Sandals are a summer essential. We typically live in these all day, everyday for months so it’s important to choose both durable, and ethically made, sustainable sandals. Whether you’re into the laid-back sandals aesthetic or looking for practical sandals ideas, we’ve got you covered with this guide.
3 Good Reasons To Choose Brands Who Make Eco-friendly Sandals:
Like the rest of the fashion and shoe industry, sandals often come with hidden costs for the planet, workers, and animals. Supporting more thoughtful, conscious brands when shopping for sandals helps avoid some of the biggest issues in the footwear industry, including:
- Most conventional textiles that are used in sandals are made with plastics and synthetics that are harmful to the environment and potentially even our own health. Millions of pairs end up in landfills every year, and many are made from materials that take hundreds of years to break down.
- The leather used in sandals is rarely traceable, leading to concerns around deforestation, water pollution, and unethical animal treatment. Without certifications like Leather Working Group (LWG), it’s nearly impossible to know how leather was sourced.
- Footwear supply chains are linked to poor labor conditions, forced and child labor. In countries where many shoes are produced, workers often face low wages, unsafe environments, and little regulatory protection.
Choosing sandals from brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials, transparent sourcing, and fair labor practices is a small decision that supports a much bigger movement toward responsible fashion. And with this guide, we’ve done the research for you.
We have heard from many of our readers that a deeper view of brands’ sustainability credentials is increasingly important so we have developed a Brand Rating System which now assesses brands (who opt in to be rated) on a wide range of criteria including things like climate action and circularity initiatives. Look out for rated sandal brands on the list below. See all our ratings here.
Other shoe guides which may be of interest: Sustainable Flip-Flops, Vegan Sandals.
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.
Our Favorite Ethical & Sustainable Sandals Ideas
Certified B Corp, Poppy Barley makes a range of minimalist and highly rated sandals for everyday wear. They’re mostly made from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified leather and many feature Chrome-free Nexta linings. Poppy Barley has been rated on their sustainability credentials by us—find the full rating here.
VIVAIA’s wide range of 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.
NAE’s sandals are PETA-approved and made with rPET, cork, organic cotton, recycled tires, and/or Pinatex. They’re carbon neutral and manufactured in Portugal under Europe’s strict ethical standards.
Index: Eco-Friendly Sandals Brands
- Poppy Barley Jump to brand
- NAE Jump to brand
- VIVAIA Jump to brand
- Bhava Jump to brand
- Native Shoes Jump to brand
- Volair Jump to brand
- Indosole Jump to brand
- Reformation Jump to brand
- Matisse Jump to brand
- Chaco Jump to brand
- Stella McCartney 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 materialsThoughtful 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.Poppy Barley offers thoughtfully designed and made footwear, bags, and accessories that their customers love – most products are very highly reviewed. Their sandal range includes strappy flat sandals, slides, covered toe and some heeled sandals.
Female-founded and based in Edmonton, Canada, this Certified B Corp makes their sandals primarily from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified leather, sourced as a by-product of the meat industry. They disclose their Tier 1 factories and audit them directly at least every two years. A due diligence audit occurs before taking on any new suppliers.
They use certified organic cotton dust bags, FSC-certified boxes, and FSC-certified tissue paper printed with soy-based inks for their packaging and shipping materials. Poppy Barley also offer a trade-in program and repair services to extend the life of their products.
Poppy Barley has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
NAE
Price Range: $120-$150
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 onto their website for a wide selection of sandals ideas from open-toe cork wedges, pumps, Birkenstock alternatives, high-heeled strappy sandals, or casual slides.
NAE uses a wide variety of materials including 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.
They produce everything locally in Portugal, so their factories uphold Europe’s strict ethical standards. NAE makes all products using a carbon-neutral manufacturing process that limits chemical use and water consumption.
VIVAIA
Price Range: $49-$149
VIVAIA develops high-quality shoes from recycled materials. Each pair contains around six plastic bottles collected from oceans. Their affordable range offers plenty of sandals ideas for every style: sports sandals, pointed strappy sandals, heeled versions and much more. You can pick between bright and bold colorways or keep it neutral and versatile with Almond Mesh as we did.
As a recycled shoe brand, VIVAIA uses rPET, EVA, recycled faux fur, wool, rice husks, herbal PU foam insoles, carbon-free rubber outsoles, TPE, and ABS.
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.
Their factory partially uses renewable energy and all of the recycled plastic sandals and footwear are shipped in 100% recycled cardboard, without artificial colors or excessive waste.
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.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Bhava
Price Range: $259-295
Bhava is a vegan shoe brand with a wide variety of platforms, heeled sandals, and strappy pairs—all made from vegan leather and natural materials.
Their designs suit more of a high-fashion sandals aesthetic. 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.
Artisans in Alicante, Spain, make Bhava’s eco sandals. A few pairs are developed in India by a woman-owned footwear brand. Some of their other eco-friendly materials are imported from Italy, while their cork is sourced nearby out of Portugal.
Native Shoes
Price: $40
Native Shoes creates lightweight, easy-to-wear footwear for women, men and kids. Their sandals are made using bio-based EVA foam, Sugarlite™ (sugarcane and EVA blend) and Bloom (overgrown freshwater algae), all free from animal products and PETA-approved vegan. Native’s designs are comfortable, durable, and ideal for everyday adventures.
Native Shoes have set SBTi-approved science-based targets and prioritize renewable energy. Their shoe recycling initiative is called The Native Shoes Remix™ Project, and allows customers to return worn shoes for recycling into playground flooring, insulation, and more.
They also focus on ethical production practices across their factories in Vietnam and China and visit several times a year.
Volair
Price Range: $95–$124
Vegan footwear brand Volair steps up to the plate with ethically made sandals from bio-based vegan apple leather and recycled fibers. Each shoe is PETA, REACH, and USDA Biobased certified.
The 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.
All of Volair’s sandals are made in Asia with a manufacturer aligning with their ethical production practices. They work with Carbonfund.org to offset their carbon emissions from shipping to reduce their carbon footprint.
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
Indosole
Price Range: $40-$60
Based in Bali, Indosole creates resourceful, sustainably made sandals using old tires.
Their sandals and flip-flops feature recycled tire soles and cruelty-free ENVRO fiber straps, offering waterproof, arch-supported designs.
Indosole is a Certified B Corp and prioritizes ethical production practices, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Most of their supply chain remains local to Indonesia, supporting artisans and minimizing carbon emissions.
The brand keeps its environmental impact low by using local materials, reducing water use, and organizing community initiatives, including charity partnerships and disaster relief support.
My Personal Review of Indosole’s Black Slides
“I found these in a thrift store – what a find! As you can imagine I was thrilled and they have been my go to summer sandal since then (2 summers ago). They’re extremely comfortable, even to walk some distance in and very durable – I have put them through quite the hardcore testing grounds at festivals, on the beach, and for extensive daily wear. I would definitely buy another pair when (if) these ever die.”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ Co-founder
Reformation
Price Range: $98-$298
Reformation has long offered more transparency and super stylish clothes, accessories and shoes. Their range of sandals includes flat sandals, platforms, occasion-specific sandals, vintage inspired and heeled options.
Their shoes often feature chrome-free leather sourced from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified tanneries. Some styles incorporate deadstock fabrics.
Reformation produces many of its sandals in facilities that adhere to fair labor practices and they support their factories to do better on various sustainability related initiatives including use of renewable energy, water efficiency, clean chemistry and ethical people practices.
The brand is Climate Neutral Certified and aims to be climate positive by 2025, implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage across its operations.
Matisse
Price Range: $16–$180
Flat sandals, fisherman sandals, wedges, flip flops, platforms, strappy pairs for date night—Matisse has a pair for every occasion. The Los Angeles-based brand produces high-quality environmentally friendly sandals using upcycled materials, vegan leather, and scrap leather.
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.
Matisse produces their products 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.
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.
Chaco
Price Range: $45–$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.
The “iconic Chaco webbing you know and love” is 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.
Chacos has a factory in Rockford, Michigan, where their team repairs their most iconic sandal, the Z however we don’t know where the shoes are produced and have not had confirmation from Chacos as yet.
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
Stella McCartney
Price Range: $600-$995
Stella McCartney has long led the charge in combining high-end fashion with sustainability and ethics. Their sandal collection includes chic slides, platform sandals, strappy heels, and bold statement styles.
Most Stella McCartney sandals are made from animal-free materials like recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and forest-friendly viscose. No leather, feathers, or fur are used across their entire footwear line.
Their products are primarily made in Europe by manufacturers that adhere to Stella McCartney’s Supplier Code of Conduct, based on International Labour Organization standards for ethical working conditions.
The brand is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, and uses only FSC-certified or recycled packaging. They have validated SBTi targets as of 2023 and continue to work on reducing their carbon emissions.
Let’s Talk About 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 ethical conundrum in sourcing it, conventional leather isn’t our 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.
- LWG Certified leather: This certification holds tanneries and manufacturers to strict environmental and ethical standards, ensuring better practices around water use, chemical management, and worker safety.
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.
If you found this list of environmentally friendly sandals helpful, give it a share so we can all help make our planet a little bluer this summer.