What are Vegan Shoes Made Out of?

Are you curious about what materials go into creating vegan shoes? Sadly, many other brands opt for cost-effective materials that are vegan but are not sustainable, such as:

• Synthetic Leather (PU Leather): Polyurethane leather is made from petroleum-based polymers. Synthetic leather involves various chemicals and produces pollutants, which can contribute to air and water pollution.

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Another form of synthetic leather is made from PVC, which is less environmentally friendly than PU. PVC production releases dioxins and other toxic compounds, posing serious environmental and health risks. PVC is also difficult to recycle and releases harmful chemicals when burned.

• Synthetic Rubber: Some synthetic rubbers used in shoe soles are petroleum-based and contribute to carbon emissions during production. They are also non-biodegradable, adding to the problem of microplastic pollution as they break down.

Vegan Shoes

At Grounded People, we believe there's a better way to protect the planet and our customers by using innovative and recycled materials without sacrificing our commitment to 100% vegan shoe production.

When you purchase a pair of Grounded People shoes, we use materials like these instead: 

• Rubber Tree Rubber (Natural Rubber): Harvested from rubber trees in a sustainable manner that doesn’t harm the tree, allowing it to continue growing and absorbing CO2. Natural rubber is biodegradable, reducing landfill waste. 

• Recycled Canvas: This material utilizes post-consumer plastic bottles or reused cotton fabric, significantly reducing waste and the demand for new raw materials. 

• Recycled Tires: Recycling old tires for shoe soles diverts waste from landfills and reduces the need for new synthetic rubber production, which is energy-intensive. 

• onMicro (Vegan Leather Microfibre): onMicro's production is significantly less chemically intensive than PU and PVC, thus minimizing environmental impact. Its antimicrobial and durable properties extend shoe longevity, reducing waste from frequent replacements. 

• Recycled Cotton: Made from post-industrial and post-consumer cotton waste, recycled cotton reduces the need for cotton cultivation, which is often resource-intensive. 

As a 100% plant-based factory, Grounded People takes pride in sourcing only the most innovative and durable vegan materials to craft each pair we create.

Ethical Shoes

Ethical shoes mean considering the people making the shoes, the materials we choose, and the resulting impact on the planet at the core of each decision we make across our manufacturing and logistical processes. This commitment means we're always choosing people and the planet over profit.

Retraced is an ethical platform that gives us important information about all the suppliers in our manufacturing network. It allows us to determine where and how materials are sourced, the environmental impact of every point in the supply chain, and, ultimately, all the data needed to make decisions that meet our ethical and environmental standards.

Sustainable Shoes

Many brands adopt the “accidentally vegan” approach by using materials harmful to you and the planet. As many vegan shoes can negatively impact the environment or the people within their supply chains, conscious consumption remains key when selecting them. Just ask yourself, “Does this brand align with my values?” after conducting your research. We’re confident that for Grounded People, your answer will be a resounding “YES!”

We believe that using only plant-based materials in each of our shoes furthers our commitment to sustainability. These goals must work in unison to fully achieve our vision for these products. Our commitment at Grounded People is to source only the best materials for you and the planet. 

Shop our full collection here, you can walk happy knowing each step you take is helping us combat fast fashion for a more sustainable world.