Shoes made from eucalyptus tree? They exist.

And two more brands producing footwear from nature.

Disclaimer: No links in this article are affiliated and all opinions are my own and based on fact.

Image courtesy of Wix

When searching for a reliable, quality pair of shoes, there are so many brands to choose from it can be overwhelming knowing where to start.

If you’re trying to make a more environmentally conscious choice, that search becomes much narrower, but much more difficult, since there are some brands who are not as green as they may seem.

To help you out, below are three brands producing honest, natural shoes. You may have heard of one, if not all of these brands, but maybe didn't realise just how eco-friendly they are. So from sustainable production to soles made from sugarcane (yes, really), take a look at the brands shaking up their industry.

All Birds

Eucalyptus tree, sugarcane and castor bean oil don’t sound like materials that would be found in shoes. But All Birds disagrees.

The New Zealand brand has been reinventing the footwear industry since 2016, developing running shoes, high tops, flats and more using materials provided by the Earth.

No synthetic materials or plastics (except in the laces, with one recycled water bottle used to make one pair), just science and innovation to make what they and reviewers believe are comfortable and long-lasting trainers.

Their USP is the use of merino wool as their fabric of choice, as well as their very own Sweetfoam, which in their words is “the world’s first carbon negative green EVA” (the material that makes up a shoe sole).

On top of that, they have made water-repellent merino wool trainers called Mizzles, with an Oeko-Tex certified fluorine-free coating, which they have since applied to a puffer jacket as part of their new clothing line.

Read: What makes a jacket waterproof?

They are a Certified B Corporation, and explain in plain English how their goals go beyond offsetting emissions, which is already in motion as they calculate the carbon footprint of each shoe they produce.

They offset their emissions by supporting carefully selected projects that are making a real difference to the local environment (sometimes planting a tree somewhere doesn’t have the impact we think it does), including projects local to All Birds’ production, and supporting regenerative agriculture, which ensures a healthy chemical-free soil that needs to absorb carbon dioxide to thrive.

All Birds have also been working on a leather-like material made from plants that they say produces 98% less carbon emissions than real leather, and utilises 17 times less carbon than synthetic leather.

Sustainable production methods? Check. Natural materials? Check. Making a positive difference to the fashion industry? Check.

Birkenstock

Birkenstock have been producing shoes since 1774, and have gone from being the podiatrist-recommended choice to the fashion statement.

But they have built a following for a reason. They are comfortable, last years, and are good for your feet, the footbed supposedly designed to make you feel as if you’re standing in sand.

The not-so-secret secret lies in using natural materials - although it should make sense that plastic, made from crude oil, is not as effective.

Birkenstock use leather on the top layer of the footbed and the straps, which is obviously a natural material we are all familiar with. Leather has been protecting our feet for centuries, and is still the most popular choice for its durability and breathability.

But as expected humans have been overusing, mistreating and exploiting the way in which leather is produced, so many are choosing to avoid it where possible.

As a result Birkenstock now sell vegan versions of their shoes after developing their own synthetic material, Birko-Flor, meaning there are options for everyone. That being said, it's unclear what Birko-Flor is made from, making them less transparent than other brands in the production of their products.

But we do know all styles are made with a footbed that relies on renewable materials. Natural cork is taken from cork oak trees, a process that can only be repeated around every seven years. Almost all of their adhesives are water soluble, natural latex is collected from rubber trees (which it only produces once they are six years old) and jute fabric is produced and sustainably harvested from the plant.

As I said, they’ve gained a global following for a reason, and as one of if not the first natural shoes on the market, they are clearly not going anywhere anytime soon.

Veja

Veja made it to the mainstream after Megan Markle wore them in public. But these shoes are more than a fashions statement, and fully deserve their place in this list.

After learning Veja’s story (you can watch it above), you soon learn that this isn’t a company making shoes to sell shoes. It’s a company making a highly in-demand product to support small, sustainable, positive production methods.

They use certified organic and fair-trade cotton, which follows regenerative agriculture practices by being grown in the same soil as other crops (much like the harvests All Birds supports). And the rubber used in their shoes is sustainably harvested from wild rubber trees by a community living in the Amazon rainforest, which protects the area from deforestation.

They are another Certified B Corporation, and use chrome-free leather in their shoes produced in tanneries certified Gold by the Leather Working Group, an organisation aiming to make the production of the material environmentally friendly.

If you haven’t realised already, Veja are completely transparent. From listing costs of their production processes and spending no money on advertising to support their production methods, to constantly reviewing their methods and learning from mistakes, they seem to hide nothing about their brand, instead wanting consumers to learn where their products come from. And that's really the way it should be.