9 Sustainable Slippers & House Shoes That Keep Our Toes Eco-Conscious

Baabuk

About Baabuk

Price Range: $49—$89

Family-owned Baabuk was inspired by a gift of felted Russian Valenkis. Founders Galina and Dan realized they were the most comfortable things they had ever worn and attempted to recreate them—which resulted in something that “looked more like a sheep that had wandered through a car wash”.

Fortunately for all of us, they upped their slipper game and now their ISPO Gold award-winning wool shoes and slippers are available all over the world. In addition to organic slippers, they also offer men’s and women’s shoes (think sneakers and hightops).

For slippers made to keep your feet ultra warm, we can’t recommend the Mel Slippers enough. While incredibly lightweight, the soft and non-itchy wool keeps our feet super warm—which is saying something, considering we live in a tiny house on a minimally skirted trailer in a location where it’s not uncommon to drop well below 0 in the winter.

Baabuk’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Like other sustainable men’s shoes, their uppers are made with felted natural New Zealand ethical wool (read: from where mulesing is outlawed, we know the sheep are shorn kindly).

The cushioned soles are courtesy of a blend of sustainable materials: cotton and wool. The outsoles are natural latex rubber attached with eco-friendly glues and finished with hand-stitching for long-lasting wear.

Or, if you opt for the speciality Pomobuk line, the soles are made by reusing manufacturing offcuts from POMOCA freeride and ski mountaineering skins.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Baabuk produces everything by hand in their scratch-built workshop in Nepal where workers are provided with fair working conditions and a 25% higher salary than the national average.

Since job opportunities in Nepal favor men, Baabuk employs mostly women artisans. Their other wool shoes are made in Portugal using Portuguese mulesing-free sheep wool (raised in a protection park in the country).

They’ve been a Certified B Corp since 2016, and their current score of 89.6 is almost 40 points above the median for businesses of their class.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The wool used in Baabuk’s comfy slippers is washed with recycled water so the soap doesn’t pollute local rivers. Soap and water are the only things used to process the wool. To keep your Baabuk slippers, slip-sliding for longer, they offer a repair kit and replacement soles.

Community & charitable giving:

Through the Miss Baabuka project, Baabuk partners with the Swiss organization ProSpecieRara to work toward the conservation and expansion of six rare sheep breed populations.

Nootkas

About Nootkas

Price Range: $84—$89

Nootkas finds joy in the simple things—and what footwear better represents that than sustainable wool-lined slippers? Nootkas and natural materials go together like warm ethical slippers and a pair of organic cotton pajamas.

They offer either slides or slip-on felted wool house slippers and shoes for men and women. If you want to go extra sustainable, the Astoria Slippers are entirely biodegradable.

Nootkas’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

The Astoria slippers are made with Merino, a mulesing-free wool from New Zealand. The other sustainable house shoes are made with locally sourced Mongolian Merino wool. Both are paired with a soft, vegetable-tanned suede outsole that isn’t recommended for outdoor use.

The slippers come in a few color options, including Heather and Slate, which are made with 100% natural, uncolored, dye-free wool. The soles and other color options are colored using non-toxic, azo-free dyes.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Nootkas cruelty-free wool is sourced from New Zealand (where mulesing has been banned) and from nomadic sheepherders in Mongolia, who rely on sheep for their livelihood. Dyes are sourced in Switzerland, the natural rubber from Siberia, and the suede from India.

They partner with Fair Trade Certified factories in Nepal and Mongolia that are engaged in ethical labor practices: living wages, gender-equal pay, medical benefits, and a retirement plan.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Not only are all Nootkas slippers made by hand without machines, but the Nepalese factory is powered entirely by solar. No wastewater is discharged into the environment during the felting process.

These sustainable wool slippers are designed for the long haul—they feature reinforced stitching and coarse fibers that naturally lock together for greater durability.

Kyrgies

About Kyrgies

Price Range: $79—$129

You can kit your entire family out with the sustainable wool slippers from Virginia-based Kyrgies. The women’s and men’s slipper range is bright, beautiful and impressive, and includes natural wool loungers, slip-ons, high-back slippers, slides, woven house shoes, and ankle-high varieties.

Also available for men and women, the Tengries Walkabouts are Kyrgies’ eco-friendly slippers for toddlers and kids. Some styles are for exclusive indoor use, but most are great for indoor/outdoor wearability (just note they aren’t waterproof).

Whenever we want to slip into something more comfortable, we reach for our very own pair of the Kyrgies Classic Wool Slippers. With an easy slip-on design that fits snuggly enough to not fall off, these high-quality slippers feel like they’re giving your feet a constant warm hug.

The felt sole is non-slip but it isn’t weather-resistent, so be sure to wear these around the house only.

Kyrgies’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Kyrgies uses mostly, chemical-free natural felted wool, but the indoor slippers also have a synthetic fabric felt sole with silicone grips.

Other slippers, like the Tengries and Kyrgies Naturals, have a bit of elastic blended into the fabric and natural leather soles (tanned without chrome and chromium) for durability.

You can purchase additional insoles made via “nuno-felting”, which gives the wool substantial shape and support capability.

The soles are made from vulcanized rubber or vegetable-tanned leather. The All Naturals house shoes range features wool made with just water, natural soap, and low-impact dyes. It’s paired with a chrome-free leather suede sole.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Kyrgies’ handmade wool slippers start with the free-range, mulesed-free, carefully tended sheep of Kyrgyzstan, where people believe treating sheep respectfully brings good luck.

These sheep are sheared only in summer, so they have plenty of warmth through the cold winters.

From there, the wool is felted or carded into slippers in a factory in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan using traditional craftsmanship.

Fair wages are paid and the factories employ mostly women to give gainful employment opportunities in communities where these are few and far between.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The wool is only processed with water and vegetable-based soap. All scrap wool is recaptured and used as extra padding in the Tengries, or as building insulation. The company is also Climate Neutral Certified.

Community & charitable giving:

Kyrgies joined 1% for the Planet the very first year they opened. They support One Tree Planted, Earth Guardians, and the International Rescue Committee.

Dooeys

About Dooeys

Price Range: $140

Dooeys‘ main focus is crafting comfy shoes for around the house. Oh, and making sure they’re stylish. The woman-owned company makes sustainable women’s slippers and does so in three main styles: loafers, mules, and sandals. Did we mention they’re also 100% vegan?

We tested out the House Mules and what we love about these sustainable house shoes is that they can actually be used for much more than that.

With a durable hard outsole and cork-moulded footbed, these surprisingly supportive minimalist indoor/ outdoor slides are also perfect for padding around the garden or even making a quick trip to the grocery store.

Dooeys’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

From big toe to pinky toe, the eco-friendly materials are 100% plant-based or recycled. These include vegan leather from apple scraps (upper), recycled polyester vegan suede (upper), recycled plastic bottles (lining), organic cotton (lining), cork (insole), sugarcane (outsole), and coconut fiber husk (footbed).

Joining recycled foam and rubber, these natural materials come together to form a lightweight, arch-supported shoe that can be worn outside the house, too.

Supply chain & labor practices:

The Dooeys design stage happens in Amsterdam before the slippers are ethically made in Portugal (a mecca for well-made footwear).

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The vegan sustainable slippers are made in small batches before being shipped (carbon offset, of course!) in recycled packaging. Carbon offset shipping is used.

Aura Que

About Aura Que

Price Range: $63—$75

Aura Que brings together the design expertise of Laura Queening and artisan talent from small producer groups in Vietnam and Nepal.

While their men’s and women’s eco-friendly winter slippers will keep your toes toasty, it’s how they’re made that will really warm your heart.

With two styles (slip-on and ankle-high boots) and several different colors, any pair of feet will be happy in Aura Que’s fair trade slippers.

Aura Que‘s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

All slippers are made of 100% hand-felted raw sheep wool uppers, inside sole padding, and buffalo leather suede soles. The gray, brown, and cream colors are completely natural, while azo-free dyes are used for the other colors.

Supply chain & labor practices:

The wool is mulesing-free and is combined with buffalo suede that’s been sourced from a small family tannery in Kolkata, India.

Then, the handmade slippers are hand-felted by women’s co-ops in Kathmandu, Nepal. The artisans receive free training, an education allowance for their children, flexible working hours, and regular pay increases. All producer groups are World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) certified.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The leather tanning chemicals are contained and reprocessed in an on-site water treatment facility. Once the ethical at-home slippers are soaked in soapy water, naturally dyed, and hand-felted, they’re dried in the sun. Leftover wool fabric is reused in Aura Que’s zero waste knitwear range.

Muffle Up

About Muffle Up

Price Range: $45—$139

Canadian company Muffle-Up! makes eco-friendly house slippers. Choose from a variety of funky colors and styles, including ankle-high slippers, demi boots, and mid-calf boots.

If dull winter days have you down, the Red Padraig Slippers are sure to bring a little brightness and cheer to your day. Pair them with your snuggliest eco-friendly socks.

Aside from their unisex sustainable, shearling-lined slippers for adults, they make adorable eco-friendly baby booties and toddler slippers, too.

Muffle Up’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

These slippers feature non-itch (or itch-free) Merino wool yarn, sheep’s fur lining (up-cycled from vintage fur coats), and reclaimed leather or suede soles. Prioritizing recycled materials helps them remain “respectful of our use of animal products”.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Based in Perth, Ontario, every pair of slippers is handmade in Canada on unceded traditional Algonquin territory. The Merino wool is ethically sourced from Australia.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

In their studio, they maintain a zero waste policy, meaning that any fabric scraps get reused in production or are donated to community art projects.

Bure Bure Slippers

About Bure Bure Slippers

Price Range: $43—$103

Bure Bure Slippers’—Etsy shop owner—Inga is crazy about shoes and handmakes slippers at “Forestsheep” her own organic farm in Lithuania.

Her eco-friendly wool slippers are available in men’s, women’s, and unisex slip-ons, clogs, booties, and slippers. The dainty and minimalist Lace Booties are so cute, you’ll almost rue never being able to show them off out in public. Child eco-friendly slippers are on offer, too.

Bure Bure Slippers’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

The shop’s own farmed wool is the primary material, which is sometimes paired with sustainably sourced alpaca wool. You can opt for soles made from handmade recycled leather/suede and cork (not waterproof), or caoutchouc rubber. If you’d prefer eco-friendly slippers with natural latex, go with the latter.

Supply chain & labor practices:

The infertile land at “Forestsheep” is perfect for sensitive Skudden sheep, which she organically breeds to help out with the wool side of sourcing.

Twice a year, the cruelty-free wool is sheared before being carded and turned into felt on-site. In addition to her own farmed wool, some is purchased locally and abroad.

Everything is made by hand, slowly. According to Inga herself, “Our business will never grow too big. This is not our aim. I think we just chose to work so that we could live, not to live so that we could work.”

Carbon commitments & green practices:

“Forestsheep” also engages in recycling and because they only begin the felting process after an order is confirmed, a lot of waste is avoided.

The wool is processed sans harmful chemicals and instead moistened with warm water and natural olive soap. The slippers are sent in a handmade linen bag.

Chilote

About Chilote

Price Range: $55—$86

How does “warm feet, happy soul” sound to you? Pretty darn good, we’d say. And that’s the feeling you’ll get from the adorably earthy Chilote house shoes.

Between baby slippers and three unisex adult slipper styles: salmon leather slippers, organic leather and wool slippers, and raw wool slippers, we’d wear them all if we could.

These loose cable-knit wool slippers scream, “Netflix and chill (to the planet)”. So start planning that environmental film marathon!

Chilote‘s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Chilote’s most sustainable slippers are their raw wool slippers, which are made with nothing more than raw Patagonian sheep wool.

Both designs have leather soles, which strive to be as sustainable as leather can be. Sure, you’ve heard of ethical sheepskin slippers—but what about ethical salmon skin slippers?

Chilotes are made of upcycled vegetable salmon leather, made from the fishing industry byproduct salmon skin. Their others feature saddle leather soles organically tanned using vegetables.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Everything is slow-crafted by hand using locally sourced Patagonian sheep wool. More than 50 female artisans make the slippers—often in their own homes. They’re paid 43% more than even the region’s average fair wage.

Scan the QR code on the tag to learn exactly #WhoMadeYourSlippers.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Each pair of slippers includes a repair kit of extra wool thread and salmon skin. The best sustainable slippers, after all, are those that can be worn for a looooong time.

Their eco-friendly shipping materials are simply plastic-free, reusable tubes.

Community & charitable giving:

Chilote offsets its footprint through a partnership with Fundación Reforestemos, an organization that plants native trees in Patagonia.

Xanthe Anna

About Xanthe Anna

Price Range: $106

Are you between sizes? Frustrating to say the least (we know). But stress not, because Xanthe Anna adds a personalized touch that very few offer.

Based in Wales, the woman-owned company specializes in unisex and made-to-order (and even custom fit!) Sheepskin Slipper slides and above-ankle booties.

Xanthe Anna’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

These eco-comfy slippers are made with sheepskins which are a by-product of the meat industry. The heels are strong and made with vegetable-tanned leather.

The lightweight, flexible, robust soles are made with 60% recycled material and can be worn indoors and outdoors. To finish and reinforce the boots/slippers, organic hemp is used. As the cherry (cross-stitch?) on top, the thread is 100% recycled and made from plastic bottles.

Supply chain & labor practices:

The sheepskin currently comes from Australia, but Xanthe Anna is working with suppliers to source eco-tanned British sheepskin.

It does, however, come from sheep that have been raised humanely in accordance with internationally accepted standards regarding hunger, discomfort, pain, normal behavior, and fear. The boots and slippers are made in a slow fashion manner, in Wales.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The eco-tan sheepskin is tanned using natural biological tanning agents that are associated with minimal chemical, energy, and water consumption.

It’s been awarded a Gold Standard by the Leather Working Group. Xanthe Anna also offers removable and replaceable innersoles to extend the life of their boots. They’re made with eco-tanned sheepskin and latex.

Keep an eye on this brand: they’re working towards using vegan leather made from cork, pineapples, mushrooms, and recycled materials.

Community & charitable giving:

Xanthe Anna was a Llais Cymru Women in Business Awards 2022 winner. The brand is also a member of the Green Growth Pledge, which conveys their commitment to positive actions to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment.