WALK THE TALK

What better way to reduce your carbon footprint than to walk in sustainable shoes that are made by brands doing their bit for the environment and society.

1. ALLBIRDS A New Zealandbased brand, Allbirds uses natural, renewable materials to make the “world’s most comfortable shoe,” with shoelaces made from recycled water bottles and SweetFoam™ cushioned soles made from sugarcane. The shoes’ upper is made out of certified superfine Merino wool or TENCEL™ Lyocel, a tree fiber that helps reduce its carbon footprint. 2. TOMS For every pair of shoes bought, TOMS donates a pair to underprivileged kids. It also provides clean drinking water, eye care services, and safe birth kits around the globe. Its popular slip-ons are made from vegan and sustainable materials like natural hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester.

3. VEJA The idea behind a pair of VEJA shoes is “standing up with one foot in design and the other in social responsibility.” While its soles are crafted from rubber consciously harvested from the Amazon, its uppers are made from organic cotton. 4. ADIDAS X PARLEY Adidas and Parley first collaborated in 2015, to create a sneaker with yarn made from recycled ocean plastic and illegal deep-sea gill nets. Today, Parley’s recycled materials are used for multiple products such as the Alphabounce+ Run and Ultraboost running sneakers, as well as outdoor shoes like the Terrex Two. adidas.com; parley.tv

5. NOTHING NEW This brand’s sneakers are made out of recycled materials. The uppers are 100 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic, while the other components are made from cotton, fishing nets, rubber, and cork. They also offer $20 (`1,500) discounts to those who send back used sneakers, which are then either refurbished and donated or disassembled so that the materials can be put back into the supply chain. 6. TIMBERLAND Built for the outdoors, Timberland has been practising sustainability for over a decade. In 2019, it launched the Brooklyn EK+, an Earthkeepers Edition collection, which features boots and rubber soles made from recycled tires, and lining and laces made from recycled plastic bottles.

Clockwise from top left: Allbirds’ comfy shoes use natural, renewable materials; Timberland’s Brooklyn EK+ Collection makes sure your outdoor adventure doesn’t hurt the Earth; TOMS slip-ons are made from vegan materials; the UltraBoost running sneakers from Adidas x Parley use recycled plastic.