We’ve been on a sustainable shoe kick lately in the spirit of walking towards a greener future. So it seemed like the right time to step into the world of sustainable sandals.
Whether you’re a flip-flops fanatic or a strap-back supporter, get ready to sole search for your next guilt-free, planet-hugging pair of kicks.
We promise—it’s a sandal-ous affair you won’t want to miss!
And by that we mean, we’ve put together a list of sandals made of responsible materials by brands that ensure ethical supply chains and low-waste packaging.
As we refresh our articles in the coming months we’re also going to be using our new Brand Rating System which will consider everything from the steps brands are taking to minimize their climate impact to their circularity initiatives. Learn more about this new system here.
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 Sandals That Walk The Talk
If you want ethical leather sandals, Nisolo is our go-to. They’re committed to transparency, ethical production practices, and long-lasting footwear. Their Huarache Sandals are our top pick for the summer, thanks to their versatility and post-break in comfort.
Perfect for when sustainable flip-flops are a little too function-not-fashion for you, VIVAIA’s high-quality vegan sandals are ethically manufactured using recycled materials. We’ve been impressed with the comfort level of all of the styles we’ve tried, making them a welcome addition to our summer wardrobe.
For heels to dance the night away in, Volair provides fashion-forward sandals using vegan leather and recycled materials. We can personally vouch for how comfortable they are, and that’s despite being novice heel wearers!
Index: Eco-Friendly Sandals
- Nisolo Jump to brand
- NAE Jump to brand
- Bhava Jump to brand
- VIVAIA Jump to brand
- Veerah Jump to brand
- Volair Jump to brand
- Matisse Jump to brand
- Chaco Jump to brand
- The Root Collective Jump to brand
Nisolo
About Nisolo
Price Range: $90–$180
Nisolo is a brand specializing in consciously made leather accessories.
Based out of Nashville, they provide a vast catalog of shoes, including flats, sandals, mules, sneakers, heels, boots, and sandals women and men alike can strut their summer stuff in.
They come in various styles, including slides, block-heeled styles, and our favorite, the Huarache Sandal. Styled after the ultra classic Mexican fisherman sandals, they’re available in a collection of earthy colors like Desert Rose—which make the perfect staple piece for just about any wardrobe.
Nisolo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Whether you’re shopping for sustainable heels or something a little less formal, Nisolo’s shoe range is made predominantly from leather. This leather is solely a by-product of the meat industry, and Nisolo is currently investigating its entire supply chain, down to the farm level.
They have visited and vetted all their factories and leather tanneries and reported that many of them have been certified through the Leather Working Group (LWG).
Nisolo is currently experimenting with vegan leathers, too, so watch this space.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Nisolo owns its ethical factory in Trujillo, Peru, where its team is provided a living wage, as certified by a third party.
Nisolo has an in-house financial literacy training program, which they attribute to significantly impacting the people who work for them.
They also work with other factories, for which they have a Strict Code of Conduct. Employees must be paid a minimum wage, be at least 18 years old, and have healthy working conditions.
Nisolo also works with independent artisans in Nairobi, Kenya with the objective of providing job creation with the same fair work policies that Nisolo has for their own factory.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Nisolo is a Certified B Corp, which measures a company’s social and environmental performance.
They offset their emissions with Ecosphere+, which “focuses on keeping the threatened forests of the Cordillera Azul of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest alive and protected while creating sustainable livelihoods for its indigenous communities.”
Nisolo’s Shoe Reclamation Program ensures your sandals are fully recyclable sandals.
Inclusivity:
The sustainable men’s sandals are available in sizes 8–13, while women’s sandals come in sizes 5–11.
My Personal Review of Nisolo’s Huarache Sandals:
“After years of looking longingly at Huarache sandals, I got the chance to test these myself and while the stiff heels and woven leather uppers do take a little time to stretch and break in (blister tape along the heels really helped me during this period), they quickly became a summer staple that matches just about any outfit.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
NAE
About NAE
Price Range: $69–$135
NAE stands for “No Animal Exploitation”. This Portuguese 100% vegan sandal and footwear company is PETA-approved and beach-ready.
From comfort to coutour, hop their wide selection of open-toe cork wedges, pumps, Birkenstock alternatives, high-heeled strappy sandals, or casual slides. Pairs like the Madder Black don’t just have a timeless design; they feature antimicrobial and hypoallergenic materials to stand the test of time.
NAE’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
NAE uses a wide variety of materials to make vegan sandals and shoes. Some are more sustainable than others.
These include recycled PET, cork, organic cotton, and Pinatex (a blend of 80% pineapple leaf fibers and 20% PLA fibers). All shoes have a recycled car tire outsole, cork, and natural latex slip soles.
Supply chain & labor practices:
They produce everything locally in Portugal, so their factories uphold Europe’s strict ethical standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
NAE makes all products using a carbon-neutral manufacturing process that limits chemical use and water consumption.
Inclusivity:
NAE provides women’s and men’s shoe sizes 5–13.
Bhava
About Bhava
Price Range: $129–$275
Bhava is a vegan shoe brand with a wide variety of heeled sandals, flip-flops, heeled sandals, and strappy pairs—all made from vegan leather and natural materials.
The Jenny Block Heel Sandal is perfect for those who want a dressier sandal that could just as easily be worn on a day out at the boardwalk as to a fancy summer wedding. With a moderate 3” heel artisan crafted from solid wood, any modern woman wood be remiss if they missed out on this stylishly classic design.
Bhava’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Bhava’s sandals are made from low-impact materials, like wood heels, cork insoles, natural dyes, and organic cotton linings. Their primary materials are Italian-made vegan leather containing no aromatic amines, PCP, formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, azo dyes, or chrome.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Artisans in Alicante, Spain, make Bhava’s eco sandals. A few pairs are developed in India by the country’s woman-owned footwear brand. Some of their other eco-friendly materials are imported from Italy, while their cork is sourced nearby out of Portugal.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Bhava’s sustainable sandals come from a small, localized supply chain which helps minimize waste and carbon emissions.
Inclusivity:
Bhava offers sustainable women’s sandals in US sizes 5–12 and EU sizes 36–42.
VIVAIA
About VIVAIA
Price Range: $97–$119
Sandals made from recycled plastic bottles? It must be VIVAIA.
The brand develops high-quality heels, slides, sneakers, loafers, boots, and sandals from recycled materials. Each pair contains around six plastic bottles collected from oceans. Pairs like the Mia Square-Toe Adjustable Sandal maintain an elegant silhouette and low-rise style for those who don’t enjoy heels.
You can pick between bright and bold colorways like Pitaya Wave or keep it neutral and versatile with Almond Mesh as we did.
VIVAIAs Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
When it comes to this recycled shoe brand’s sandals, recycled materials are kind.
They’re at the forefront of material innovation, with a lineup like recycled PET, EVA, recycled faux fur, wool, rice husks, herbal PU foam insoles, carbon-free rubber outsoles, TPE, and ABS.
Supply chain & labor practices:
While VIVAIA’s headquarters is in the United States, they choose to work with ethical factories in Dongguan, China, based on quality, working conditions, sustainable practices, and employee treatment. They conduct regular assessments and visitations to ensure healthy working conditions, fair wages, and environmental adherence.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their factory partially uses renewable energy and turns off excessive equipment whenever possible. All of the recycled plastic sandals and footwear are shipped in 100% recycled cardboard, without artificial colors or excessive waste.
Inclusivity:
VIVAIA carries ethical sandals in women’s US sizes 5–11.
My Personal Review of VIVAIA’s Mia Square-Toe Adjustable Sandal:
“Despite the slim, low-profile design of the Mia Square-Toe Adjustable Sandal, I was amazed by how comfortable they are, thanks to the cushioned insole that provides all-day support. The stretch knit uppers are equally impressive—so soft and forgiving, and provide an instant out-of-the-box broken-in feel.”
Reviews by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Veerah
About VEERAH
Price Range: $278–$398
VEERAH choose to create timeless silhouettes that are a slow fashion marvel. Each pair of women’s eco-friendly sandals is made from exceptional, vegan, and PETA-approved vegan fabrics, like apple leather, recycled plastic, and algae foam.
The Venus Stiletto is an eye-catcher, made from durable bio-based apple leather and microfiber linings for a breathable shoe built to last.
VEERAH’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
VEERAH makes 100% cruelty-free shoes from apple leather, algae foam, resin-coated rubber, recycled plastic, polyurethane, and bamboo leather.
The high-quality leather comes from organic Italian apples that are by-products of the apple juice industry. The peels are treated with non-toxic pigments before being blended with polyurethane. The algae-based insole foam is eco-friendly, replacing 30% of the petroleum typically found in foam.
Supply chain & labor practices:
VEERAH doesn’t toe the line regarding ethical manufacturing chains. The women-led design team works with manufacturing partners based in Guangdong, China, and New Taipei City, Taiwan.
The exceptional artisans handcraft each pair and are paid above a living wage, meeting ILO and the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The brand’s ultimate goal is to have 100% recyclable packaging, but currently, 85% of its packaging materials are made from post-consumer materials, and 71% are recyclable and reusable.
Inclusivity:
The sustainable heeled sandals are available in women’s US sizes 5–11.
Community & charitable giving:
VEERAH contributes at least 1% of its revenue to social causes aligned with its values. They also offer paid hours quarterly for employee volunteer and self-development opportunities. For every 100 customer feedback surveys, VEERAH provides a one-year sponsor for She’s the First.
Volair
About Volair
Price Range: $95–$150
Vegan footwear brand Volair steps up to the plate with ethically made sandals from bio-based vegan apple leather and recycled fibers.
The brand’s recycled sandals are durable but not designed for a weekend hike. Instead, the beautiful sandals are ultra-feminine and perfect for a night out on the town.
Volair’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Volair’s standards are created using bio-based vegan apple leather and recycled components.
Each shoe is PETA, REACH, and USDA Biobased certified.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All of Volair’s sandals are made in Asia with a manufacturer aligning with their ethical production practices.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Volair encourages customers to pre-order any recycled sandals or eco slides to minimize excess production. They work with Carbonfund.org to offset their carbon emissions from shipping to reduce their carbon footprint.
Inclusivity:
Volair offers environmentally friendly sandals for women in sizes 5–11.
My Personal Review of Volair’s Reverie Sandal:
“The Reverie Sandal combines a flirty tie-up leg design with a cushioned footbed and modest 2.4” heel that’s workable even for the most incompetent heel walkers (hello!). While I’m not the ‘dance the night away’ type myself, I could certainly see myself doing so in these! For a minimalist heel, I was surprised by how stable they feel, and while it took me a few attempts to get the ankle straps tied just right, I love how the long ties can be styled in so many different ways.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Matisse
About Matisse
Price Range: $20–$170
Flat sandals, fisherman sandals, wedges, strappy pairs for date night—Matisse has a pair for every occasion. One of the most popular pairs is the chunky Platform Sandal made from PETA-approved vegan leather and Braided raffia upper for an ethically elegant design.
The Los Angeles-based brand produces high-quality environmentally friendly sandals using upcycled materials, vegan leather, and scrap leather.
Matisse’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Matisse utilizes leather, suede, and EVA, alongside rubber outsoles and wooden heels. They prioritize regenerated leathers in the heel wraps, uppers, and minor components whenever possible. Their sustainable slides are made from PETA-certified PU vegan leather, not PVC.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The eco sandals are developed in family-owned and operated factories. Matisse has been partners with these locations for several years, with regular audits ensuring fair working conditions, ethical production practices, and living wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Matisse strives to source sustainable fibers and reduce water-shed waste by working with minimally processed leathers and reputable tanneries. Packaging is constructed from 100% recycled paper materials and only uses vegan glue.
Inclusivity:
They offer non-toxic sandals in women’s sizes 5–11.
Chaco
About Chaco
Price Range: $40–$130
Sustainable hiking sandals can be hard to come by—which is why Chaco’s durable, long-lasting strappy sandals are a gem.
The brand has an entire factory dedicated to repairing, resolving, and revitalizing customers’ worn sandals. Not only does this prevent waste, but it makes them last longer and helps the slow fashion movement.
For eco-friendly sandals men and women can both strut their stuff in, check out the Z/1® Classic, their best-selling design.
Chaco’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The “iconic Chaco webbing you know and love” is now officially made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. The flat sandals include LUVSEAT™ dual-density PU midsoles and non-marking ChacoGrip™ rubber compound outsoles.
For now, we’d stick to the Z-series strappy sandals. While they also offer slides, they’re unfortunately still made from either virgin foams or leather (for which we don’t know their sourcing or tanning details), so they don’t qualify as sustainable slide sandals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Chacos has a factory in Rockford, Michigan, where their team repairs their most iconic sandal, the Z. We’ll be touching base about the rest of their locations where sandals are made.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Customers can send their worn pairs to the ReChaco Factory in Rockford, Michigan, where the team resoles outsoles, replaces straps and buckles, adjusts strap lengths, and cleans worn sandals.
This prevents their sustainable walking sandals from ending up in landfills or oceans, preventing excess fashion waste.
Inclusivity:
Chacos eco-friendly men’s sandals are available in sizes 7–15 and medium and wide widths. Women’s sustainable sandals are available in sizes 5–12 and medium and wide widths.
They also work with Camber Outdoors, an organization devoted to increasing workplace diversity in the outdoor industry.
Community & charitable giving:
Chacos gives back to multiple organizations including the American Camp Association and The Conservation Alliance.
My Personal Review of Chaco’s Z/1® Classic:
“I’ve been wearing Chacos (by which I mean the same pair) for YEARS. From wearing them in my garden to using them as sustainable hiking shoes or trekking around Disney World ALL DAY, I’m not kidding when I say they have thousands of miles on them—and they’re still going strong! Between the durability and the heavy-duty, contoured footbed with plenty of arch support, these sturdy suckers are a must-have for any adventurer. Plus, as they don’t have a toe loop, I can be extra stylish and wear these with socks if needed 😉.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
The Root Collective
About The Root Collective
Price Range: $128–$138
Fair Trade sandals made from ethically sourced materials and developed by artisans paid anywhere from 50-400% above the Fair Wage minimum?
That’s why The Root Collective is one of our favorite brands thanks to timeless, simple designs that are built to last and thoughtfully made.
Options like the simple, bicolor Shelly Sandal provide a comfortable fit without sacrificing durability. Plus, we just love the way the woven fabric accent panels stand out against the earthy leather build.
The Root Collective’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Root Collective produces sandals using high-quality leather from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified sources, alongside handwoven fabric, wood, and natural rubber.
Supply chain & labor practices:
They focus on small batches and work with local, independent workshops in Guatemala, supporting artisans with wages far exceeding the fair trade minimum.
The fabrics come from two women’s cooperatives, while other parts of the production process are finished in small workshops and factories across Guatemala.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
TRC also mitigates product waste via the Root Seller resale platform, allowing customers to sell their gently loved pairs to other buyers.
Inclusivity:
Women’s sandals are available in sizes 5–11.
Let’s Talk About Sustainable Leather Sandals
Leather—be it ethical leather or vegan leather—is a divider.
We often avoid leather altogether in our ethical fashion guides. Between the hundreds of chemicals used in the tanning process and the apparent ethical conundrum in sourcing it, conventional leather isn’t our sustainable bag. But here, we found a fair few ethical companies still using leather in some capacity. And let’s be honest: most people (conscious consumers or not) use leather. Clothing or otherwise. No judgment.
So, if this is your thing, our goal is to point you in the direction of brands that are doing leather as ethically as possible. Some forms of leather we included, in order of sustainability:
- Upcycled/repurposed leather: The materials already exist, so there’s no additional harm caused. And it repurposes them, avoiding rotting in a landfill.
- Sun tanned leather: No chemicals used whatsoever, just nature working naturally.
- Vegetable tanned leather: Goes through the tanning phases but without any of the harmful chemicals.
- Chrome-free leather: Last and least sustainable. We avoid this one because it still uses some toxic tanning chemicals. However, fewer heavy metals are involved.
We also consider how the leather was sourced. As mentioned, we think upcycled leather is the best bet because it’s using material that already exists. Then there’s wild-caught leather. These are typically indigenous or rural areas, using the meat to feed the community, so no part of the animal is wasted.
Next, there’s leather as a by-product of the meat industry. Much like the former, the animals aren’t killed for their hides, but less ideal because the meat industry, especially the industrial meat industry, is one of the least ethical and most rampant producers of greenhouse gasses.
We don’t consider options without transparent leather sourcing. We also wholly avoid brands using materials from the pure leather industry, which kills over 1 billion animals annually.
Know that we reach out to each brand to confirm all facts and policies.