French society Feniques produces ’80s-inspired vegan sneakers with half the carbon footprint of other brands on the market.
The shoes also consume half the amount of water and energy to produce compared to conventional sneakers. This is largely due to the durable materials used in their construction.
The outer part of the shoes is made from apple fiber, while the inner lining is cotton and the insole is recycled polyurethane. The outsole contains a combination of natural and synthetic rubber.
The shoes are made in an artisan workshop in Spain, powered by renewable energy. When they are worn out, they can be returned to Fenics and partially recycled in exchange for a €20 credit. In order to limit their carbon footprint, the shoes are only available for delivery in the metropolitan areas of France, Belgium, Monaco and Andorra.
Sustainable sneakers
As environmental concerns grow, many brands are turning to new, innovative ways to make their shoes more sustainable. Materials used include everything from coffee grounds and corn to plant-based plastic and apple leather.
While some of these innovations come from new brands, established brands such as Adidas and Reebok are also striving to reduce their carbon footprint, in many cases launching vegan and eco-friendly versions of their classic shoe designs.
The vegan shoe market is now worth $42.18 billion and is expected to reach $76.30 billion by 2030.