Shoes and Footwear are one of the biggest polluters world-wide (almost 8% of all waste). Chromium tainted effluent flows from leather factories, chemical-derived synthetics like EVA foam (cushioned sole material) and nylon (athletic fabric) release poisonous gases upon incineration, and highly toxic adhesives harm workers and end-users throughout a shoe's lifetime. As well, all the combined materials in a shoe are permanently fused together, preventing any recycling or natural breakdown from taking place.

There are a number of footwear companies that have begun to come up with solutions that improve upon this situation. Below are links to a few of our favorites.