Guide To UK Ethical Athletic Shoes – Gym, Running & More
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Get kitted out the sustainable way, with my handy guide to UK ethical athletic shoes – whether you are a runner, a gym-goer or a walker.
Buying sustainable shoes is tricky business. There are so many different components that go into a single pair of shoes – you’ve got the upper, the outsole, the tongue, the laces, the eyelets, the insole, and the midsole (to name but a few!). With so many different parts, it’s A LOT harder to make a pair of shoes sustainably than a t-shirt that’s made from a single fabric.
It doesn’t help that so many sports shoes are made from synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels, and under questionable labour practices. It’s little wonder that finding a decent pair of athletic shoes that are made sustainably can feel like running a marathon in high heels.
Thankfully things are beginning to change. A growing number of brands are challenging the sports shoe market – showing that it is possible to make trainers from kinder materials, and in factories where workers are paid fairly and treated well. This means there are now more ethical options than ever – without having to sacrifice on performance or style.
To help you out, I’ve put together my top ethical and sustainable athletic shoe brands in the UK. And in case you want to explore any other brands I’ve not listed, then I’ve also included some quick pointers to help you avoid greenwashing when shopping for sports shoes.
Guide To Sustainable & Ethical Athletic Shoes In The UK
To get you started, here are some of my top responsible sports shoe brands in the UK, all prioritising the use of sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing:
Allbirds
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 7 – 13) and Women (UK sizes 2 – 8) (half sizes also available)
- Available directly from Allbirds
Allbirds has a good reputation for sustainable athletic shoes in the UK – and for good reason. Its men’s and women’s active range, including the Tree Dasher 2, Tree Flyer, and Trail Runner, combine comfort and sporting performance with sustainability.
Allbirds uses eco-friendly fibres to make its shoes. From eucalyptus tree fibres, to ethically sourced ZQ-certified merino wool, and midsoles made from sugarcane-based SweetFoam. Even the rubber outsoles are natural – avoiding synthetic options wherever possible.
As well as focusing on using sustainable materials, Allbirds goes that one step further. It measures the carbon footprint of every product, then works to reduce and offset it. Allbirds ambitious environmental plan aims to halve their footprint by 2025 and hit near-zero by 2030.
Flower Mountain
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 8 – 11) and Women (UK sizes 3 – 8)
- Available from Toast
Japanese brand Flower Mountain, available in the UK at Toast, is another ethical athletic shoes brand to check out. Its Yamano Kaiso trainers are making big strides when it comes to sustainable footwear innovation.
The name “Kaiso” translates to algae in Japanese, reflecting the brand’s use of eco-friendly materials. Up to 40% of the outsole is made from resin pellets that blend algae biomass with base polymers, reducing Mountain Flower’s reliance on fossil fuels.
It’s not only the outsole that has been carefully considered. The upper combines recycled nylon with bio-based panels derived from plant materials like corn. Meanwhile, the lining is made using recycled plastic bottles, whilst the insole is made from renewable cork.
Toast carries six exclusive designs and colourways, that are perfect for a wide range of sports.
Vivobarefoot
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 6 – 14) and Women (UK sizes 2.5 – 9)
- Available directly from Vivobarefoot
If minimal-soled athletic shoes are your thing, then Vivobarefoot trainers are a good sustainable option. Designed to be thin, and flexible – and with options for hiking, road running, trail running and training – these shoes encourage natural movement and reconnect you to the ground beneath your feet.
The wide toe box means that if you have bunions then these are also a good option. I have what’s known as a tailors bunion (on my small toe) and find these the most comfortable trainers to wear. I’ve been wearing my Vivobarefoots for two years now, and found there’s lots of room at the toe, so they never rub my feet.
As well as being good for the health of your feet, Vivobarefoot’s footwear is made with the planet in mind. Its shoes are made using biosynthetic, natural, and recycled materials, and Vivobarefoot is committed to circular design and ethical sourcing. As a certified B Corp, the brand holds itself to high social and environmental standards.
Vivobarefoot has even launched ReVivo, a marketplace for refurbished barefoot shoes, helping keep trainers out of landfill.
Get 15% off your first order when you sign up for the Vivobarefoot mailing list.
Veja
- Budget: ££ – £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 6 – 12) and Women (UK sizes 4 – 8)
- Available from Schuh
Veja is another solid choice for sustainable gym shoes that don’t compromise on values or style. Since 2005, Veja has been leading the way in making the trainer industry better for people and the planet by working closely with organic cotton farmers and Amazonian rubber tappers.
By cutting out middlemen, Veja pays producers fairly and upfront – often a year in advance – giving them financial stability while supporting regenerative farming and forest conservation.
The materials used are impressive too. Recycled plastic bottles sre used to create breathable mesh, while organic cotton replaces conventional cotton grown using chemicals. Even the soles are made from wild Amazonian rubber, sourced in a way that helps protect the rainforest.
The shoes are also built to last – my pair that I bought in 2020 is still going strong five years later. I’ve put them through the longest walks and they still look and feel in great condition.
Even if your shoes come a cropper, it’s handy to know that Veja has also built repair stations across Europe and the US. This helps to keep your shoes in circulation for longer.
Norda
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 7 – 11) and Women (UK sizes 4 – 6.5)
- Available from END.
For sustainable trail running shoes, one brand to look at is Norda. Its trail-running shoes are manufactured using bio-based Dyneema, a pioneering sustainable fibre that’s considered the lightest and strongest in the world.
What makes Dyneema sustainable? For a start, it’s made from the waste from the pulp and timber industries. It’s made in Europe in factories powered by renewable energy. And it is is BlueSign-approved (meaning it has been manufactured to strict safety and environmental requirements) and ISCC-certified. This means that all raw materials are sustainably sourced, traceable, and meet strict environmental and social responsibility standards.
Norda doesn’t stop there. Its global manufacturing network has been chosen for its high ethical standards, and the packaging has been designed with recyclability in mind.
On Running
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 6.5 – 13.5) and Women (UK sizes 3 – 9)
- Available from Tiso
If you’re looking for eco-friendly trainers that marry performance innovation with environmental ambition then ON is a brand to check out.
On a mission to ditch fossil fuels, and design for circularity, ON is most certainly on it. Carbon emissions are captured and turned into ‘CleanCloud’ foam running shoe soles. Meanwhile, its Cyclon range is made from recycled materials that can be recycled again and again.
Beyond the shoes, ON supports safe, fair and inclusive factories for everyone in its supply chain – not just those working in ON factories.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Tiso mailing list.
SAYE
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (UK sizes 7.5 – 11.5) and Women (UK sizes 3.5 – 7.5)
- Available from Schuh
SAYE makes ethical athletic shoes, perfect for the gym and other sports, that are made from innovative sustainable materials like corn, cactus, and apple-based vegan leathers, alongside bamboo yarn and recycled plastic bottles. Even their soles make use of recycled rubber and post-industrial waste.
It’s not just the materials that make SAYE sustainable. Ethical manufacturing is key. SAYE says its supply chain is transparent and regularly audited. Meanwhile, packaging is carefully considered to reduce waste. Every pair of trainers sold also funds the planting of two trees, and SAYE actively supports a range of meaningful social projects.
What To Look For When Buying Ethical Footwear
If you’re looking at other brands not on this list, then here are a few quick pointers to help avoid greenwashing:
Look At What The Brand Actually Stands For
When shopping for ethical athletic shoes, it’s worth looking past the shiny marketing to find out what the brand actually stands for. A truly responsible brand won’t have a tiny “eco-friendly” collection tucked away in a corner of its website – sustainability will be its core value.
Big brands often shout about their eco-friendly innovation, but when only a tiny percentage of their shoes are made sustainably, it’s always more about image than impact. These small sustainable collections tend to be more of a PR exercise than a genuine commitment to changing how they do business.
Look At What Materials Are Used
Look for shoes made from bio-based fibres, recycled fabrics, or low-impact natural materials like organic cotton or responsibly sourced rubber. And while many trainers are made from leather, there’s no reason that they have to be. Many brands offer vegan-friendly options that avoid the use of any animal materials.
Choose Transparent Brands
Transparency is also crucial. Ethical brands won’t hide where their shoes are made or who’s making them. Look for those who publish supplier lists, offer impact reports, or partner with independent third-party certification schemes that ensure responsible sourcing and ethical working conditions. These include:
- Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS)
- BCorp
- Fair Trade Certified
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100
- Bluesign
- SEDEX
Look For Circular Brands
Finally, consider what happens at the end of your shoe’s life. Shoes can be hard to recycle, but more progressive brands are designing shoes that can be recycled, and remade into new products. Some even offer take-back schemes so you don’t have to do any leg work when it comes to recycling them.
More Sustainable Footwear Resources
Looking for more sustainable footwear resources? I’ve got you sorted:
- How to wash trainers
- What to do with old shoes in the UK
- Guide to sustainable shoes
- Guide to ethical trainers
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