA foams, along with wool in one model of over-the-knee boots. All other styles are vegan.
Supply chain & labor practices:
VIVAIA’s recycled boots are made in a renewable energy powered factory in Dongguan, China, visited regularly to ensure ethical standards and fair wages are upheld.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
They ship in specially-sized recycled boxes to reduce shipping materials and bulk.
My Personal Review of VIVAIA’s Regina Pro Boots:
“If you’re in the market for ankle boots with flair, the Regina Pro Square-Toe heeled boots are a sustainable stunner. I personally own these boots and adore how warm yet breathable the soft, recycled stretch knit upper is. You’d never guess it’s also water-resistant, but I’ve tested it stomping through the snow and found that unless it gets properly saturated, they keep the feet dry.”
Reviews by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Matisse Footwear
Matisse Footwear is yet to be rated.
About Matisse Footwear
Price Range: $20–$300
Matisse is an LA-based sustainable luxury brand that combines craftsmanship, quality, and artisanal touches to meet the needs of the modern woman. They have an impressive (and we mean extensive) range of boots in every imaginable style from combat boots to platforms.
Or if western boots are your style, giddyup on over to rodeo-stopping rhinestone-studded Nashville.
Matisse Footwear’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their Coconuts by Matisse collection uses PETA-approved synthetic vegan leather (which is PU-based, not PVC) to mimic the look and feel of luxury without the cost of animal cruelty.
The rest are made of animal leather, though we’ll be double-checking on whether this is ethically-sourced leather or not. We would also love to see a filter on their website to make it easier to discern between vegan and non-vegan designs. Whenever possible, they use recycled leathers or other textiles for minor components, like heel wraps, welts, uppers, and straps.
They only used vegetable-based dyes and non-animal-based glues.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Matisse works with factory partners across five countries who meet their standards with regard to fair wages and fair working conditions. Most of the family-owned factories have been in the footwear business for 30+ years and are all regularly audited.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Matisse works with “nominated tanneries that have worked tirelessly to be cleaner and greener” by using technological advances to lessen watershed waste. Packaging is made from 100% recycled paper products.
Sezane
Sezane is yet to be rated.
About Sezane
Price Range: $205–$450
Where vintage meets modernism, there’s no question that Sezane was born in the fashion capital of the world: France. With only four collection drops a year and a monthly curated selection, it would be an understatement to say that Sezane’s goods are sought-after.
Creating timeless pieces with quality materials, their women’s boots go all the way from ankle length to full leg length—like their Anaelle Thigh High Boots with a split leather exterior and quintessentially 1970s Parisian vibe.
Sezane’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Sezane uses a vast amount of materials throughout its range of clothing and accessories (most of which are GOTS-certified or have other sustainability certifications).
Their boots mainly consist of ethically-sourced leather (61% of which is vegetable-tanned leather and chrome-free). Unfortunately, that’s still combined with virgin polyester, polyamide, and polyurethane for the time being.
They do incorporate some recycled PET and rubber, but we’d love to see more.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As a Certified B Corp, their leather boots are ethically-made in ateliers across Italy, Portugal, and Spain, which are audited by 3rd parties to meet compliance of Sezane’s Code of Ethics, These compliance criteria follow BSCI, SMETA, ICS, and WCA standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
All of Sezane’s locations and factories run on 100% renewable energy. They also use 100% recycled packaging.
NAE
NAE is yet to be rated.
About NAE
Price Range: $129–$181
This PETA-approved Portuguese shoe brand makes some of the most ethical boots, heels, sandals, sneakers, and more. Why? Because NAE is an acronym for “No Animal Exploitation”.
They carry extensive options in all manner of vegan shoes for both men and women, we well as unisex options so you can vibe any which way you feel. Follow our example and try the High-Top Lace-Up Sneaker Boot. Made of a recycled PET fabric upper and lightweight, non-slip thermoplastic rubber outsole, we love these comfortable and versatile boots when we know we’re going to be on our feet all day.
With many options teetering close to $100, they’re accessibly affordable, too,
NAE’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
NAE’s sustainable materials for boots (some of which bear OEKO-TEX certification) range from common (recycled PET and partially-recycled vegan leather) to innovative (Bioeco made from fermented corn starch and recycled polyester).
Other styles feature cork, organic cotton, Piñatex (made from pineapple leaf fibers), and AppleSkin leather (a byproduct from the apple juice industry). While there are a few instances of synthetic microfibers, they are limited.
Supply chain & labor practices:
NAE works with four certified factories, two of which are in the north of Portugal and another two in Spain.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Whether you snag some sustainable Chelsea boots or any other style, know that manufacturing is always carbon neutral and employs other resource-minimizing techniques.
My Personal Review of NAE’s High-Top Lace-Up Boot:
“I personally tried the High-Top Lace-Up Boot with the recycled PET upper since it comes in several different upper material choices. Back when I worked all day in a coffee shop, these became my favorite work shoes because I could wear them for 10 hours straight on tiled floors and remain foot fatigue and leg pain-free.
The rugged sole is burly yet feels lightweight and has excellent grip, making these boots a versatile shoe for all sorts of terrain.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn is yet to be rated.
About Christy Dawn
Price Range: $358–$388
Slow fashion icon Christy Dawn is all about honoring Mother Earth through a spiritual and sustainable connection, believing what we wear should be circular and created with environmental intention.
Their upcycled vintage-inspired clothing range includes dresses, tops, bottoms, loungewear, and footwear—including sandals and sustainable leather boots, like the knee-high Yoko Boots, a modern cowboy boot with a gorgeous, handcrafted natural patina.
Christy Dawn’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their footwear is created from untreated, naturally textured, upcycled deadstock leather (outsole included).
Supply chain & labor practices:
All Christy Dawn products—from dressed-up boots to dressed-down sustainable loungewear—are produced in Los Angeles. Not only are these ethical boots made in the USA, but sourced there too, considering all deadstock fabrics come from textile companies based in L.A.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their Farm-to-Closet Initiative includes a partnership with Oshadi, leasing 50 acres of land to turn it into a regenerative cotton farm. You can help grow their mission and buy your own regenerative plot of land and receive its annual yield in the form of a shop gift card.
Community & charitable giving:
They provide the option to buy a plot through their Land Stewardship Investment program, which contributes to the farmers’ salary, seeds, fertilizer, and more, helping you get from soil to dress.
Bhava
Bhava is yet to be rated.
About Bhava
Price Range: $125–$345
Whether you’re traversing the beach or galavanting around the streets of New York City, Bhava can match your lifestyle step-for-step. They’re strictly cruelty-free and vegan across all manner of footwear, including ethical boots with an innovative kick.
In addition to regular sustainable knee-high boots, they all sell boot uppers that allow you to convert any of their ankle-high booties into full-length boots. With a dark vegan leather upper and wooden platform sole and heel, the Claudia Platform Ankle Boot is 60s go-go boot meets earthy modern tree hugger.
Bhava’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Across their range of ethical heels, sandals, clogs, and eco boots, Bhava’s uppers consist of vegan leather. We’re not sure what exact material it is, but we know it’s not PVC or PCP. It’s also REACH-compliant and free of formaldehyde, phthalates, azo dyes, and chrome.
That’s paired with natural rubber soles, eco-suede linings, cork insoles, and some heels made with wood.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Products are handmade by one of two main manufacturing partners in Spain and India (at the country’s first 100% female-owned footwear factory).
Factories are personally vetted for safe working conditions, but beyond this knowledge, there is limited information on their standards, supply chain, or certifications, so we will be following up.
