Cold floors and chilly toes are one thing, but the real problem is what most slippers are made of: cheap synthetics, toxic foams, and short-lived designs that end up in landfills. With so many greenwashed “eco” options on the market, finding sustainable slippers is no small feat (feet?).

So just in time for Mercury to drop the mic and the Northern Hemisphere to descend into winter, we dug our heels in to bring you ethical and eco-friendly slippers. We hunted for brands who use natural, non-toxic materials, fair labor, and thoughtful end-of-life design. And we personally tested many of these ourselves. From wool felt classics to vegan and recycled innovations, these sustainable house shoes will keep your feet warm while reducing much of the harm caused by traditional options.

Note: We use our Brand Rating System to assess brands based on a comprehensive 22-point criteria system, including criteria like climate action and customer safety. Brands need to opt in to be rated so look out for rated brands on the list below and find others in our brand directory.

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. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.

The Best Sustainable & Non-toxic Slippers

Magic Linen keeps toes comfy in waffle-weave linen slip-ons. Naturally breathable, OEKO-TEX certified, and stone-washed with safe dyes, they’re gentle on your skin. Made in small batches with scraps repurposed into a Zero Waste Collection, these slippers prove linen isn’t just for the bed. Magic Linen has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.

At the tippy-top (or should we say tippy-toe?) of our list is Kyrgies, a maker of ethical slippers using natural materials that also sends their waste wool to be used as extra slipper padding or building insulation. We’ve been wearing ours for months, and they’ve held up really well (and still smell fresh, thanks to wool’s naturally odor-resistant properties).

We’re also wooly excited about Baabuk’s sustainable felt slippers. The Certified B Corp helps keep our feet nice and toasty (even during cold Montana winters) using traditional techniques and provides fair wages to Nepalese artisans.

Index: The Best Eco-Friendly Slippers

  1. MagicLinen Jump to brand
  2. Baabuk Jump to brand
  3. Nootkas Jump to brand
  4. Kyrgies Jump to brand
  5. Wildling Shoes Jump to brand
  6. Aura Que Jump to brand
  7. Muffle Up Jump to brand
  8. Bure Bure Slippers Jump to brand
  9. Rothy's Jump to brand
  10. Chilote Jump to brand
  11. Xanthe Anna Jump to brand

MagicLinen

Disrupting

Top 10% of brands
Lithuania, United States
Worldwide
$$$
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at home
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.
Made To Order
Products can be made to order, thus limiting unnecessary production
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX®
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures that every component of a textile product (threads, buttons, zippers, and fabrics) has been independently tested for harmful substances. Managed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, it guarantees products are safe for human health, meeting strict global limits for chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and PFAS.

Price: $49

Magic Linen is a flax-forward specialist in linen bedding and homewares. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania (and shipping worldwide), this woman-owned brand has expanded its range of earthy, stone-washed textiles to include something for your feet: unisex waffle weave linen slippers.

Slip into breathable OEKO-TEX certified European linen that’s naturally hypoallergenic and thermo-regulating. Each pair features a padded footbed and anti-slip sole, available in a palette of neutral tones that match their bedding collections.

Linen is one of the lowest-impact fabrics around, requiring little water, minimal pesticides, and almost no waste in processing. Magic Linen’s fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified for safety, meaning these slippers are free from harmful substances and qualify as non-toxic slippers. Their stone-wash finishing relies on safe, non-toxic dyes that give each piece its signature earthy color.

Production is handled in-house and in small, made-to-order batches to reduce overstock and textile waste. What scraps remain are repurposed into smaller home essentials in their dedicated Zero Waste Collection. Workers are paid fair wages, and the brand maintains close oversight of working conditions thanks to its direct, local production model in Lithuania.

Packaging is thoughtfully designed: these linen slippers are shipped in compostable cornstarch + PBAT mailers with outer cartons made from FSC-certified cardboard. Customer reviews consistently highlight the slippers’ soft, breathable linen, comfortable fit, and stylish colors, though some note they run slightly small.

Magic Linen has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.

Baabuk

Baabuk has not been rated.

Price Range: $49-$99

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. Today, their ISPO Gold Award–winning wool slippers are sold worldwide and come in men’s, women’s, and kids’ styles. They also offer men’s and women’s shoes (think sneakers and hightops).

Their uppers are made with felted natural New Zealand ethical wool (mulesing is outlawed, so the sheep are shorn kindly). The cushioned soles are made of Portuguese cork. The outsoles are natural latex rubber attached with glue that is sustainably harvested from rubber trees. Their eco slippers are 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.

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.

Their wool washing process uses only soap and water, and they recycle water so it doesn’t pollute. 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. They also have a recycling program and a resale marketplace to buy and sell pre-loved Baabuk slippers, clothing, and shoes.

Through the Miss Baabuka project, Baabuk partners with ProSpecieRara to support conservation of rare sheep breeds.

My Personal Review of Baabuk’s Mel Slipper:

“For slippers that are all about keeping your feet toasty, I can totally recommend the Mel Slippers from Baabuk. They’re super lightweight, but the non-itchy wool keeps my feet nice and warm even in the kind of cold where we live. Our tiny house on a trailer can get really cold, with outside temperatures dropping well below zero in the winter. I basically live in slippers during the colder months, as our floors get seriously cold.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

Nootkas

Nootkas has not been rated.

Price Range: $89—$99

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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

Kyrgies has not been rated.

Price Range: $79—$129

You can kit your entire family out with the natural wool slippers from Virginia-based Kyrgies, handmade in a women-owned, women-led factory in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The range includes colorful wool slip-ons, high-backs, Wovens, and indoor/outdoor ethical house shoes.

Slippers are made from locally sourced, chemical-free felted wool, paired with either vegetable-tanned leather or vulcanized rubber soles, depending on the style. Neutral colorways are undyed, while other styles use azo-free, non-toxic dyes.

All Kyrgies are handcrafted by artisans who are paid a living wage. The factory employs mostly women, creating valuable opportunities in communities where jobs are scarce. The wool is processed only with water and vegetable-based soap, and scraps are reused as slipper padding or insulation.

Kyrgies also supports global initiatives as a member of 1% for the Planet and a partner of FABSCRAP, keeping textiles out of landfills.

My Personal Review of Kyrgies’ Classic Wool Slippers:

“Whenever I want to slip into something more comfortable (which is literally always), I reach for my pair of Kyrgies Classic Wool Slippers. With an easy slip-on design that fits snuggly enough not to fall off, these high-quality slippers feel like they’re giving my feet a constant warm hug.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

Wildling Shoes

Wildling Shoes has not been rated.

Price range: $79 – $99

Wildling Shoes is a German minimalist footwear brand built around the idea that shoes should let feet move naturally while treading lightly on the planet. Designed in Germany and made in Portugal or Finland, their footwear—including a handful of slipper styles—uses carefully chosen natural fibers and pared-back constructions to reduce impact.

When it comes to eco slippers, Nelus, Slinka Sten and Lotus models stand out for sustainability. All are crafted from undyed wool felt: Slinka Sten uses 100% virgin wool from certified organic animal husbandry, while Lotus and Nelus combines German merino with 10% recycled, organically produced wool fibers. Keeping the wool undyed cuts down on chemical inputs, while the simple component mix (felt, yarn, sole) makes them easier to recycle at end of life. Soles are made from synthetic rubber that is partially recycled and may include cork particles in some models.

Wildling is a Certified B Corp and emphasizes organic and renewable fibers like wool, linen, hemp, and cotton, often from certified sources. They maintain short, transparent European supply chains, with much of the processing done in Germany and production handled in family-run workshops in Portugal and Finland. Suppliers are required to meet strict ecological and social standards, and the brand is working toward fully traceable supply chains from raw fiber to finished shoe.

Wildling experiments with blends of recycled and virgin wool, aims for material separation in shoe construction, and avoids overcomplicated designs that would hinder recycling.

Customers have rated the Lotus particularly highly (4.8/5 at the time of writing) and say these slippers are warm, cosy, comfy and fit well. They also say they work well as sustainable house slippers.

Aura Que

Aura Que has not been rated.

Price Range: $63—$85

Aura Que brings together the design expertise of Laura Queening and artisan talent from small producer groups in Vietnam and Nepal, who are members of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) and the Nepal Fair Trade Group. 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.

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. 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.

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

Muffle Up has not been rated.

Price Range: $48—$140

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

These slippers feature 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”. 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.

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

Bure Bure Slippers

Bure Bure Slippers has not been rated.

Price Range: $89—$110

Bure Bure Slippers’ 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.

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.

The infertile land at “Forestsheep” is perfect for sensitive Skudden sheep, which they organically breed 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.”

“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.

Rothy's

Rothy's has not been rated.

Rothy’s has made a name for itself by turning recycled plastic bottles into sleek knit shoes. Their Cozy Clog brings the same innovation indoors. Designed as a versatile and sustainable house shoe (though durable enough to wear out), it features a soft, textured knit upper and a plush insole for all-day comfort. Available in three earthy colorways, it’s a slip-on you’ll actually look forward to sliding into.

Each pair of these recycled slippers is knit from Rothy’s signature thread, spun from around 10 recycled plastic bottles. The textured upper is backed with a removable cushioned insole, while the outsole is made from durable gum (Rothy’s does not disclose the composition of the gum). Like all Rothy’s shoes, they’re machine washable, helping extend their life and reduce replacement waste. These are made of synthetic material so we would recommend using a microfiber filter in your washing machine.

Rothy’s produces all of its shoes in its LEED Gold–certified factory in Dongguan, China, where the entire process (from spinning to assembly) happens under one roof for efficiency and traceability. The company states that it ensures responsible, ethical manufacturing practices and fair treatment of employees. The brand’s 3D knitting process drastically reduces material waste compared to traditional cut-and-sew, and the factory is also TRUE Platinum certified for Zero Waste.

Chilote

Chilote has not been rated.

Price Range: $56—$100

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.

Chilote’s most sustainable slippers are their raw wool slippers, which are made with 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.

Slippers are slow-crafted by hand using locally sourced Patagonian sheep wool. Female artisans make the slippers—often in their own homes. They’re paid more than even the region’s average fair wage. Scan the QR code on the tag to learn exactly #WhoMadeYourSlippers.

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.

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

Xanthe Anna

Xanthe Anna has not been rated.

Price Range: $130-$260

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Why Choose Sustainable Slippers?

About 300 million pairs of shoes get thrown away every year—and that’s just in the US. That’s not even considering the waste created by buying those shoes. Like the fact that some soles might take more than 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

Slippers are just another component of this incredibly wasteful subsection of the fashion industry. Most slippers are cheap, made with PVC-based foam with a short lifespan that flattens after just a couple of wears.

Sustainable slippers are made in an environmentally conscious way with (most often) natural materials that can be returned to the earth after their useful life—but there are some caveats with the two most common slipper materials.

Wool slippers:

  • Sheep need occasional shearing to stay healthy, so wool as an animal byproduct is not inherently wrong (in our view).
  • But it’s crucial the sheep have good lives (free-range), they’re shorn in warm weather only, and their skin isn’t damaged in the process.
  • The good news is that free of dangerous chemicals, wool can biodegrade in as little as 3-4 months.

Leather slippers:

  • They either support the greenhouse gas-belching livestock industry or worse, don’t come from meat industry byproducts, needlessly killing over a billion animals a year.
  • Leather is processed via a chemical tanning process, which is incredibly dangerous both for the environment and for the workers in charge of performing the task.
  • Even if it’s natural, leather can take hundreds of years to break down.

As we’ll explore below, materials just scratch the surface (sole?) of our favorite pair of ethical moccasin slippers.

How We Found The Best Sustainable And Eco-Friendly Slippers

You might now be wondering how we differentiated between legit sustainable slipper brands and brands that are really just a wolf in Merino clothing. While no brand is perfect and none tick all the boxes, these are the elements we considered when looking for the best brands for this list:

Materials:

As low impact as possible, ideally occurring naturally in nature and organically processed so they can fully biodegrade to compost in the end. Sustainable fabrics always have a leg (or foot?) up in our book. But wool uppers still dominate the slipper sphere, so how can we make sure it’s ethical wool?

First, we aim for Merino wool, especially if it’s sourced from New Zealand, known for its ethical animal treatment. For insoles and cushioned soles, look for natural felted wool and, better still, cork fabric. Both are temperature regulating and antimicrobial (AKA odor resistant).

The best outsole material (if there are outsoles at all) is natural rubber/latex, which is a renewable resource harvested by harmlessly tapping the latex of the tree (like maple syrup). If the outsoles are leather, we tried to make sure it was either recycled or vegetable-tanned leather that’s Leather Working Group (LWG) Certified (ideally). Or of course, vegan leather.

And finally, recycled synthetic fabrics were also used effectively by ethical slipper brands on this list. Because synthetic fabrics can shed microplastics and may contain harmful chemicals, we prefer natural slippers ourselves, while still being mindful of readers seeking vegan-friendly options.

Relevant Certifications:

Supply chain & labor practices:

Human rights violations are a big issue in the fashion industry, so the best ethical slippers and the companies that make them don’t contribute in any way to this. Remember the slow fashion rule of thumb (or big toe): transparency is key and slower is better (read: handmade slippers).

It’s also better when slippers are made in ways that adhere to fair trade principles (living wages, safe work environments, etc.), and rely on evidence and third-party certifications.

Relevant Certifications:

Green business practices:

The best eco-friendly slippers come from brands that go the extra mile.

Companies reducing their environmental impact, whether it be through climate action, using water-saving/recycling practices, shipping in recycled and plastic-free packaging, repurposing waste, or manufacturing with renewable energy are some of the practices we applaud.

Community & charitable giving:

Brands that cultivate an empowered, caring community are our faves. Many of these slipper companies are so small and specific that they weren’t involved in any charitable activities. We didn’t discount these brands but hope this changes as they grow.

Customer reviews & first-hand testing

Alongside brand research, we also factor in what real wearers have to say. Customer reviews help us gauge comfort, fit, and durability over time. And because nothing beats first-hand experience, our team has personally tested many of these slippers ourselves.

Watch our video below where we share what we look for and our personal testing of Baabuk’s slippers:

Final Thoughts On Ethical Slippers

There’s nothing better than comfy slippers. Scratch that—eco slippers make for truly happy feet. That’s why we dipped our toes into brands offering the best sustainable slippers.

Feel free to spread the warmth by passing this article along to your favorite earth-conscious homebody or someone who always has cold feet (and not the wedding jitters kind).

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in September 2020 and has been updated several times since. Most recently, we gave it a major refresh in September 2025 to include new brands, updated sustainability information, and our latest product testing.

Heather Seely is one of Sustainable Jungle's Writers
Heather Seely

Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from the The Ohio State University before completing a Masters in Environment at The University of Melbourne. She then went on to achieve a Permaculture Design Certificate at the Djanbung Gardens. Heather feels best when she is barefoot in a forest or has dirt under her fingernails. She’s constantly daydreaming about her homesteading future and has a rapidly-growing list of the best local (and not-so-local) hiking trails. When she’s not busy hoarding an embarrassing number of upcycled glass jars, experimenting with urban composting, or quelling her eco-anxiety on a long run, Heather spends her 9-5 working for a sustainable agriculture nonprofit, where she advocates for state and federal policies that support thriving farmers and a habitable future.