I Wore Sustainable Shoes Made Out Of Plant-Based Materials For A Week, And Here's What Happened
If you didn't already know, every time you wear through a pair of shoes and throw them out, you are contributing to global shoe waste. Most shoes are made from synthetic materials that take years to biodegrade, and — each year in the US — people throw away over 300 million pairs of shoes that end up in landfills.
However, the biggest part of global shoe waste comes from the shoe industry (which was estimated at $105.8 billion dollars last year). Manufacturers use fossil fuels or coal to power up their factories, and burning these fuels creates carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
You can read more about the negative environmental impact of shoes here.
For reference, and sad to say, here is what a pair of my everyday shoes are made from currently:
Now, insert PLANTS to save the day. Not only do they make our space look pretty, provide refreshing smells, comforting feelings (and so much more), but did you know that plant-based materials can also provide sustainable footwear for us?
So, when I heard that Sanuk sold plant-based sneakers in their VEG OUT line, I knew I had to test them.
The men's and women's pair look pretty similar, and these are the only style options right now. Both retail at $70.
When my pair came in the mail, they looked pretty spot on compared to the website photo:
And, as a person who is all about smells, they passed the test. They smelled pretty neutral and not super "plant-y" or "grassy" or "soil-y" like I was expecting.
And even though this may be the most awkward photo you will see today, here is what they looked like on my feet:
And a personal shot from my perspective (I wore matching socks just for you):
Now, let's move on to comfort. I honestly didn't know what to expect, so before I tried them on, I told myself that these get a pass no matter what because they are good for the environment. However, I didn't have to convince myself of anything! They had soft insoles that easily shape to your foot.
Now, the real test would be wearing them around for the week, which is what I decided to do.
Right away, I noticed how "light" they felt when comparing them to my current everyday shoes which have synthetic outer rubber soles. They felt more natural and less clunky on my foot.
The one downside was that when I wore them for longer periods of time, the back of the heel would rub against my ankle, and it was uncomfortable. And I know it doesn't look like I am wearing socks in this pic, but I am...
Obviously, when I wore higher socks, it solved the problem. So, if when you wear these shoes, you may need to wear taller socks to make sure the back of your ankle is covered.
After a week of wearing them around, here is what the bottom of the sole looked like. Obviously, a week isn't super long, but the tread held up!
And I luckily didn't get any stains on them (which, even after only a week is really good for my clumsy self, lol), but spot-cleaning these with soap and water is best if you do get them dirty.
My overall thoughts on these shoes are: They're a no-brainer simply for the fact that they help our planet! But, from the perspective of someone who is looking for comfort/style on their feet, I think these shoes are a good option because they are comfortable, and they give off a casual look that can match a lot. I wouldn't say these are the best option for a long, outdoor hike, but — as I said — they are a great everyday shoe for little outings, running errands, etc.
*Please note that while these shoes are eco-friendly and sustainable, they are not recyclable, so you would just have to dispose of them like any regular shoe. The Eco Hub has a great article on eco-friendly ways to dispose of old shoes.
Hopefully, more companies will start coming out with more plant-based shoe styles so we can have all sorts of options to choose from while still being environmentally conscious!
Global Citizen
