Sustainable Shoes

Our shoes are not vegan. We use vegetable-tanned leather sourced as a byproduct of the farming industry, allowing us to produce high-quality, plastic-free leather shoes. We are continually researching sustainable alternatives to further minimize our impact.

Yes, OUR CHOICE partners with Empower for ocean cleanup efforts. Learn more about their work at empower.eco.

Our products are designed for circularity, meaning that they are made to last, be repaired, and eventually recycled, reducing landfill waste. We use on-demand production with natural, recyclable materials to further reduce emissions.

All leftover materials are recycled or reused, supporting our zero-waste commitment.

Our sustainable shoes are handmade in Portugal in ethical factories that comply with EU labor laws. We use a zero-waste approach with natural materials, focusing on low emissions and fair working conditions.

We believe that sustainability means avoiding all plastics, even recycled. Using 100% plastic-free materials in our sustainable shoes reduces CO2 emissions, prevents microplastics, and aligns with our mission to protect the planet.

Our sustainable sneakers and leather shoes are designed to last a decade or more with proper care, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and circular fashion. The estimated life requires re-soling over the years as well as sufficient use of shoe care products.

Yes, we ship our leather shoes in reusable eco-bags. The bags can be repurposed or used when returning shoes for upgrades, helping reduce waste.

Our leather shoes are designed in Europe and made in Portugal in ethical factories with fair labor practices.

To ensure high quality, we avoid recycled leather due to challenges in controlling material sourcing and tanning processes. OUR CHOICE uses only certified materials for our sustainable shoes, ensuring quality and transparency.

Our upgrading service includes re-soling, fresh insoles, waxed laces, and a polish to refresh your leather shoes. E-mail us directly to find out more: support@ourchoice.eco.

Yes, our logistics partners offset all CO2 emissions related to shipping.

By designing for longevity - for example, using leather that would otherwise be discarded as a by-product of the meat industry and by offering repair services to extend the life of each pair.

Leather allows us to create durable, repairable shoes that last. Unlike some vegan leathers coated with plastic, our Italian leather is 100% recyclable and enables us to design sustainable shoes that support the circular economy by reducing waste.

Our sustainable shoes are made from plastic-free, top-grain Italian vegetable-tanned leather. The leather is ISO 14001 certified, our insoles are crafted from natural fibers and latex, outsoles from 100% natural rubber, and laces from eco-cotton. Every part of our leather shoes is designed with sustainability in mind.

By overseeing every stage of production, OUR CHOICE eliminates unnecessary middlemen costs. This lets us invest in high-quality, sustainable materials for our leather shoes while keeping prices accessible.

By wearing a single pair of OUR CHOICE leather shoes for five years, you reduce the need to buy a new pair of fast-fashion shoes annually, saving over 70kg of CO2 emissions. This long-term approach supports sustainability.

Circular fashion reduces overconsumption by encouraging quality over quantity. Our sustainable shoes are designed to last five years or more, which can save 70kg of CO2 per person per year, reducing the impact of disposable fashion.

Circular Living integrates psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and acceptance, helping individuals feel aligned with their values. Instead of shopping as an escape or stress-relief activity, Circular Living encourages intentional decisions, reducing feelings of guilt, waste, and regret. The holistic approach strengthens emotional regulation by fostering purpose, community connection, and gratitude.

Sustainable living focuses on the what—buying products marketed as sustainable or reducing consumption. Circular Living, on the other hand, focuses on the how. It dives deeper, encouraging behavioral change, building habits that prioritize repair, reuse, and regeneration, and fostering a community-oriented approach. Circular Living goes beyond green marketing (which often involves greenwashing) to address our personal needs and values.

Communities play a vital role in reinforcing circular habits. Whether through repair workshops, sharing resources, or simply normalizing sustainable behaviors, communities amplify individual efforts. They provide encouragement, inspiration, and collective accountability, making Circular Living not just a personal practice but a cultural movement.

As individuals, adopting Circular Living means aligning our actions with our values, creating habits that reflect mindfulness, and building a deeper connection to the things we own and use. For communities, Circular Living amplifies impact through shared values, mutual reinforcement, and collective change. Together, these individual and community actions create a ripple effect, strengthening the cultural shift toward sustainability and regeneration. Relevant research: Study: "Raising Alarm Bells for a Struggling Sector: Taking a New Approach to Improve the Wellbeing of Climate Change Professionals"

Start small: Reflect on your consumption habits and identify one area to improve (e.g., buying second-hand, repairing items, reducing food waste). Get curious: Research how the products you use are made and disposed of, and look for alternatives. Build community: Share your journey, join groups or workshops, and learn from others practicing Circular Living. Stay flexible: Accept that it’s a journey, not a destination. Mistakes will happen, and that’s okay—progress, not perfection, is the goal.

Circular Living habits involve rethinking how we consume, use, and dispose of products. Examples include: Repairing: Fixing broken items, like shoes or electronics, instead of replacing them. Reusing: Finding new purposes for old items, such as upcycling furniture or clothing. Sharing: Participating in community initiatives, like tool libraries or clothing swaps. Mindful consumption: Choosing durable, repairable products designed for longevity, like OUR CHOICE’s circular sneakers. Sustainable shopping: Buying second-hand, preloved items, or products certified as circular. Composting and recycling: Ensuring organic waste and recyclables are correctly processed. These habits align with the principles of the Circular Economy, as outlined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and help reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of materials. By embedding these habits into daily life, we can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Behavior is at the heart of Circular Living. Our shopping, consuming, and disposal habits are often driven by stress, emotions, or societal pressures. Circular Living encourages mindfulness—pausing to reflect on what we truly need, understanding how systems influence our behavior (like retail music or marketing), and choosing to create intentional, circular habits that align with our values. Relevant research: Study: "A Behavioral Perspective on Circular Economy Awareness: The Moderating Role of Social Influence and Psychological Barriers"

The Circular Economy provides the structural framework—designing systems for reuse, regeneration, and zero waste. Circular Living complements this by addressing the behavioral and emotional elements. It’s about how individuals adopt these principles in their daily lives and communities, bridging the gap between theory and practice through lived experiences and mindful choices. If you have any questions or want to learn more about how you can integrate Circular Living into your life, feel free to reach out to us here.

Circular Living is a holistic approach to life that prioritizes continuous cycles of use and reuse—whether with products, materials, or habits—eliminating waste and embracing sustainability. It celebrates individual differences while fostering a sense of community, where everyone contributes uniquely but collectively amplifies the impact. This mindset goes beyond what we consume, focusing on how we live, connect, and align our actions with deeper values. Circular Living challenges the consumerist "take-make-waste" model of the Linear Economy by integrating the behavioral and psychological elements essential for adopting Circular Economy principles. It’s about not just redesigning products and systems but also reshaping how we think, act, and relate to the world around us. Learn more: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

Circular Living cuts through the noise of greenwashing by focusing on transparency, accountability, and meaningful action. While greenwashing often involves misleading claims about sustainability, Circular Living emphasizes real, measurable impact through: Durability and Longevity: Prioritizing products that are built to last, like OUR CHOICE’s products, which are designed for repair and long-term use rather than disposal. Behavioral Change: Encouraging mindful consumption and questioning marketing claims to ensure purchases align with Circular Economy principles. Transparency: Supporting businesses that openly share information about their supply chains, materials, and practices. Initiatives like certifications from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation help validate genuine circular products. Community Efforts: Amplifying collective impact by creating cultural shifts that prioritize quality, reuse, and repair over disposable consumerism. By actively engaging in Circular Living, individuals and communities can sidestep misleading claims and contribute to systemic change that reduces waste, promotes accountability, and fosters trust in truly sustainable practices

Even better! Circular sneakers mold to your feet, providing a glove-like fit. Plus, leather breathes, unlike plastic, keeping your feet cool and dry.

Visit our repair page to see what's included and follow the outlined steps to send your sneakers to us.

Circular sneakers are durable, repairable footwear designed to reduce waste and emissions. Unlike traditional sneakers, they are part of the circular economy, emphasizing reuse, repair, and recycling.

Circular sneakers last 7–10 years if you take care of them. They are repairable, and produce significantly less waste. Traditional sneakers, especially plastic ones, last only 3–12 months and typically end up in landfills. Read our blog on Leather vs. Plastic sneakers for a deeper dive on the topic.

By designing them for long use - longevity and according to Circular Economy principles. We use leather that would otherwise be discarded as a by-product of the meat industry and by offering repair services to extend the life of each pair.

Use cedar shoe trees to maintain the shape and prevent odor. Polish leather with eco-friendly products to preserve its quality. Clean soles and uppers with gentle, non-toxic cleaners. Take advantage of OUR CHOICE repair services for replacements like soles and insoles.

Absolutely! Sustainable footwear uses breathable, high-quality materials like vegetable-tanned leather and natural rubber. These materials mold to your feet over time, offering superior comfort while being eco-friendly.

Repairable footwear saves money over time, reduces waste, and supports sustainability. With OUR CHOICE’s repair services, you can refresh worn parts, extending the life of your favorite pair.

Yes! When responsibly sourced, leather is a sustainable material. OUR CHOICE uses vegetable-tanned leather, a by-product of the food industry, to create long-lasting, repairable footwear that reduces waste and supports a circular economy.

Sustainable footwear is designed to last for years, unlike fast-fashion alternatives that often wear out within months. With proper care and repair services, like those offered by OUR CHOICE, sustainable footwear can provide comfort and durability over a long lifetime. We estimate our sneakers to last for about 7 years.

Fast fashion promotes cheap, disposable footwear made from synthetic materials like plastics, which contribute to landfill waste and pollution. 25 billion shoes are produced annually, and 87% of "eco-sneakers" end up in landfills. Read more about the harm of plastic footwear in our blog post. Sustainable options, like OUR CHOICE footwear, focus on durability and repairability, reducing waste and supporting a more ethical approach.

Sustainable footwear is made from eco-friendly materials like vegetable-tanned leather, natural rubber, and recycled components. It focuses on reducing waste, avoiding plastics, and ensuring products are repairable and recyclable to support long-term use.

Sustainable footwear lowers carbon emissions by using natural materials, eliminating plastics, and focusing on energy-efficient production methods. Brands like OUR CHOICE further reduce environmental impact by creating durable, repairable products that can be recycled into new ones.

Sustainable footwear fits into the circular economy by being designed for repair, reuse, and recycling. This approach minimizes waste, conserves resources, and helps create a more sustainable future. Additionally, sustainable footwear will last you longer and save you money as you won't have to buy shoes frequently.

Plastic-free footwear is more durable which puts less pressure on our planetary resources. Plastic as a material has a shorter life time which makes us consume more than what's good for the environment (and our wallets). Plastic free footwear also avoids releasing harmful microplastics into ecosystems and requires fewer resources during production. Many brands use recycled plastics, which unfortunately still pollute.