Top Benefits of Vegan Footwear

Vegan footwear is making enormous waves around the planet. What began as a trend is now a huge part of the modern world of fashion. The market for vegan footwear was valued at over $150,000 million in 2020 and is expected to touch $300,000 million by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% in this period.

Such amazing numbers are because of the important benefits of vegan shoes to both customers and businesses. The more valuable fact is that they are part of a revolution that will keep the planet cleaner and greener.

As vegan shoes become a mainstream trend rather than a niche fad, they are becoming a favourite with fashionistas. This sector is growing continually, and new brands of vegan footwear enter the market every year. Be it stilettos, boots or trainers, vegan brands are becoming more popular day by day.

So, what is Vegan? Vegan refers to products that do not harm animals in their production process. There are vegan shoes that look like they are made of leather, but in fact, they are made of resources that do not originate from or use animal products.

Why leather is not vegan

Leather is the biggest killer of animals in the fashion industry; every year, it claims a billion lives. Cows comprise the majority of these animals, but leather can also be made out of other animals, like goats, pigs, and sheep.

A less-known fact is that leather can be made of cat and dog skin. In the leather industry of China, more than 2 million animals are killed in a year in the cat and dog leather industry. These products make their way into the European market because of a very shadowy supply chain, which is tremendously tough to trace.

This market is replete with mislabelling, and you may find it tough to know what your leather shoes are made of. Leather is also a massive environmental hazard. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, and leather is a major part of animal agriculture, as is farming for meat.  In fact, 80% of the rates of deforestation in the Amazon are related to cattle ranching, which also involve leather.

Besides the main material, footwear comprises smaller components like glues, which may also be sourced from animals. This situation is tricky, as the company making the footwear may not know for certain whether glues were derived from animals. Certain certifications, like the Vegan logo approved by PETA, guarantee that products are free from any animal-based substances and materials.

Benefits of vegan shoes

Vegan shoes are 100% plant-based and do not contribute to environmental degradation or animal suffering. Some consumers opt for vegan shoes to reduce their carbon footprint, while others don’t wish to be a part of the cruelty of the fur and leather industries.

No matter whether the factors are ethical, environmental or health issues, the following are some of the of the top perks of choosing vegan shoes:

• Less chemicals

The typical leather or plastic shoes will irritate the skin of your feet as they contain toxins. This problem is absent in vegan sandals. For instance, hemp shoes need minimal chemicals for their making. Additionally, hemp has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial qualities, which help prevent allergies and infections.

• Comfortable

Plant-based shoes are made of soft plant material. Such material is breathable and lightweight, ensuring that the feet remain dry and cool. Thus, they are ideal for those who are daily on their feet, like nurses and athletes.

• Less pollution

The production of leather shoes, which are typically made of the hides of cows and other animals, contributes a great deal to pollution. In contrast, plant-based footwear is made of biodegradable and sustainable materials; after a few years, there will be a natural breakdown of shoes, leading to less choking in urban landfills.

• Durability

While leather is reputed for its durability, plant-based shoes are equally strong as their animal-based counterparts. The durability of a vegan shoe depends upon its construction. Look out for shoes with a water-resistant coating. The latter protects the shoe from rain as well as repels dirt.

• Recyclable

If you are seeking to protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint, the way to go is to opt for sustainable materials for your footwear. Vegan footwear is recyclable up to 100%.

In fact, certain companies take back old versions of vegan footwear and reuse their fabric to make new footwear. This helps reduce waste at different levels. The carbon footprint at the manufacturing stage is offset, energy is conserved by avoiding the need for raw materials, and old shoes are re-purposed without choking landfills. Even if manufacturers of vegan shoes do not recycle, there will be other places where this will be done.

• Support for eco-friendly brands

Natural resources are depleted, and rivers are polluted by the use of dyes in conventional footwear. Dyes are made of toxic chemicals that can’t be filtered out by animals and plants, and they may end up in oceans and natural water reserves where they damage water-based flora and fauna.

When you buy from and support companies that make animal products for shoes, you will also become a contributor to this pollution. If you wish to be an eco-conscious shopper, go for brands committed to lowering their environmental impact.

Harmful dyes are avoided when making plant-based footwear. In its place, they use natural dyes for colouring such shoes, such that they can be sent back to nature after they degrade.

• Sustainability

A whopping 1% of the world's carbon footprint is accounted for by the production of non-vegan shoes. In fact, they are the least sustainable items in your wardrobe. Making leather, plastic, and rubber involves a lot of energy and water.

However, the eco-friendly process of manufacturing plant-based shoes leaves a much lower carbon footprint than other kinds of footwear.

• Fashionable

Besides the ethical benefits of vegan footwear, you can also look stylish in such footwear. These shoes resemble leather and suede materials to such an extent that no one can tell the difference.

In sum, these are some of the solid benefits of plant-based footwear. Not only does it serve the compassion you feel for animals, but it also helps protect the environment. Plant-based shoes are a great way to make your wardrobe eco-friendly and cruelty-free.