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White leather ABLE summer sandals.
07 Dec
White leather ABLE summer sandals.

10 More Ethical and Sustainable Sandals for Summer

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Sandals are a summer wardrobe must-have. But finding a pair of sandals that is cute and comfy, and also has a lower impact on people, the planet, and animals, is not as easy a sit seems. Lucky for you, we went on the hunt for some of the best more sustainable and ethical sandals to see you through the summer. 

Summer sandals: the indispensable warm weather staple

As the weather gets warmer, a great summer sandal is a must-have shoe that will see you through all your warm-weather adventures—from those long walks on the beach, to picnics in the park, and backyard pool parties.

What makes a more sustainable or ethical sandal?

When it comes to more sustainable and ethical footwear, think of brands incorporating lower-impact materials into their shoes like innovative pineapple and apple leather, organic cotton, and repurposed plastic or rubber. You can also opt for pre-loved shoes from second hand resale platforms or your local charity shop to reduce the impact of your purchase. If you prefer vegan fashion, go for brands that steer clear of animal-derived materials, and if prioritising fair wages is top of mind for you, you can easily check the ratings of brands on our directory.

All that said, to ensure you are comfortable and well-equipped for the season, we rounded up some of our favourite comfortable, trendy, and responsibly-made sandals to keep your feet happy this summer. We’ve included different options, like practical alternatives to Birkenstocks, classic thongs or “flip-flops”, chic heeled sandals, as well as some second hand pieces if that’s more your vibe.

1 People

Rated: Good
top view and side view of Capri Vegan Sandals by 1 People

Capri Vegan Sandals – Ships internationally from Denmark

1 People blends Scandinavian colour palettes and minimalist design to create effortlessly elegant collections for the conscious-minded. It’s pieces, like the Capri Vegan Sandals, are thoughtfully crafted by small family-run manufacturers and designed for quality and comfort. Made using innovative, more sustainable and ethically-harvested materials to give you that ultimate carefree style.

See the rating.

Shop 1 People.

NAE

Rated: Good
unisex black pinatex sandals by ethical footwear brand NAE

Darco Piñatex Sandal – Ships internationally from Portugal

NAE is a Portuguese footwear brand using innovative materials to create shoes with “No Animal Exploitation”. Their sustainable shoe materials include recycled PET from bottles, OEKO-TEX certified microfibres, recycled car tyres, natural cork, recycled thermoplastic, and even pineapple leaf fibre. These unisex ethical Birkenstock lookalikes are hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial.

They are available in UK sizes 5-13 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop NAE.

Shop NAE @ Staiy.

Shop NAE @ Urbankissed.

Good Guys

Rated: Good
Brown vegan sandal clogs by Good Guys Go Vegan.

Sofia Apple Leather Vegan Clog Sandals – Ships internationally from France

Good Guys creates cruelty-free shoes for women and men, founded and designed by Marion Hanania in Paris. These vegan clog sandals are made from Apple Skin™ and are the perfect combination of style and comfort

Offered in EU sizes 36-42 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop Good Guys.

Shop Good Guys @ Immaculate Vegan.

NOAH

Rated: Good
woman holding black and white sandals by noah

Maxi Sandals – Ships internationally from Germany

NOAH creates cruelty-free and 100% vegan shoes and accessories. This German’s brand high-quality and long-lasting shoes are hand-crafted in Italy, using a small proportion of lower-impact materials, like in these wooden-soled slippers.

Find them in EU sizes 35-46 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop NOAH.

Shop NOAH @ Immaculate Vegan.

Etiko

Rated: Great
Bright green natural rubber thongs with a black bear pattern on them by Etiko.

Natural Rubber Thongs – Ships internationally from Australia

Etiko is a designer of organic and fair trade clothing and shoes. Its range of natural rubber thongs AKA flip flops donates 10% of profits to specific charities—this bright green pair directly supports Free the Bears which endeavours to free bears so they don’t have to live lives of gruelling captivity.

Find the shoes in UK sizes 2-12 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Nomadic State of Mind

Rated: Good
vegan rope sandals by nomadic state of mind

Romano Sandals – Ships internationally from the US

Nomadic State of Mind hand-crafts vegan sandals made of rope, up-cycled sailcloth, hemp, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand also provides jobs for workers from disadvantaged communities in Nicaragua. The Romano sandals are one of the best selling styles, and we can see why. They are secure fitting, with pairs for everyone.

Offered in EU sizes 34-41 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop Nomadic State of Mind.

Shop Nomadic State of Mind @ Good.

ABLE

Rated: Good
White leather two strap sandals by ABLE.

Whitney Sandal – Ships internationally from the US

A simple yet stylish take on the classic slip-on sandal. These double-strap leather slides feature oversized gold-tone buckles and a padded footbed for maximum comfort. The adjustable straps make this a great shoe for wider feet. ABLE is a US-based clothing and accessories brands, that works with communities all over the world to stop the cycle of poverty by producing slow fashion and paying a living wage to women who have faced extraordinary circumstances.

Find the shoe in US sizes 5-11 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop ABLE.

VEERAH

Rated: Good
Black vegan block heel sandals by VEERAH with a reversible leopard-print strap.

Dian Block Heel Sandal – Ships internationally from the US

VEERAH is an NYC-based designer vegan shoe company founded and led by women to “do good and look incredible”. Its innovative apple peel leather shoe collection is crafted with cushioned insoles made from algae blooms. Each pair is transformative with interchangeable shoe accessories to create more looks with less, like the reversible leopard-print strap on these classic block heel summer sandals.

Find most shoes in US sizes 5-10 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop VEERAH.

Will’s Vegan Store

Rated: Good
A pair of brown vegan leather sandals with a low heel by Will's Vegan Store.

Vegan City Sandals – Ships internationally from

Created with Italian vegan leather in a carbon neutral process, these sandals have a small heel, not too high, not too low, which makes them perfect for both day and night looks. Will’s Vegan Store produces animal and human friendly women’s and men’s footwear, clothing, and accessories at affordable prices.

Find the sandals in EU sizes 36-42 at the time of writing.

See the rating.

Shop Will’s Vegan Store.

Shop Will’s Vegan Store @ Immaculate Vegan.

Gucci (Pre-Owned)

Rated: It's A Start

Pre-Owned Gucci Sandals – Ships internationally

Founded in 1921, Gucci is an Italian luxury fashion house that produces menswear, womenswear, as well as shoes, bags, and other accessories. The brand has good policies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but still uses exotic animal skin. The good news is that you can find many of Gucci's modern luxury pieces second hand.

See the rating.

Shop Gucci Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Editor's note

Feature image via ABLE, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. We love to recommend some of the best more sustainable brands, rated “Good” or “Great”. We also encourage shopping pre-owned as another great way to reduce the impact of our fashion choices. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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