In 2021 it’s no surprise that the fashion industry produces 10% of all the world’s carbon emissions. Furthermore, it’s the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, with approximately 4 liters of water used to produce a single shoe and about 1.49 KG CO2 emitted per shoe.
As such, industry leaders such as Nike and Adidas have been making big moves to initiate the sustainability movement within sneakers. From Nike’s popular Space Hippie collection to various collaborations, we are beginning to see sustainable sneakers become cool. To Round off Earth Month, we take a look at some of the top environmentally-friendly sneakers that help move the needle in sustainability.
Nike Dunk Low SP ‘Lemon Wash Community Garden’
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As is apparent from the name of the shoe, the ‘Lemon Wash Community Garden’ was designed from an inspiration of a community garden. The upper, constructed of a bright, washed-out Midnight Turquoise material, dons a minimalistic design of flowers. The toe box and the ankle stripes are an off-purple color. This sneaker was highly popular upon its release and continues to be one of the top sustainable sneakers out there.
Sean Wotherspoon x Adidas ZX 8000 ‘Super Earth’
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Constructed of a mixed-material upper that is made of polyester and canvas, the Sean Wotherspoon and Adidas collaboration brings a unique touch to sustainable sneakers. The adidas logo is embroidered in clear white, with flower embroidery strings falling from the lateral side. The tongue boasts a large “Super Earth” graphic, while the sneaker itself is popular due to its use of sustainable resources.
Nike Space Hippie 03 ‘This is Trash — Hyper Crimson’
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The Space Hippie collection was an initiative made by Nike to reinvent trash into something cool. From the upper to the outsole, the Hippie Crimson is constructed from 45% recycled material, with the upper including 85% recycled polyester. The Crater Foam midsole is made from a blend of foams, and the insole is made from ZoomX foam scraps.
Sean Wotherspoon x Adidas Superstar ‘Super Earth’
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The counterpart to the ZX8000 ‘Super Earth’ sneaker, the Superstart ‘Super Earth’ is a low-top silhouette that showcases the multi-coloured floral embroidery. Dressed with a red collar, you can see white laces over a blue eyelet along the front. At the rear heel, the Super-Earth insignia is crossed out with green markings. The sneaker uses recycled paper laces and recycled rubber for its midsole.
Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Crater’
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The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Crater’ is a sustainable Dunk silhouette that is made of recycled material. Defined by its monochrome colours, the sneaker’s rubber is constructed from recycled material and supports the bottom. Much like its name, the upper of the shoe is dark gray and black blue.
Air Jordan 1 High Zoom ‘Space Hippie’
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The sneaker is a high-top sustainable silhouette that is eco-friendly and made of sustainable material. The upper of the shoe made of synthetic suede material, while the rest of the sneaker is made of recycled material from recycled polyester to recycled rubber.
Nike Cosmic Unity ‘Space Hippie’
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As part of the successful initiative of transforming trash into something sustainable, Nike released the Nike Cosmic Unity as designing a futuristic, performance-focused sneaker. The sneaker was unveiled as one of the first sustainable basketball shoes, with the upper made of recycled materials and a purposeful cable system. The sneaker is made of 25% recycled material.