3 Shoe Companies Doing Their Part to Help the Environment
Being physically active can be challenging for most individuals—and it can get even more complicated if you include the need for sustainability into the mix. Luckily, more brands are opting for eco-friendly manufacturing processes as well as sustainable initiatives. According to the PR News Wire, the global sustainable footwear market is expected to reach a value of $11.8 billion by 2027, meaning there'll be more options for the sustainable fitness enthusiast. If you want to do your part, being physically fit and eco-friendly at the same time, here are three footwear brands that you can learn more about for their eco-friendly endeavors:
Adidas
Adidas is no stranger to eco-friendly practices. The footwear brand has already released hundreds of products made from recycled and even vegan materials. They've also promised that, by 2024, they will only use recycled polyester in their manufacturing processes. Outside of manufacturing, they have a reselling initiative. Adidas’ Choose to Give Back program allows individuals to send in used sneakers and apparel from brands so that they can be resold. This promotes a sustainable, more circular lifecycle for workout gear. Finally, outside of their product line, Adidas' internal operations are powered by photovoltaic systems, which generate green energy. All these efforts have effectively lowered the brand's carbon footprint, making them an eco-friendly option for sneakers and other forms of activewear.
Nike
Much like, Adidas, Nike also frequently releases products made from recycled materials. The brand prides itself on producing shoes with extremely low carbon footprints, thanks to both their use of recyclables and their sustainable supply chain practices. Additionally, their Reuse-A-Shoe program encourages their customers to upcycle their old Nike sneakers so that the company can shred and reuse the material for new products. And that's only the beginning as, recently, Nike also launched their Purpose 2025 Targets, which details the company's sustainability goals. One salient goal involves reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 70%. And they plan to do this by transitioning to renewable electricity and fleet electrification.
Allbirds
Credit: designmilk made available under CC BY-SA 2.0. No changes were made to the image.
Allbirds is a lesser-known footwear brand founded in 2014. However, sustainability and eco-friendliness are at the center of its business. Now, the brand has grown to be one of the most recognizable sustainable footwear brands in the market. And it's even entered the NASDAQ Stock Market with the ticker BIRDS. Allbirds' operational practices are disrupting the industry, with innovative moves such as open sourcing materials and crafting eucalyptus-based shoes. While the brand does not yet have a recycling program, like the aforementioned brands, the company assures us that one is in the works. By 2025, they also aim to shift to renewable energy usage for all of their facilities.
You can achieve your fitness goals while practicing sustainability at the same time. Make sure that you are caring for yourself and Mother Nature by investing in eco-friendly activewear—shoes included! This can go a long way when it comes to your fitness journey and environmental contribution. And if you're looking for the right type of exercise for you, our article on ‘Improving Gut Health’ suggests that you try walking, jogging, or dancing instead. These exercises can help you target different muscle groups without consuming too much electrical power, making for a holistically sustainable fitness routine.