Simple Shoes have been well known for years as one of the most eco friendly brands out there. They use organic cottons, hemp blends, recycled car tires for outsoles and foot form inserts made from post consumer recycled paper. Simple Shoes has really thought through their approach to making shoes and the best part is that they haven’t sacrificed comfort or style along the way. Their California casual styling is as cute and comfortable as ever and we’re here to show you some of their great eco friendly and vegan options for spring and summer!

The Simple Satire Silk is so cute in person. The pictures on the PlanetShoes.com website are awesome but you can see and feel the texture of the silk upper and really enjoy the sheen and look this shoe achieves.

The shoe uses a certified organic cotton lining and footbed and the bottom of the shoe is made from recycled car tires.

As usual, all of their packaging materials, including shoe box, any stuffing and foot form inserts are made from recycled post consumer paper. Those are the features – now just take a moment to enjoy the look of this adorable sneaker.

The Simple Flippee will make you happy this summer. Made with eco friendly recycled PET, this is a totally vegan flip flop and uses absolutely no animal products in materials or construction.

This shoe also uses water-based glues and has a biodegradable outsole made from recycled and natural rubbers that contain a special Eco-Pure additive that ensures rubber turns into dirt!

The other thing I love about this shoe is the textured footbed that helps your feet naturally grip the sandal bottom – very comfy!

On the men’s side, we are loving the Simple Toemorrow. Another vegan option, this has a great textured and rugged look while maintaining the simple and comfortable shape of a cool sneaker.

The upper of this men’s sneaker is hemp and this shoe also has a bamboo fabric lining. The Toemorrow is sealed and made water resistant by the Simple Shoes rubbahyde material that is certified organic cotton with a coating of all natural latex.

Featuring a crepe rubber sole and cotton laces, these cool men’s sneakers are super eco friendly and great looking as well!

Don’t forget that Simple Shoes has options for kids as well! Get your little ones started young in their eco-conscious ways with some great Simple eco friendly sneakers like the Simple Satire Heathered Kids.

Soft and adorable, these sneakers feature certified organic cotton and hemp blend upper with certified organic cotton laces.

The ped bed is super comfy and made with polyurethane foam and recycled rubber for durability. The shoe bottom is made from recycled car tires and this shoe is also Vegan!

Pikolinos St. Louis 7097

The Pikolinos St Louis 7097 is a darling and environmentally friendly Mary Jane sure to brighten your day. Set in a vegetable tanned leather upper, this shoe features contrast stitching and perforated detailing on the vamp. The strap features elastic goring for a flexible fit. Bring some color to your feet in the Pikolinos St Louis 7097.

Pikolinos has been awarded a certification for its environmentally friendly production of its shoes. They strive to use all-natural leathers, free of chemical treating, with natural and biodegradable soles.

• Materials: Vegetable tan leather upper, molded unit outsole
• Heel: 1/2″
• Item #: 786-7097
• Lining: Leather

Simple Satire Silk

A truly sophisticated sneaker. The Simple Satire Silk is set in a gorgeous silk upper and ready for adventure, wherever your feet may take you. Features a certified organic cotton lining and footbed.

The “pedbed” (the cushiony and supportive stuff at the bottom of the shoe) is made of super soft and squishy polyurethane foam and recycled rubber. Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire. The earth friendly foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper. Shoebox made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue.

• Materials: Silk upper, polyurethane foam and recycled rubber footbed, recycled car tire outsole
• Country of Origin: China
• Item #: 9003
• Lining: Organic cotton

Keen Coronado Mary Jane

A versatile update to the classic style, the Keen Coronado Mary Jane is a casual sneaker for summer fun. With its two-tone floral print natural canvas upper, cushy PU footbed, vulcanized rubber toe and non-marking sole, this new-school shoe is sure to be your new favorite. Features vulcanized eco-friendly construction and all Vegan materials.

• Materials: Natural canvas upper, PU footbed, non-marking rubber outsole
• Country of Origin: China
• Item #: 5348
• Lining: Canvas

Naya Fowler

Enhance your style and soften your step in the Naya Fowler eco-friendly flats. Chrome-free leather upper in slip on flat style with a round closed toe. Pretty floral embellishment on scooped vamp adds texture and interest. Stitching accents around collar, heel overlay. Cushioning biodegradable latex foam under chrome-free leather lining. Recycled cork outsole. 1/2 inch heel.

• Materials: Chrome-free leather upper, biogradable latex foam footbed, recycled cork outsole
• Heel: 1/2″
• Item #: 32778001
• Lining: Chrome-free leather

Groundhog Raymore

The Groundhog Raymore is part of the Groundhog Greenbelt Collection. This sandal has a toe thong with an up to date ankle strap.  The upper is made from a Semi-vegetable dyed leather upper and a soft flex-moulded contour insole covered in bamboo microfibre.

All Groundhog shoe linings and sock liners are  bamboo microfibre. Eco friendly, deliciously soft and supple leather and a clean, simple look complete this great spring and summer eco gladiator.

Simple tanTAN

Women’s Tantan – Eco-Certified Leather sandal with uppers made of leather from an eco-certified tannery (BLC/ISO 14001)

• Embossed leather lining and footbed
• Midsole of natural crepe rubber for cushioning
• Stacked leather heel cushion for luxury and comfort
• Outsole of a car tire and natural rubber blend
• Water based glue is used to hold the shoe together, not petroleum based
• Just another way to reduce our dependence on petroleum, and it also means no nasty smelling glue for the people who put your shoes together
• Shoebox made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue

El Naturalista Wakataua N435

Be confident and dream, life will reward you! With the Wakataua sandals on your feet, you will feel like a “Viking of the South” – strong, secure, and bold. Row your canoe and go where you dare to go….These sandals are a representation of the Maori people, of their aesthetic qualities, their extensive symbolism, their great sense of freedom, and their respect for the sacred as well as their nobility, determination, and honorability. Cork seemed to be the perfect material for these sandals. With its purity and durability, cork is very similar to Maori craftsmanship and their complex and artistic products… the woodcarving, the poetry, the music, the dance, the oratory, the tattoos, and other forms of arts. The texture, lightness, liveliness, and flexibility of cork make it a perfect choice. And of course, it also complies with El Naturalista’s philosophy and does not contaminate the environment.

• Materials: Leather upper, cork outsole
• Country of Origin: Spain
• Item #: N435
• Lining: Leather

Jambu Troy

The Jambu Troy is strappy, sporty and sexy all at once. This 2 ½ inched sporty wedge is both glamorous and comfortable. It features a smooth leather/nubuck or vegetable leather/naked leather materials and has a quick-closure bungee lacing system. Its memory foam contoured foot bed cradles and supports the foot, which maximizes comfort. The troy has a signature translucent mid sole design and toe and heel bumpers that provide protection against the elements.

• Materials: Leather upper, non-marking partially recycled rubber outsole
• Heel: 2.5″
• Item #: WJ09TRO
• Weight: 10 oz.

Choosing the right kid’s shoes as they go back to school is always a challenge. You want something sturdy and versatile that will work with most of their clothes, keep up with them no matter how hard they run and play and that will stand up to changing weather conditions.

My daughter starts kindergarten this year and I have to say I’ve been stumped! Do I go with fashion or straight up durability and practicality? Do I choose an athletic shoe or do I go with a sturdy Mary Jane? So I perused my options over at Planet Shoes and I came up with a number of cute styles that will please the parent of daughter or son, girly girl or tomboy, athlete or bookworm!

Keen Coronado: Let’s start with the Keen Coronado’s. This is a cute and durable option from Keen, a shoe maker known for quality and making a shoe that can stand up to just about anything. This sneaker, in particular, is also made with eco-friendly construction in mind, offering a recycled PU and cork footbed and using an eco-friendly vulcanized construction.

The natural canvas is both breathable and strong and the look is classic and works perfectly for boys or girls depending on the size you choose. If you decide to go with the classic Converse inspired sneaker, consider the Keen Coronado for this fall!

New Balance KV993 Running – Do you have a preschooler heading into the hallowed school halls for the first time? One of the best options for an athletic or super active tyke is a great New Balance sneaker, with a Velcro closure. These are made for running around, so they are well cushioned and have reflective detailing for additional safety.

They are made with a suede and mesh upper which keeps the shoe comfortable in any temperature. Easy to get on and off and super supportive and durable, these kid’s sneakers are a great option for little boys or girls on and off the playground.

Simple Macaroon – Do you have a little girl on your hands who is likely to turn her nose up at a pair of sneakers, no matter how cute? Well, I have the compromise for you! The Simple Macaroon is an adorable Mary Jane style kid’s shoe that has the benefit of a rubber outsole and comfortable footbed.

As with all Simple Shoes, these sweeties are also very eco-friendly, using Organic cotton for the lining and the EVA pedbed covering. The rubber outsole used to be a car tire and these shoes ship in recycled boxes. So basically, you’ll be helping your little darling look adorable in the most comfortable and eco-friendly way possible! No downside!

Merrell Jungle Moc – Last, but certainly not least is the Merrell Jungle Moc, the classic Merrell slip on that combines simple styling, extreme durability and water and stain resistant exteriors. These shoes have a ton of benefits for kids – they are slip on’s, which make them easy for all ages, but they also offer fantastic traction and a great, snug fit because of the elasticity.

These shoes are sure to see them through the winter – and maybe you’ll swing over to the grown up section and pick some up for yourself!

One of the challenges in modern shoe design is how to use eco-friendly products as embellishments. In some cases, a shoe can use eco-friendly materials, but the buttons or decorations on those shoes might be made from non sustainable or petroleum products like plastics.

Coconut has provided an innovative and sustainable natural decoration material to a number of shoe makers. To boot (ha ha), some shoe makers are working on how to use the fibrous parts of the coconut plan in the creation of textiles for further sustainable materials.

The coconut shell can be cured and hardened and easily turned into buttons of any shape or size. The natural look and strength and durability make them a great choice – and they can take abuse from the elements!

Coconut plants are highly sustainable and cultivated worldwide. They are used for food, oils, ropes, mats, as a hardwood substitute, musical instruments, as sources for charcoal and even in spiritual rituals. The leaves of the coconut plant are even used for roofing. This is a plant that has been creatively used by countries with fewer resources at hand for years and as a result, there is no part of this crop that is unused. The Coconut tree requires a tropical climate so most of the production comes from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Brazil.

So who among our shoe makers is using Coconut in their shoes?

Simple Shoes – We talk about Simple Shoes a lot in these articles, because this company has really taken the use of and application of sustainable materials in footwear to a different level.

Using eco-friendly fabrics and textiles as well as natural rubbers and adhesives, most of their shoes are not only vegan, but also earth friendly, and Simple Shoes often uses coconut in their embellishments as adorable button details. You’ll also note, Simple Shoes has mastered the art of carving the coconut nuts into charming and detailed buttons.

Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog Eco-Luv collection is another great fashion option using eco-friendly materials like coconut in embellishments and in construction.

You’ll see coconut buttons and fibers incorporated in these creative eco-friendly shoes.

Great looking and good to the earth, Rocket Dogs will add an edge of fashion while keeping your eco conscience clear.

Like cotton, wool is considered a sustainable material and is therefore gaining ground as a material being used in eco-friendly footwear. All wool is considered sustainable as it’s a natural material that can be renewed by sheep farming, but organic wool should be used and cultivated. There are a number of breeds of sheep used in the production of organic wool and they include Navajo-Churro, Columbia, Rambouillet and Border Leicester among others.

Organic wool is certified according to federal requirements. Feed for the livestock must be certified as organic, there can be no use of hormones on the sheep or genetic engineering, it is prohibited to use any kind of pesticide on either the livestock themselves, on the fields in which they graze or on feed. Finally, farmers must raise healthy livestock through sustainable management practices.

Non organic wool allows for sheep “dipping” in insecticides and farmers can raise a higher number of sheep per square acre, which can adversely affect the health of the livestock. Right now, organic wool is more expensive than conventionally produced wool. The organic wool industry is considerably smaller and although they receive a higher price per unit than traditionally produced wool, when wool prices are low, non-organic wool producers will increase the amount of sheep per unit of land in order to make more money, which organic producer’s can’t do.

Organic wool production is gaining ground in the United States and according to the Organic Trade Association is being produced in Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and Vermont.
Wool and organic wool make for great shoe materials for all of the reasons wool makes excellent fabric and textiles for clothing and other products. Extremely warm and insulating, wool is also breathable and helps to manage moisture on the body.

So which of our brands use wool and organic wool in their production?

Simple Shoes – Simple shoes loves using wool because they consider it to be sustainable, warm and breathable – and they’re right!

Often used in Simple Shoes slippers as well as in boots, Mary Jane’s and other shoes, Simple Shoes use wool as an innovative material for its texture, color options and eco-friendly reasons.

Patagonia Shoes – Patagonia shoes use shearling and chlorine free wool in many of their boot and shoe linings.

They rely on the natural properties of wool for warmth, cushioning and heat and moisture management in the shoe linings.

Patagonia loves using sustainable E-Fibers like organic cotton, hemp and wool in their shoe designs.

Rocket Dog Shoes – The Rocket Dog Eco-Luv line offers a blend of sustainable fibers in their shoe textiles.

Including organic wool, these edgy, fun and sustainable shoes are perfect for casual wear for the “green girl.”

Super comfortable and using cool texture, Rocket Dog sneakers and other options love sustainable wool!

Timberland Shoes – Timberland Shoes use SmartWool® lining for added coziness and temperature and moisture control.

Primarily, wool is used in their winter shoe options and Timberland uses wool and fabrics to add texture and fun to their fall and winter options.

One of the most egregious wastes in the shoe industry has been packaging. Between the paper used to stuff the shoes so they look their best to customers, to the paper used to wrap the shoes before they are enclosed in fancy shoe boxes, the sheer amount of paper and pulp used is a little ridiculous.

I mean, really, unless you store your shoes in the shoe boxes, or use shoe boxes for storage in your house, you’re just throwing all that packaging away!

Hopefully consumers recycle those materials, but all too often they sit for decades in a land fill. So it stands to reason one of the first steps shoe companies that want to go green make, it to reduce their packaging, or turn to recycled materials. Some shoe companies, especially those who focus primarily on simple sandals like flip flops, reduce further, using post consumer plastic bags or even just simple post consumer waste recycled cardboard hangers!

Either way, consumers need to do their part, by not buying into packaging. After all, the box a pair of shoes comes in is not going to make them more comfortable, more durable or more stylish. The box is just about the branding. If consumers reject copious packaging and support the companies who are doing their part by producing quality footwear and eschewing the bells and whistles of waste, we could see a packaging revolution and reduce a lot of trash and stop consuming so many unnecessary resources.

Packaging and shipping is an area Planet Shoes, as a company, is also trying to make a difference. We offer Carbon Free Plus Shipping on all orders so customers can opt to pay a little extra money and Planet Shoes collects the donations and purchases carbon offsets from CarbonFund.org. We also use minimal shipping materials to reduce paper waste.

So who among our eco-friendly brands is doing their part in the packaging revolution? Well, quite a few – and we may have even missed some!

• Groundhog – Groundhog shoes uses all recycled fibers in it’s packaging. Additionally, their tissue paper is 100% recycled and unbleached fibers.
• J-41 – J-41 shoes are shipped in 100% recycled and recyclable materials.
• Mion – Mion Shoes are packaged in recycled materials that are designed to reduce the need for glue and use soy based inks.
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes use 100% post consumer paper pulp foot forms and in 100% post consumer recycled boxes.
• Sanuk – Sanuk shoes and sandals are actually shipped with no packaging!
• Terrasoles – Terrasoles shoes Uses recycled materials in their packaging as well as in their shoes.
• The North Face – The North Face uses recycled materials in their packaging.

When I first read that several of the eco-friendly brands here at Planet Shoes incorporated jute in their shoes, I thought it sounded cool, but I really didn’t know anything about this extremely important vegetable fiber.

For instance, did you know that jute is one of the cheapest natural fibers and comes in right behind cotton in production? Jute is used in an incredibly wide array of applications and its strength and low cost make it a great option in eco-friendly apparel and footwear.

Jute comes from the outer layer and stem of the jute plant and it requires a very warm and wet climate to grow. As a result, the production is focused mainly in India and Bangladesh with China far behind them in production. Jute is not only a natural fiber – its cultivation has little need for pesticides or even fertilizer – furthering its sustainable and eco-friendliness. Additionally, jute can produce massive amounts of cellulose in a short growing period. Cellulose is the inner, woody core of the jute plant, and this means that ultimately jute crops could actually provide worldwide wood needs.

The fibers of the jute plant are extracted in a process called “retting” in which the stems of the jute plants are bound together and immersing them in running water. This loosens the plant material, leaving on the fibers behind.

The fibers are then woven into cloth, some for industrial purposes like bailing cotton, and others are used for things like curtains, clothing and even in footwear! Jute cloth is biodegradable, strong, durable and even UV resistant and makes a great substitute for more expensive cotton.

So which companies among our awesome eco-friendly shoes are using jute in their shoes?

In fact, three of our favorites:

Rafters – Rafters use jute in their outsoles, mixed in with other sustainable materials like cork to reduce the amount of rubber, which is harder to harvest and produce naturally, that needs to be used in the shoe. The strength and natural properties of jute make it a great choice for creating stronger, more durable active sandals.

Rocket Dog – The Rocket Dog Eco Luv line uses Jute fiber in several applications to bring you a full range of super cute, eco friendly shoes From comfy sneakers and simple ballet flats to sexy wedges, the makers of Rocket Dog have managed to make eco-friendly into serious eco-chic.

Simple Shoes – Simple shoes are one of the best known makers of sustainable footwear. They use everything from organic cotton to cork and several pairs of their super cute shoes also incorporate durable and versatile jute!

When I think about Bamboo, I think about beautiful, tall, reedy trees and crazy growth rates. I know Bamboo is useful for many things, but until I started researching sustainable materials and textiles, I had no idea how many uses there really were for this amazing plant.

Bamboo is technically in the grass family, but is considered a woody perennial evergreen. In optimal growing conditions, and given the right bamboo type, this plant can actually grow up to 24 inches in a single day. This kind of growth rate makes bamboo a very sustainable crop, especially if one can be creative with its uses!

Bamboo is widely used in Asian cooking as well as in Chinese medicine for treating infections and healing. In tropical climates, because Bamboo is both durable and lightweight, it is actually used widely in construction and in homes. It is also used in anything from furniture to chopsticks, to ornamental vases and canoes. Just like any wood or reed, artisans have used bamboo for any number of products and items.

Ultimately, a process was developed where bamboo fiber could actually be derived from bamboo pulp. This fiber has been made into all kinds of fabrics that contain several natural benefits that come from the Bamboo plant. Bamboo fabric is soft, UV resistant, anti bacterial, soft, absorbent, and can even aid in temperature regulation.

Now, when you hear all those features in one place, what do you think of? That’s right! These are all the features shoe companies look for in a material!

So who among our eco-friendly shoe companies uses this super cool material in their shoe designs? We’ve got three that we know of – you know many of the others are always coming out with new innovations – but let’s look at how they use Bamboo in their eco-friendly shoes!

• Groundhog – Groundhog shoes actually use a bamboo derivative in their fabric linings and socks called bamboo charcoal which contains many of the features we’ve discussed including bacteria resistance, the ability to absorb moisture, thermal insulation features. This makes Groundhog shoes more comfortable and keeps them from developing any unfortunate odors!
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes uses bamboo fibers and fabrics in many of their shoe linings. This is because of the absorbency, anti bacterial qualities and ability to keep annoying foot odors at bay!
• The North Face – The North Face uses bamboo fibers in several of the uppers of their shoes, including the new Mountain Sneaker. The North Face found a way to combine metal-free suede with the bamboo fibers to create a good looking and durable shoe.

I knew there were clothes out there made of hemp and recently we experimented with hemp seeds in our whole food cooking, but I had no idea hemp had been used in footwear applications until very recently. Of course, it makes sense.

Hemp is known to make durable and versatile textiles, so many shoe companies are taking advantage of this flexibility and using this eco friendly and sustainable material. In fact, hemp has been used for over 12,000 years as a fiber resource. Sadly, hemp cannot be grown at an industrial level in the United States because of its association with the drug marijuana, which is also from the cannabis family.

Hemp is a form of cannabis but it is the virtually THC free brother of the well known marijuana plant. Industrial hemp has been used in paper products, biodegradable plastics, health food, textiles and apparel and recently, because of the popularity of using sustainable materials, its popularity and therefore its crops are growing fast! In fact, it is one of the fastest growing crops producing tons of raw material that can be used in a wide variety of industries.

The hemp plant’s fibers are commonly called “bast” and when they are extracted that can be a variety of colors from off white to green and gray. Hemp was widely used for its fiber production throughout history because it produces 250% more fiber than cotton grown on the same land. In fact, the name “cannabis,” comes from the word Canvas, which is what so much hemp was used for historically.

Hemp grows quickly and is a hearty plant, requiring little pesticide and no herbicides to grow well. This lends further credibility of hemp being a sustainable and eco-friendly fiber. Currently, hemp is widely cultivated in Australia, Austria, Canada, the UK, Spain and Russia.

So which of the eco-friendly shoes that we carry incorporate hemp into their construction? Just a few that we know of, but we’re sure this number will continue to grow!

• Patagonia – Patagonia shoes use hemp fibers in soles, laces and uppers citing its durability under any circumstances. Hemp fibers are known to be quite strong and long in length so they fit Patagonia’s outdoor lifestyle brand perfectly.
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes has widely adopted hemp in several shoe uppers and in other parts of the shoe. They use hemp because of its softness and its ability to breathe in the summer, to keep your feet cool but to also be warm in the winter when you need your toes cozy.
• Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog incorporated hemp into a number of shoe features in its eco-luv collection which has everything from simple sandals to cute ballet flats.