9 Hemp Shoes For The Highest Sustainability
Will hemp shoes get you high? Highly sustainable, yes!
We’re talking hemp sneakers, hemp sandals, hemp slip-ons, and high top hemp shoes.
But what’s the big deal about shoes made of hemp?
They’re lightweight, breathable, and comfortable to wear year-round. Basically it’s the near-perfect material for shoes.
Did we mention hemp’s inherent microbial properties? I love foot-odor said no one ever.
For breathable, waterproof hemp shoes, 8000Kicks offers stylish sneakers for work, rest, and play.
Surf-brand Sanuk chooses hemp because it’s UV and salt-water resistant.
Rawganique’s handmade vegan hemp shoes are glue-free, dye-free, and elastic-free, being arguably the purest, biodegradable footwear around.
Throw on your sustainable streetwear, lace up those hemp canvas kicks, and strut your sustainable stuff to the bottom to read how we baked-up the best hemp shoes.
*This post contains affiliate links
QUICKLINKS FOR MENS & WOMENS HEMP SHOES
1. 8000 KICKS
About 8000Kicks
Hemp is the signature fabric for trail-blazing Portuguese brand 8000Kicks, maker of the world’s “first waterproof cannabis sneaker”.
They want you to “hemp yourself up from head to toe” and their ethical sneakers and can help with that.
They offer two models of hemp shoes for men and women.
If you’re looking for waterproof hemp shoes, check out the minimalist Explorer V2.
The Seeker is their latest offering if you want casual hemp sneakers.
8000Kicks Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
8000Kicks sources its hemp responsibly from farms in China, France, and Romania.
As well as the uppers, the insoles are also made of hemp making them breathable, antibacterial, and temperature regulating—all the benefits of hemp sole shoes.
The outsoles of the Explorer V2 are made from Bloom Algae, an innovative recycled material that cleans up waterways. The Seeker’s outsoles are made from recycled and natural rubber.
Supply chain & labor practices:
These vegan hemp shoes are manufactured in regularly inspected factories in China and Portugal. 8000Kicks employs a representative at each one.
The Portuguese factory provides free education and health care to its workers.
Green business practices:
Both the Chinese and Portuguese factories are partially powered by renewable energy with the brand working to increase this amount.
Each pair of 8000 Kicks hemp shoes generates significantly less CO2 than your average pair of running shoes: between 4.1kg and 5.3kg (compared to 14kg on average).
The CO2 the company does create is carbon offset with hemp farms and tree planting.
Available: 8000Kicks
2. RACKLE
About Rackle
US-based footwear brand Rackle is on a mission “to produce the most comfortable, sustainable, and biodegradable lightweight shoes that naturally help reduce your carbon footprint.”
And they want to do this without sacrificing performance, so their lightweight shoes (just 6 ounces!) feature a patent-pending arch design and a three-density foam sole.
They have several colors to choose from as well as unbleached white hemp shoes.
If you’re seeking black hemp shoes, their Alex Midnight Black comes in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Rackle’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The 100% hemp one-piece uppers are lined with OCS and GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Rackle uses EcoPure® foam for the soles, treated with an organic additive that helps it degrade 30 to 50 times faster in a landfill than untreated foams.
The laces are made from hemp and 100% recycled materials.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Rackle’s hemp shoes are made in Vietnam.
They look for suppliers that are environmentally responsible and can ensure safe and fair working environments.
Available: Rackle
3. SANUK
About Sanuk
Cali-brand Sanuk, has one goal: “to make people smile…and pass it on”.
With several surfers and a yogi as ambassadors, the brand encourages people to look after their “happy places” (AKA outdoor environments) for generations to come.
While not strictly a hemp shoe brand, Sanuk’s collection of sustainable shoes for men and women, including hemp sneakers, hemp sandals, and hemp slip ons are impressive.
Sanuk’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Each one of Sanuk’s hemp canvas shoes is a little different.
Some feature a 100% hemp upper while others blend hemp with responsibly sourced cotton, TENCEL, linen, jute, or virgin polyester.
Footbeds, midsoles, and outsoles commonly use BLOOM™ foam made with repurposed algae, alongside GRS-certified rPET, recycled or sugar cane EVA foam, and natural rubber.
Most are vegan hemp shoes but a couple contain wool or LWG-certified leather.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The majority of Sanuk’s production takes place in Vietnam and the rest in China.
Sanuk is part of multi-brand company Deckers Brands and its supply partners are audited against the Decker Brand’s Ethical Supply Chain Code of Conduct.
Green business practices:
The majority of Sanuk’s production takes place in Vietnam and the rest in China.
Sanuk is part of multi-brand company Deckers Brands and its supply partners are audited against the Decker Brand’s Ethical Supply Chain Code of Conduct.
Inclusivity:
Sanuk offers several All-Gender Styles that have a C/D width to suit most feet.
The adjustable straps on some models mean that a variety of foot widths and sizes can be accommodated.
Community & charitable giving:
Sanuk partners with the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit working to protect the world’s oceans and beaches.
The brand is also supporting the Pacific Pride Foundation’s advocacy and educational efforts for the LGBTQ+ community.
They donate $3 per pair of collab shoes sold plus an extra $10,000, for a guaranteed total donation of $40,000.
Available: Sanuk
4. RAWGANIQUE
About Rawganique
Rawganique is a hemp clothing brand whose love for hemp extends to a range of sustainable home products.
Their collection of kicks includes womens and mens hemp shoes, including hemp slip on shoes, ballet flats, boots, sandals, high tops, and sneakers.
Rawganique’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The uppers, footbed linings, and laces (in the case of their hemp tennis shoes) are all made from 100% European hemp.
It’s dyed with low-impact, biodegradable, fiber-reactive dyes in all but the undyed options.
Using natural rubber for the outsoles and natural wax coating for any waterproof hemp shoe models means that Rawganique’s organic hemp shoes are completely biodegradable.
Some are elastic-free and glue-free.
Supply chain & labor practices:
These vegan hemp shoes are handcrafted using traditional cobbling techniques in a small “sweat-shop free” European workshop.
The hemp is also grown in Europe, keeping the supply chain small.
Green business practices:
Rawganique is all about chemical-free clothing, shoes, and home accessories. The brand uses organic, natural materials only and they’re often undyed and unbleached.
Available: Rawganique
5. KUSTOM FOOTWEAR
About Kustom Footwear
Australian brand Kustom Footwear creates “classic footwear with a modern twist” that’s inspired by the Gold Coast’s modern surfing culture and love of adventure.
You’ll find classic hemp sneakers, beach-ready hemp sandals, and hemp slip on shoes in their line of footwear.
Kustom Footwear’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Kustom’s hemp canvas shoes are made from 80% hemp and 20% cotton.
Both the hemp sneakers and slip ons feature natural rubber outsoles and the hemp sneakers also have a castor bean oil footbed.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Kustom is a subsidiary of surfing brand Billabong International, now owned by Boardriders, Inc.
The Boardriders Group works with more than 80 manufacturers in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Committed to ethical manufacturing, they established QUEST (Quicksilver Ethical Standards of Trade) which includes a Supplier Workplace Code of Conduct and Modern Slavery Act.
Independent audits are carried across all factories.
Green business practices:
Kustom’s plans on designing more sustainable products using organic and recycled materials. Watch this space.
Community & charitable giving:
Their love for the ocean is reflected by collaborations with ocean nonprofits.
They previously collaborated with Sea Shepherd for the Defend. Conserve. Protect. collection. A percentage of each co-branded product sale went to their work protecting ocean wildlife.
Available: Kustom Footwear
6. VANS
About Vans
Want some kickflip inspo?
Old skool Vans and their hemp skateboarding shoes should do the trick (pun intended).
The iconic footwear brand has incorporated hemp across several collections including Circle Vee, Eco Theory, and Vans x JUJU Surf Club.
Vans’ Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Circle Vee upper knit is made of 47% hemp, 47% organic cotton, and 6% nylon. To cut down on glue, the upper is stitched directly to the outsole.
The sole is responsibly sourced natural rubber and linings and laces are made from organic cotton, hemp, and jute.
The Eco Theory collection features hemp sneakers and high top hemp shoes made with 50% hemp and 50% recycled cotton uppers, natural rubber outsoles, and jute laces.
Vans x JUJU Surf Club shoes feature uppers made from 50% hemp and 50% recycled cotton.
The EcoCush™ footbed uses a minimum of 25% biobased EVA foam and the outsole is made from EcoWaffle™ responsibly sourced natural rubber.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Parent company VF Corporation has an Ethics and Compliance Program, Code of Business Conduct, and Modern Slavery Statement to address ethical manufacturing across their complex supply chain spanning 40 countries.
The Worker & Community Development program helps ensure safe working environments for VF’s brand factories and seeks to improve local communities.
Green business practices:
Vans recognizes the need to move towards circularity and aims to incorporate more regenerative and recycled materials into its models.
They aim to eliminate single-use plastic packaging by 2025.
By 2030, Vans plans to source 100% of its top four impact materials (cotton, leather, polyester, and rubber) from regenerative, responsibly-sourced, renewable, and/or recycled sources.
They plan to develop and scale circular products by 2030.
Community & charitable giving:
For the Circle Vee collection, Vans partnered with Ocean Conservancy, donating $1 for every product sold.
They also collaborate with JUJU Surf Club, a nonprofit dedicated to “supporting existing and emerging African surf programs”.
Available: Vans
7. RISORSE FUTURE
About RISORSE FUTURE
Italian vegan footwear brand RISORSE FUTURE merges Italian design with cruelty-free culture.
Their hemp shoes for men and women are available in several styles including hemp tennis shoes, ballet flats, boots, and slip ons.
Perhaps the best hemp shoes for vegans, RISORISE FUTURE is Vegan Society certified,, all its products are PETA-approved, and it’s received the highest VVV rating from LAV (Lega Anti Vivisezione).
RISORSE FUTURES’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The brand uses a 100% hemp upper for several styles, paired with REACH-certified non-toxic dyes.
Other sustainable materials include corn bio leather, organic cotton, and natural latex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
RISORSE FUTURE’s vegan hemp shoes are designed and made in Italy.
The entire supply chain is located in the Marches region.
Green business practices:
RISORSE FUTURE prioritizes the use of innovative, vegan materials that respect the environment.
While Microfiber is used in some models, it’s REACH-certified as free of hazardous substances.
Available: RISORSE FUTURE
8. ASTRAL DESIGNS
About Astral Designs
US-brand Astral Designs is pioneering sustainable performance products for “wilderness athletes”.
Like its PVC-free life jackets and a patent for the world’s first breathable life jacket.
But its innovations don’t stop there. You can also shop their casual and performance hemp shoes for men and women too.
Want hemp skateboarding shoes, the Rambler’s durable a high friction rubber outsole can elevate any ollie to new highs.
Need black hemp shoes for work?
Their Hemp Chukker is a casual high top hemp shoe designed for all-day wear.
Astral Design’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Most shoe uppers are made from blends of hemp and 100% post-consumer recycled materials.
The Hemp Loyak, for example, features 77% hemp and 23% recycled polyester.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Astral Designs’ shoes and PFDs are manufactured in China by carefully chosen suppliers and manufacturers that align with the brand’s values.
Green business practices:
The brand is on a mission to reduce the amount of plastic pollution that ends up in our rivers and oceans.
They do this by developing eco friendly performance products like the world’s first bluesign® approved lifejackets.
Inclusivity:
Men’s and womens hemp shoes are identical save for the color options. Sizing is the same and they are all D-width.
Available: Astral Designs
9. VIBRAM
About Vibram:
Famous for its minimalist FiveFingers foot gloves, Vibram is embracing sustainable hemp.
The CVT LB is a light, grippy FiveFinger model with a hemp upper, making it one of the best hemp shoes for barefoot fans.
If you’re not a five-toe style fan, the Vibram One Quarter is the lightweight hemp slip on shoes alternative.
Being lightweight and foldable, both are perfect for throwing in a travel bag.
Vibram’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The CVT LB combines hemp uppers with Vibram’s famous minimalist outsole technology.
Supply chain & labor practices:
84% of Vibram’s suppliers and manufacturers have signed the Vibram Code of Ethics and they’re working to increase this.
Green business practices:
Vibram was reducing waste back in the 90s through the use of production scraps in its outsoles.
The brand uses nearly 100% renewable energy across global sites and recycles 73.4% of waste at its headquarters.
They plan to cut down further waste by implementing more efficient production processes, extending product life cycles, and looking at options for recycling at end-of-life.
Vibram has repair shops across the globe and its “Repair If You Care” campaign encourages consumers to repair and customize their shoes.
The FiveFingers are also machine washable, prolonging the life of each pair.
Community & charitable giving:
Vibram collaborates with various nonprofits and community organizations including schools, youth, and sustainability initiatives.
Available: Vibram
HOW WE CHOOSE THE BEST HEMP SHOES
It’s high time that hemp shoes became more mainstream. Hemp fabric has many benefits for the footwear industry—and the fashion industry in general.
But how did we choose this list of the best hemp shoes?
We used our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria of course!
Materials:
Sustainably speaking, hemp is the cream of the crop. It requires no chemical inputs and much less water than cotton.
It’s also a regenerative agriculture crop, drawing down a greater amount of carbon from the atmosphere than is emitted during its cultivation.
Being a natural fiber, there’s no end-of-life concern which is important if you consider that in the US alone, 300 million shoes are thrown away each year.
Hemp is also naturally water repellent without the use of PFCs (although natural wax can be used to achieve full waterproofness).
But because we’re talking shoes, we need to consider all components
and materials that go into their make-up.
Blending hemp with organic cotton and/or linen keeps uppers all natural. When synthetics are used they should be recycled.
For the insoles, hemp or cork keeps feet feeling fresh and natural rubber provides a durable and sustainable outsole.
Midsoles are often made of plastic but we’re pleased to see recycled algal bloom, castor bean oil, sugar cane, and partially recycled EVA foam becoming more commonplace.
- Certifications: bluesign®, USDA Biobased Product, Leather Working Group (LWG), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OEKO TEX Certification
Supply chain and labor practices
Transparency is key. We want to know where our shoes are made and that workers throughout the supply chain are treated fairly and have safe working environments.
Hemp makes for some of the greenest footwear around but we want to avoid staining those white hemp shoes with greenwashing so third-party audits and independent accreditations are important.
- Certifications: BSCI, fair trade, Fair Wear Foundation, SA8000
Green business practices
From using renewable energy and carbon offsetting to eliminating single-use plastic, there are many ways that hemp shoe brands can go an extra mile for the planet.
Community & Charitable Giving:
Brands that give back get a high five for their commitment to making a difference.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SUSTAINABLE HEMP SHOES
We’re totally sole-d on the benefits of hemp shoes.
Previously reserved rasta-only hemp shoes, the stigma is officially kicked with far more mainstream alternatives.
As always, we’ll (h)emphasize this: the most sustainable pair of kicks are the ones you’re already wearing.
But if you do need to buy new and want to tread lightly on the planet, consider ethical shoe brands such as these.
Help us reach new sustainable heights by sharing this article to support the best hemp shoe brands for low planetary impact.
