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Best Non-Toxic Shoe Brands in 2024
Updated:
Dec 10, 2024
Written by Camille May
Cofounder & Product Curator
+ 1 more
Medically reviewed by Olushola Awoyemi
PhD Environmental Toxicology
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What you should know when choosing non-toxic shoe brands on Welpr:
- Only the cleanest products make it onto Welpr.
- We use a score called the Welpr Rating to rank each product.
- The Welpr Rating is based on math, not opinion, ensuring it's free from human bias.
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Find Non-Toxic Shoe Brands
Nae
Highlights & Certifications
Categories
Materials
Appleskin, Cork, Corn, Organic Cotton, Recycled PET, Pinatex, Microfiber
Est. Price
$2.00
About The Brand
- Founded in 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal, by co-founders Paula and Alex, NAE Vegan Shoes stands for "No Animal Exploitation."
- Dedicated to creating sustainable and animal-friendly footwear and accessories as an alternative to exploitative practices.
- Uses eco-friendly, sustainable, and recycled materials to ensure all products are vegan and environmentally conscious.
- Focuses on the quality, style, and craftsmanship that Portuguese footwear is known for, without compromising durability.
- Committed to cruelty-free fashion, ensuring no animals are harmed in the production process.
- Partners with ethical factories and upholds high labor standards to protect and respect workers.
- Driven by a mission to promote inclusivity, compassion, and sustainability in the fashion industry.
Haflinger
Categories
Materials
Wool, Cork, Latex
Est. Price
$2.00
About The Brand
- Founded in 1898 by Emil Otto sen., the family business began as a producer of high-quality cords and trimmings in Goslar, Germany.
- Expanded into producing premium yarns for socks, leading to the innovation of hut shoes in 1955, featuring virgin wool and sturdy leather soles for warmth and durability.
- Initially produced slippers for other brands before establishing the Haflinger brand in 1988 to meet increasing demand.
- The Haflinger brand was inspired by the Haflinger horse, symbolizing grace, endurance, naturalness, and reliability.
- Headquartered in Goslar, in the northwestern Harz region, drawing inspiration from its natural surroundings.
- Combines long-standing textile craftsmanship with modern shoe production techniques to create unique, high-quality footwear collections.
- Focuses on using natural materials such as reeled wool, wool felt, premium leather, and cork-latex footbeds.
- Renowned globally for its timeless design, superior workmanship, and use of sustainable, natural materials.
Allbirds
Highlights & Certifications
Categories
Materials
Organic Cotton, Merino Wool, Natural Rubber
Est. Price
$1.00
About The Brand
- Allbirds was founded by Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger to introduce sustainable, natural materials to the footwear industry.
- Developed a revolutionary wool fabric specifically for footwear, inspired by New Zealand's merino wool.
- Focuses on simplicity in design with no logos or unnecessary details, prioritizing comfort and practicality.
- Offers a 30-day trial, allowing customers to return shoes if unsatisfied without any hassle.
- Certified B Corporation, treating environmental stewardship as a core business principle.
- Collaborates with Soles4Souls® to repurpose lightly used shoes for global communities in need.
- Uses 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard for multi-functional shoe packaging.
- Committed to reducing carbon footprint through sustainable materials like wool, tree fiber, and sugarcane.
- Focuses on lightweight, supportive, and comfortable footwear for all-day wear.
Nisolo
Highlights & Certifications
Categories
Materials
Leather
Est. Price
$2.00
About The Brand
- Nisolo was founded in 2011 by Patrick Woodyard and Zoe Cleary, inspired by Peruvian craftsmanship and a mission to bridge the gap between artisans and global markets.
- The brand specializes in sustainable leather shoes, handbags, and jewelry, with leather sourced from artisans in Peru and jewelry handcrafted in Kenya.
- The name "Nisolo," meaning "not alone" in Spanish, reflects the company’s commitment to valuing people and fostering close relationships with artisans and customers alike.
- Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation and Climate Neutral Certified, ensuring living wages, healthcare, and safe working environments for its producers.
- The company offsets 100% of its carbon emissions and actively promotes sustainability in the fashion industry.
- Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Nisolo operates factories in Peru and Mexico, prioritizing ethical production and high-quality craftsmanship.
- The brand’s mission is to inspire the fashion industry to value both the planet and the people involved in making its products.
Toms
Highlights & Certifications
Categories
Materials
Leather, Canvas, Cotton
Est. Price
$1.00
About The Brand
- TOMS was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, introducing the One for One® model: for every pair of shoes sold, a pair was donated to a child in need.
- The One for One® model led to the donation of nearly 100 million pairs of shoes worldwide, impacting lives across the globe.
- In 2021, TOMS evolved its giving strategy, now committing one-third of profits to grassroots initiatives focused on mental health resources and community development.
- TOMS' signature product, the Alpargata, is inspired by traditional Argentine footwear and represents the brand’s commitment to comfort and cultural heritage.
- The company has expanded its offerings to include eyewear and coffee, each contributing to social impact programs.
- TOMS is a Certified B Corporation, balancing profit with purpose to ensure positive impacts on employees, communities, and the environment.
- Every TOMS purchase supports efforts to create equity at the local level, empowering communities and driving meaningful change.
- TOMS continues to redefine ethical business practices, integrating social responsibility into every aspect of its operations.
Our Product Rating System
First, Camille (co-creator of Welpr) hand picks cleaner product options from a variety of sources.
Next, we collect information about each product's safety, consumer satisfaction, and eco-ethical standing.
Finally, we run all this information through an algorithm that calculates the Welpr Rating.
Welpr Rating:
5.0/5
Part 1: Product safety
We evaluate safety information from 3rd party organizations (e.g. EWG, Made Safe, etc.). Instead of relying solely on any one of these companies for safety information, we assess all of them.
Part 2: Consumer satisfaction
We scour the web for consumer ratings and reviews to verify products are not only cleaner options, but also effective. Products can either be Above Average, Average, or Below average for their respective category (e.g. cleaning products).
Part 3: Ethics & Environment
When you buy a product, you’re supporting that company with your dollars. We believe it’s important to support ethical companies, so we pool together certifications that verify a company's ethics and environmental impact.
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