The post-petro plodder
Veja Condor
For a future free from petro-chemical
plastics, the Condor is aimed at everyday
runs rather than record attempts. It mixes
53 % bio-based and recycled materials with
virgin plastic and rubber. The uppers are
100 % recycled bottles; the outsole is made
from wild rubber and rice husk.
€130 / veja-store.comThe bottle bouncer
Timberland Brooklyn ReBOTL
Timberland has a tilt at eco fitness footwear
with uppers, padding and laces made from
100 % recycled plastic bottles. The soles
also feature 34% recycled rubber and
lightweight midsole cushioning, making
these a good multipurpose option for
lower-intensity activities.
£110 / timberland.co.ukThe graphene gripper
Inov-8 Mudclaw G 260
The average lifespan of a running shoe is
4-6 months. But what if we had footwear
that performed for longer? Inov-8’s
graphene-coated trail shoes do just that:
the treated outsoles are validated by the
National Graphene Institute to be 50%
more hard-wearing. More miles, less waste.
£140 / inov-8.comThe haddock’s hero
Adidas Ultraboost Parley
Made in partnership with ocean clear-up
experts Parley for the Oceans, each pair of
these shoes packs 95% recycled plastic,
most of it marine junk purged from oceans
and beaches. There’s a fistful of recycled
500ml bottles in each one – and you won’t
find a better-performing eco shoe.
from £110 / adidas.co.ukThe woolly wonder
Allbirds Merino Wool Runners
With uppers of temperature-regulating but
not weather-proof merino wool, Allbirds
Runners won’t cut it in all conditions. But
if you do most of your sweating indoors,
they’re a comfy and sustainable option. The
laces are made from recycled plastic bottles
and the insoles from castor bean oil.
£95 / allbirds.co.ukThe dustpan dynamo
New Balance Test Run Project 3.0
Instead of plundering the planet for fresh
materials, these limited-edition runners
repurpose the waste that falls to the
factory floor when other shoes are made.
That partly explains the lively look – and
because everything is formed from
leftovers, no two pairs are the same.
£140 / newbalance.co.ukAround 300 million shoes
head to landfill in the UK
every year... so Kieran Alger
sniffs out chic sneaks that’ll
leave a lighter footprint
on the planetThe smart skier
Salomon Concept
Like the Adidas on the right, Salomon’s ‘eco
concept’ road-runner is made from one
type of plastic, making it much easier to
recycle. But at the end of its time pounding
pavements, this one will be reincarnated as
a ski boot. The first shoes are due on sale
soon, the first ski boots two years later.
£tbc / salomon.comThe recyclable runner
Adidas Futurecraft Loop 2
Made from the same TPU plastic you find in
regular Adidas Boost shoes, these running
kicks can be ground down to pellets when
no longer needed and reborn as new. They
look and perform like normal shoes and
may even be part of a Netflix-style shoe
subscription service in the future.
£tbc / adidas.co.uk1 Cotton on
Not all bio-based materials are necessarily
better for the planet. Organic cotton, for
example, can leave an eco footprint as large
as recycled plastic. So do your research.2 Style it out
Stop being such a fashion victim, dammit. Go
for evergreen styles that won’t be ‘bang off
trend’ in a few months and pick designs that
you know you can love long-term.UPVOTED
GREEN GAME-CHANGERS
PLANET-SAVING PERFORMERS
ECO ALL-ROUNDERS
36
HOW TO
DECIDE
ECO SHOES