Now, a study published in the journal Trends in Plant Science presents a set of techniques that enable researchers to detect and monitor drought stress in plants in a cheap, easy and quick way. The authors of the study are the experts Sergi Munné-Bosch and Sabina Villadangos, from the Faculty of Biology and the Institute for Research on Biodiversity (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona.

Fighting the impact of drought on plants

The techniques available to detect and monitor the effects of drought stress in plants range from very simple and inexpensive measures (growth or relative water content analysis) to more complex and expensive approaches (omics technologies).

UB professor Sergi Munné-Bosch, professor in the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, explains that these innovative technologies “have provided new opportunities to detect and monitor drought stress, but their cost generates inequalities around the world.”

“Unfortunately — he continues — today the whole world is affected by the lack of water resources, especially in the context of the current climate change we are experiencing. And, unfortunately, countries with fewer economic resources are no exception. It should be borne in mind that most of the poorest countries are in Africa, which is also home to the world’s largest arid and sub-arid regions.”

Laboratories with basic equipment

The study aims to respond to the need to establish effective and low-cost protocols to easily detect and study how droughts affect plants. Specifically, the authors present a battery of very accessible techniques that can be applied with basic laboratory equipment: precision balance, microscope, centrifuge, spectrophotometer, oven, camera and computer.

These laboratories could analyse different parameters on growth rates, leaf water content, pigments and leaf viability using the tetrazolium test, an organic heterocyclic compound that has traditionally been used in plant physiology studies.

“With these indicators, we can get a complete picture of which species are best adapted to a particular climate, or how a given crop responds to changing conditions in a given region in the current context of climate change,” says Munné-Bosch.

“All these measures are easy to conduct. In addition, a specialised team can be assembled in a very short time to develop measures quickly and efficiently. And they can be implemented at a very low cost, so they are viable approaches worldwide,” says the researcher.

The tetrazolium test: getting a classic back

In a second study (Trends in Plant Science, 2023), the team highlights the use of the tetrazolium test as a useful and easy-to-apply method for evaluating the effects of drought stress on plants. “This test not only allows us to detect whether a cell, tissue or organ is alive or dead, but it is also an excellent indicator of its longevity; in other words, it is a scientific tool that allows us to predict how long a plant will live. This can be especially useful for biodiversity management and conservation programmes, especially in the current context of climate change,” says the researcher.

The impact of climate change is stimulating research into how plants adapt to new environmental conditions. “More than a stimulus, this is a necessity. Humans need to adapt to climate change, and they will always do so better hand in hand with nature, integrating with it. And to do so, it is essential to know the ecosystems and all the organisms that form part of them, including plants,” says Munné-Bosch.

Designing and implementing quality scientific tools is determining to create management plans and to conserve the biodiversity worldwide. “This study contributes to a better understanding of the plants’ response to drought in a context of climate change, and, in addition, it can be useful for biodiversity management programmes,” notes the UB researcher Sabina Villadangos.

The study also makes it easier for these measures to be implemented worldwide. “It is necessary to bear in mind that if all countries do not coordinate in the face of foreseeable changes, the effects of global change will be devastating,” concludes Sergi Munné-Bosch.

We talk a lot about the importance of sustainability and making sure the products we purchase are sustainable. But what is it, exactly, that makes a product sustainable?

As you might suspect, “sustainable” can mean different things to different companies and individuals. If you want to be an informed consumer, you may find it helpful to consider the different aspects of sustainability.

What “Sustainability” Means

A simple definition of sustainability is the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. For a product to be sustainable, it must be possible to produce and/or consume it in a way that doesn’t result in harm or destruction. If the production of a product requires nonrenewable resources, damages the environment, or results in harm to individuals or society, it is unlikely to be considered sustainable.

A product is usually considered sustainable if it:

• Doesn’t deplete natural, nonrenewable resources: A sustainable product is made from renewable resources; in other words, resources that can’t be fully depleted.
• Doesn’t directly harm the environment: The production, distribution, and/or consumption of the product uses as little energy as possible, and minimizes and responsibly disposes of waste. Almost no action is completely free from environmental impact, so most environmentally conscious companies strive to minimize negative impact.
• Wasn’t made in a socially irresponsible way (for example, using forced or child labor or causing health or safety concerns): A socially sustainable business is one that practices fair and equal hiring, hiring a diverse range of people and ensuring they have a voice in the organization. Socially sustainable businesses also care about the health, wellbeing, and success of their employees — as well as the residents of the cities and countries in which they operate.

A more complex aspect of sustainability is economic sustainability, which can refer to how a business operates. Economically sustainable businesses allow other businesses to compete and flourish. Broader economic sustainability allows a country’s growth to remain consistent for many years, rather than accelerating and declining in volatile or destructive patterns.

Sustainability Through Processes vs. Actions

Some companies optimize their processes and resources for sustainability, while others improve sustainability through actions; some companies strive for both.

Through process and resource optimization, some companies choose vendors, materials, production methods, hiring options, and make other business decisions specifically because they lend themselves to sustainability. This often requires extensive due diligence and may result in higher initial production costs.

Companies may also strive to improve their sustainability through actions that are separate from the manufacture of their product or the delivery of their service. For example, Water Watch Company provides clean water to an individual in need for a lifetime with each purchase; to date, they’ve donated more than 120 million gallons of clean water.

Other industries take action to offset an otherwise unsustainable model. For example, some airlines participate in carbon offset programs that plant trees or take other actions to help compensate for the negative environmental impact of travel.

Is This Product Sustainable?

First, check the label. Often, labels on a product will convey how the product is made and what it’s environmental impact might be. For example, you can look for labels that indicate that the product:

• Was made from recycled materials;
• Was made using renewable resources;
• Is 100% biodegradable, or;
• Was manufactured using ethically sourced labor.

You may also see marks of approval from formal standards and organizations, like the EPA or the World Fair Trade Organization. Several organizations around the world identify, analyze, and label the relative sustainability of different products. For example,

• The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides standard reporting guidelines that organizations can voluntarily follow. The guidelines outline economic, environmental, and social impact for individual products and the organization overall.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides international standards for environmental impact.
• Many countries have national standards for sustainability that local companies may be legally required to follow.
• You can also check CSRHub.com, a private database that ranks corporate sustainability and social goals.

Other factors that help determine a product’s sustainability are more difficult to measure. For example, is this product potentially contributing to the development of a pseudo-monopoly? Was this product developed by the hands of a mistreated workforce?

You’ll need to research the company to know for sure since you won’t find that information on a label. So, it’s a good time to check the GRI, UNEP, or CSRHub sites.

Is This Business Sustainable?

You can think of sustainability in terms of individual products and overall organizations. For example, a company may produce a single product that is not sustainable due to its environmental impact, but the organization’s broader efforts improve the company’s sustainability. Conversely, a single product may be environmentally friendly, but the organization’s hiring practices,  economic activities, or overall environmental impact may be destructive.

It’s important to acknowledge both product and organizational sustainability in your research. One way to determine organizational sustainability is to review the company’s most recent sustainability report, which you may be able to find on their website. Among U.S. publicly traded companies, 96% of S&P 500 and 81% of Russell 1000 are now publishing sustainability reports. In these sustainability reports, you’ll learn about the company’s environmental impact, hiring practices, and steps they’re taking to improve their sustainability as an organization.

As consumers increasingly demand sustainable products and services, more companies will focus on their business’ sustainability. With a better perspective on the definition of sustainability, you can make better choices as a consumer.

This article was originally published on July 7, 2020. We updated some links in February 8, 2023.

“This research helps us quantify the energetic requirements of the southern residents,” said Jacob Lerner, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the Pelagic Ecosystems Lab at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. “For example, if the southern residents ate just low-lipid salmon, they would have to eat around 80,000 more Chinook salmon every year than if they just ate high-lipid salmon.”

Southern resident killer whales are an iconic species in British Columbia’s Salish Sea and down the northeastern Pacific coast. With black and white markings, these marine mammals can weigh up to 12,000 pounds and be up to 26 feet long. They are fierce, social creatures that live and hunt in family group pods. And, sadly, there are only 73 left in the world.

Critically endangered by a number of anthropogenic factors, including noise pollution and high levels of water contaminants, their decline is mostly based on the limited availability of their preferred prey — Chinook salmon. However, there are many distinct populations of Chinook salmon available throughout the year, some with stock-specific differences in energy density, and not all in decline.

“We began with an initial hypothesis that these salmon were all created equal, that they all have the same value to resident killer whales. And we quickly realized that this is not true at all,” said Lerner. “They all have different levels of lipid content.”

Quantifying that lipid content is important as it directly relates to the caloric value of a salmon, assigning its value as prey. Specific estimates of lipid content for Chinook populations with different distributions, or run-timings, could be used to inform trends in killer whale populations, properly time fisheries closures, or even decide which hatcheries to augment to increase high quality food availability for southern residents, Lerner said.

This is particularly important as southern resident killer whales are a migratory species and often spend their winter months elsewhere. When they return to the Salish Sea for the spring and summer, their arrival often coincides with the arrival of the spring-run Fraser River Chinook salmon.

“Southern resident killer whales used to come here earlier in the spring season when they could eat early migrating Chinook salmon,” said Brian Hunt, associate professor in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. “Those early Chinook were very energy dense as they need to fuel their long freshwater migration back to their spawning grounds, but those stocks have been declining. With the whales coming later, they mainly have access to Chinook from the lower Fraser. These fish don’t migrate very far, and have lower energy density.”

As a major source of prey for southern residents, estimates of lipid content from Fraser bound Chinook salmon may be one of the keys to helping both threatened species. “We identified a spectrum of high, medium and low-lipid Chinook populations from the Fraser that can be used to better inform energetics models and manage both species,” Lerner stated, “We also identified life history parameters for the salmon to predict where on this spectrum they may fall.”

Though the study has quantified lipid content in Fraser River Chinook, and shown new light on its life history drivers, there is still little information on how ocean conditions influence this energy accumulation.

“We plan to keep monitoring Fraser Chinook salmon fat content,” said Hunt. “And one of questions we want to answer is how changing ocean conditions might be affecting their energy accumulation. Our concern is that ocean warming and food web shifts in the North Pacific Ocean are leading to lower energy accumulation in Chinook salmon. This will have implications for both the Chinook themselves — will they have enough energy for return migration and spawning? — and the killers whales that depend on them.”

They note that the findings, published today in the journal One Earth, add urgency to the need to respond to the climate crisis and provide a roadmap for policymakers aiming to avert the most severe consequences of a warming planet.

In climate science, amplifying feedback loops are situations where a climate-caused alteration can trigger a process that causes even more warming, which in turn intensifies the alteration. An example would be warming in the Arctic, leading to melting sea ice, which results in further warming because sea water absorbs rather than reflects solar radiation.

OSU College of Forestry postdoctoral scholar Christopher Wolf and distinguished professor William Ripple led the study, which in all looked at 41 climate change feedbacks.

“Many of the feedback loops we examined significantly increase warming because of their connection to greenhouse gas emissions,” Wolf said. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the most extensive list available of climate feedback loops, and not all of them are fully considered in climate models. What’s urgently needed is more research and modeling and an accelerated cutback of emissions.”

The paper makes two calls to action for “immediate and massive” emissions reductions:

• Minimize short-term warming given that “climate disasters” in the form of wildfires, coastal flooding, permafrost thaw, intense storms and other extreme weather are already occurring.
• Mitigate the possible major threats looming from climate tipping points that are drawing ever-closer due to the prevalence of the many amplifying feedback loops. A tipping point is a threshold after which a change in a component of the climate system becomes self-perpetuating.

“Transformative, socially just changes in global energy and transportation, short-lived air pollution, food production, nature preservation and the international economy, together with population policies based on education and equality, are needed to meet these challenges in both the short and long term,” Ripple said. “It’s too late to fully prevent the pain of climate change, but if we take meaningful steps soon while prioritizing human basic needs and social justice, it could still be possible to limit the harm.”

Ripple, Wolf and co-authors from the University of Exeter, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates considered both biological and physical feedbacks. Biological feedbacks include forest dieback, soil carbon loss and wildfire; physical feedbacks involve changes such as reduced snow cover, increased Antarctic rainfall and shrinking arctic sea ice.

Even comparatively modest warming is expected to heighten the likelihood that the Earth will cross various tipping points, the researchers say, causing big changes in the planet’s climate system and potentially strengthening the amplifying feedbacks.

“Climate models may be underestimating the acceleration in global temperature change because they aren’t fully considering this large and related set of amplifying feedback loops,” Wolf said. “The accuracy of climate models is crucial as they help guide mitigation efforts by telling policymakers about the expected effects of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. While recent climate models do a much better job of incorporating diverse feedback loops, more progress is needed.”

Emissions have risen substantially over the last century, the researchers note, despite several decades of warnings that they should be significantly curbed. The scientists say interactions among feedback loops could cause a permanent shift away from the Earth’s current climate state to one that threatens the survival of many humans and other life forms.

“In the worst case, if amplifying feedbacks are strong enough, the result is likely tragic climate change that’s moved beyond anything humans can control,” Ripple said. “We need a rapid transition toward integrated Earth system science because the climate can only be fully understood by considering the functioning and state of all Earth systems together. This will require large-scale collaboration, and the result would provide better information for policymakers.”

In addition to the 27 amplifying climate feedbacks the scientists studied were seven that are characterized as dampening — they act to stabilize the climate system. An example is carbon dioxide fertilization, where rising concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ lead to increasing carbon uptake by vegetation.

The effects of the remaining seven feedbacks, including increased atmospheric dust and reduced ocean stability, are not yet known.

The paper in One Earth has a corresponding website (https://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/climate_feedbacks) that features more about climate feedback loops, including infographics and interactive animations.

Mangroves are a crucial protector against climate change’s effects in Guyana’s low-lying coastal regions. In addition to being rich habitats for wildlife in this northern South American country, these swampy forests help block floods and pounding surf as sea levels rise and storms intensify due to climate change. Mangroves also help stop erosion, prevent saltwater from seeping into agricultural soils, and act as a carbon sink, absorbing more carbon than most inland rainforests.

To ensure that these habitats stay healthy, the Mangrove Monitoring Service was launched in July 2022 by SERVIR, a joint program of NASA and the U.S. Agency of International Development. This new monitoring effort is in collaboration with Guyana’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute and the University of Guyana. It measures the height and density of mangrove forests by using NASA satellites that bounce radar signals off the planet’s surface.

When these lasers hit mangroves’ leaves and branches, the radar signals come backscattered. When the radar signals bounce back more smoothly, it can warn local experts that a section of forest might be sick, or even deforested entirely. The Mangrove Monitoring Service also uses imagery from other NASA satellites, and this bird’s eye view of the forests further helps spot places where forest is being lost.

Coordinators at the SERVIR-Amazonia regional hub hope lessons learned in Guyana might be the first steps toward building the goal of protecting biodiversity and climate resilience across the Caribbean.

More information about this work can be found in the NASA Applied Sciences site story Protecting Guyana’s Mangroves and Communities with NASA Satellites.

Despite being small, microbes, and especially bacteria, contribute a lot to the global carbon cycle — the movement of carbon in various forms through nature. Its level in the atmosphere, and so its influence on climate change, is controlled by a series of sources and sinks, such as respiration and photosynthesis respectively.

Now, new research from Imperial College London and University of Exeter scientists has shown that, when warmed, bacterial communities that have matured to co-operate release more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than communities that are in competition with each other.

The results are published in Nature Microbiology.

Co-author Dr Tom Clegg, who led the theory development from the Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) at Imperial, said: “Our findings have far-reaching implications given the significant contributions that bacterial communities make to the carbon cycle. We show that changes in bacterial species interactions can rapidly and substantially increase the carbon emissions from natural ecosystems worldwide.”

Bacteria — like humans — respire, taking in oxygen and releasing CO₂. Of the many factors that control their level of respiration, temperature is particularly important.

Bacteria form communities of different species in all habitable environments, including in soil, puddles, and in our guts. When communities first form, the bacterial species are often ‘competitive’, each trying to get the best resources.

However, over time these communities mature to co-operate by facilitating each other’s resource use. In this scenario, each species plays a role in the community that ensures its overall ‘health’, for example several species working together to decompose leaf litter to access the nutrients.

Previously, researchers had assumed that the response of bacterial communities to rising temperatures was mainly governed by individual species’ metabolism changes: as the environment warms, individual cells have to respire faster to survive. However, as these species interact, the team behind the new paper wanted to test if the level of co-operation in the community changed this picture.

They built a mathematical model that showed co-operative communities are more sensitive to warming, meaning that as temperatures rise, they release CO₂ at an accelerated rate. The team tested their model in lab experiments with communities from geothermal streams in Iceland, which showed that a shift from competition to facilitation caused a 60% increase in the sensitivity of community respiration to warming.

Dr Francisca García from the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter (Penryn) said: “Researchers should incorporate this phenomenon in models as it has the potential to substantially improve the accuracy of predictions about the effects of ongoing and future climate change on the global carbon cycle.

“Indeed, new bacterial communities are assembling on melting glaciers and permafrost driven by climate change as we speak, and as they become more cooperative, this will likely amplify the carbon emissions from these rapidly changing environments.”

Every year about 20 billion pairs of footwear are produced across the globe. Unfortunately, the fashion industry is known for pollution, an immense water and carbon footprint, and poor working conditions. However, a handful of footwear companies are creating fundamentally more sustainable products and inspiring corporate giving programs.

These innovative brands are taking actions such as opting for ocean freight over air freight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, partnering with BLOOM for algae-based EVA footbeds, and using recycled water bottles in their footwear materials. They are creating fashionable products using bio-based or recycled materials, reducing packaging waste, and paying a living wage to their workers. Let’s explore some of these footwear brands that are leaders in sustainable footwear.

Click to view the comparison chart of the products we tested.

Third-Party Certifications & Ratings

These programs help shoppers identify more sustainable and socially-responsible companies that meet a higher standard.

• Fashion Transparency Index ranks 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers using their public disclosure of human rights and environmental policies, practices, and impacts throughout their supply chains and operations.
• PETA-Approved Vegan products feature vegan alternatives to animal-derived materials, such as leather and fur, so this certification allows shoppers to identify cruelty-free products easily.
• Bluesign-Approved textile materials meet criteria for pollution control, promoting occupational safety and consumer health.
• Carbon Negative certification shows a company is accounting for its impact on the planet and is beyond carbon neutral.
• Leather Working Group (LWG) certifications help ensure a more “responsible and transparent leather supply chain” and include an auditing standard.
• Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests are responsibly managed and provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
• Carbon Neutral certification uses the Carbon Neutral protocol to measure, mitigate, and offset emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.

Casual Shoes & Sneakers

This comfortable footwear is ideal for less formal settings and prioritizes comfort.

Water-Repellent Shoes – Allbirds Wool Runner-Up Mizzle Plus for Women (also available for men)

The Mizzle Plus is a super cozy merino wool shoe with a water-repellent shield. This is quite an innovation because Allbirds has made a high-top with biobased materials that can withstand some rain and relatively cold temperatures. Still, we don’t recommend jumping in rain puddles with them. The Allbird Runner-up Mizzle Plus is an impressive shoe on our list that combines comfort, functionality, and style with some remarkable sustainability features.

These Allbirds are made with ZQ-certified merino wool and FSC-certified natural rubber soles. Whereas some shoe manufacturers use concerning chemicals, Allbirds uses an ECO Passport-certified (OEKO-TEX), fluorine-free water repellent shield. The company is a leader in sustainable footwear, has been a certified B Corp since 2016, and has a score of 89.4.

Allbirds is on track to cut its carbon emissions to near zero by 2030. It uses renewable energy, maximizes ocean shipping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and supports regenerative agriculture for wool production.

Fit: True to size, available only in whole sizes

Road Running Shoe – Brooks Ghost 15 for Women

The Ghost is Brooks’ first carbon-neutral running shoe, and the Ghost 15 has 6% fewer carbon emissions than the Ghost 14. The company performed a lifecycle assessment that included the materials production, product assembly, packaging, distribution, and end-of-life to understand the impact and make incremental improvements.

All the upper materials contain a high percentage of recycled content, and they offset emissions with carbon credits. The Ghost line shows how Brooks is taking steps to be a more environmentally friendly brand, but it would be great to see a higher percentage of recycled content in Brook and carbon offsets more widely used throughout Brooks products. The Ghost 15 is available for both men and women and in a variety of colors.

Although Brooks Sports has set some clear sustainability goals, such as net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, we’d like to see shorter timelines. It is slowly transitioning to a circular business model that also incorporates recycled polyester and nylon yarn in footwear and apparel and aims to use 50% biobased or recycled content by 2030. It received a relatively low rating by the Fashion Transparency Index 2022 of 27, considerably lower than New Balance (41), ASICS (44), Reebok (48), Adidas (51), Nike (53), Converse (53), and Puma (58). but did fairly well in the policies and commitments category, so improvements may be on the horizon.

Fit: True to size

Sneakers – Cariuma Low Top 4oceans for Women (also available for men)

This limited-edition shoe is a classic Cariuma low top that celebrates Worlds Ocean Day 2022 and supports 4ocean’s worldwide cleanup initiatives. With each pair, 2 pounds of plastic and debris is removed from coastlines, oceans, and rivers. This casual vegan sneaker has more cushion and arch support than you might expect, thanks to its insoles that contain cork and mamona oil. They come in three colors (blue, white, or gray), and all have the classic cap-toe design. These sneakers are available in both men’s and women’s, and seem durable and well-made.

The shoes are made largely of post-consumer recycled plastics and organic cotton. Cariuma plants two trees in Brazil for every pair of shoes they sell as part of its mission to restore biodiversity and the carbon-capturing ability of rainforests. The company has an impressive list of certifications, including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), bluesign-certified chemicals, Global Recycled Standard certification, and OEKO-TEX. It also uses innovative bio-based materials, such as bamboo, cork, and sugarcane.

Fit: Cariumas are true to size.

Sneakers – Cariuma OCA Highs for Women (also available for men)

These high-top sneakers feature a timeless design rooted in the culture of skateboarding and surfing but with a modern makeover. We find them more comfortable than Converse and Vans, in part due to the memory foam insoles (described above). The OCA highs come in both men’s and women’s, and there are various colors and material options for the upper fabric and three sole colors.

Cariuma sources leather and suede materials from Leather Working Group (LWG) Gold-rated suppliers and all of the water used in the tanning process is recycled and reused.

Fit: Cariumas are true to size.

Casual Orthotic Shoes – Therafit Sienna Sidezip Sport for Women

If you are looking to combine style and exceptional comfort, the Sienna is an excellent choice. One of the first things we noticed when wearing these shoes is how they naturally encouraged us to stand up straight and walk without caving in the arches. If you’ve ever had the experience of a yoga teacher instructing you to stand with proper alignment and posture, these shoes magically and effortlessly achieve this.

Therafit shoes, sandals, and boots feature patented technology designed to prevent foot pain and support proper alignment, so it’s no wonder they are American Podiatric Medical Association-approved. The Therafit Sienna comes in many colors and has a functional side zipper.

Therafit has been a Certified B Corp since 2013, says that philanthropy is part of its DNA, and donates $1 to the non-profit of your choice for every pair of Therafit shoes sold. It partners with non-profits working in “medical research, education, and the preservation of our planet and its resources.” Although we are impressed with Therafit’s philanthropic endeavors, it would be great to see greater use of recycled and bio-based materials in its orthotic footwear.

Fit: Therafit shoes are not true to size and run a bit small. We suggest ordering a half or full size larger than normal.

Waterproof Footwear

The following shoes are waterproof and ideal for wet weather and exploring the outdoors.

Waterproof Snow Boots – Bogs Bozeman Tall Yulex Boots for Men

Made of Yulex Natural Rubber from FSC-certified forests, these boots are both durable and 30% lighter than comparable boots. In addition, these seamless boots are super rugged and perform very well in rain, snow, and cold conditions. We’ve owned several pairs of insulated Bogs boots that have kept our toes warm in very frigid weather and lasted for years despite heavy use. These Yulex boots might be our most durable pair yet. Although these boots are for men, there are similar Yulex snow boots available for women.

Bogs has been making some impressive strides to become a sustainable company and reduce its “carbon bootprint.” It is partnering with BLOOM to use algae-based EVA footbeds across its entire line, helping promote water quality and healthy ecosystems. It sources leather from LWG Gold-rated tanneries, and its durafresh odor protection technology uses probiotics instead of pesticides. Its rubber factories reduce waste by using up to 40% post-consumer recycled material, and the Classic Casual line features recycled laces, outsoles, webbing, textiles, and binding.

Fit: True to size, available only in whole sizes

Waterproof Hiking Sneaker – Forsake Cascade Trail for Women (also available for men)

This is an excellent shoe for colder or wet weather and is an excellent choice for exploring the great outdoors. The Cascade Trail is available in four colors and is rugged yet lightweight. Forsake is also partnering with BLOOM to create an EVA footbed that is 20% algae-based, which helps promote clean water and air. These hiking sneakers also have a men’s line.

Forsake is taking numerous steps to be a sustainable company, such as being Climate Neutral certified, offering UPS carbon-neutral shipping, and transporting footwear from Asian factories via ocean instead of air freight. It uses 100% recycled packaging and sources LWG Gold-rated leather (for its non-vegan products). Forsake works to reduce its carbon footprint through efficiency improvements and its carbon offsets in 2021 supported Envira Amazonia, a rainforest conservation project in Brazil.

Fit: True to size

Winter Hiking Boot – Icebug Stride BUGrip for Women

Icebug makes it easy to stay active in icy winter conditions with its studded shoes and boots. The BUGrip outsoles have 16 steel studs plus some rubber soles that grip ice and provide excellent stability.

Because we live in Midcoast Maine and it can get very icy here, we have traction cleats or crampons that we can put over our boots or shoes as needed. But these don’t offer the same stability as a product with studs built into the shoe. Icebug also makes studded winter running shoes and other traction footwear products for both men and women. The Stride BUGrip boots are super warm, have a wide toe box, and have a recycled polyester fleece lining and a waterproof coating. The midsoles are 20% BLOOM foam and contain 28% recycled materials.

Icebug is a Swedish company that became the first “climate positive” footwear company in 2019 by offsetting 200% of its carbon emissions. It continues to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy in its Tier 1 factories. As a company that doesn’t use air freight from its factories to the warehouse, it dramatically reduces carbon emissions, but the company has to allow longer lead times. Icebug is also reducing the number of materials it uses and switching to more sustainable alternatives that consume less water and require fewer chemicals, and it uses bluesign-approved textile materials.

Fit: True to size, allows a bit of extra space for thick socks

Waterproof Shoe – Native Nova Hydroknit for Women

This knit shoe features a waterproof membrane made from 50% recycled PET yarn with water and stain-resistant spray protection. It features a light rubber outsole. The stretchy fabric hugs the foot yet keeps it dry and warm, so it’s ideal for cold or wet weather. We find them relatively easy to get on and off, but that might not be the case for someone with wide feed.

Native has taken an innovative approach to sustainability in creating its limited-edition Plant Shoe, a compostable, plant-based shoe made from materials including jute, pineapple husk, linen, and treated with natural oils. The Remix Project gives used shoes a second life and recycles them into playground equipment or donates them to other good causes. Simply request a free shipping label online and drop them off at a UPS location. Plus, Native Shoes has set ambitious greenhouse emissions reductions targets for 2030.

Fit: True to size

Boots

These eco-friendly boots feature natural rubber, vegan leather, and Leather Working Group-certified leather.

Paddock Boots – Nisolo Carmen Chelsea Boot, Sold by Made Trade for Women

This is another excellent product that combines style, comfort, and sustainability. These Chelsea boots have a stacked leather heel, water-resistant leather upper, and a memory foam insole. It took a day or two to break them in, which is common with leather shoes. Unlike many of the shoes featured in this article, the toe box is relatively slender, and they have a slightly elegant look.

Nisolo uses 95% LWG-certified leather, which is always a byproduct of the meat industry and is sourced from the United States and northern Mexico. The company has an impressive 115.4 B Corp score, which increased from 89 in 2017, showing Nisolo is dedicated to making sustainability improvements. The boots are made in an ethical factory in Peru that Nisolo owns and operates.

Made Trade and Nisolo are an excellent combo because Made Trade carries ethically made and sustainably sourced goods and offers carbon-neutral shipping. Its rigorous application process examines the manufacturing process, materials, labor practices, third-party verifications, and more to ensure it meets Made Trade’s core values of “equity, sustainability, and transparency.”

Fit: Not true to size and tend to run small; order a bit larger than your usual shoe size

Leather Boots – Timberland Grayfield Women’s Boots for Women

These Timberlands are surprisingly lightweight and comfortable yet sturdy. Be prepared for lots of compliments when you wear them because these boots are stylin’. They are reasonably priced and have moderate but not significant arch support. Although we haven’t tried them out in warmer weather, they probably will fare better because they are so light despite a thick sole. Grayfield boots feature a ReBOTL lining made from processed PET bottles.

Timberland is also achieving some impressive sustainability milestones, such as using nearly 500,000 pounds of recycled rubber in its footwear annually. Timberloop, its circular design platform, refurbishes gently-used gear or else reuses and recycles materials, and it sources leather from LWG gold and silver tanneries.

Timberland also ranks high in the Fashion Transparency Index 2022, rating 66. Although this might not sound like a stellar score, it’s among the top-performing brands. We are impressed that Timberland, which was founded in 1952, has made so much progress within such a large and well-established company.

Fit: Not true to size and tend to run big; so order a bit smaller than your usual shoe size

Vegan Leather Dock Boots – Will’s Vegan Store Dock Boots for Men

These boots feature water-resistant Italian vegan leather with 69% bio-based content. They have excellent treads and are a vegan version of classic dock boots. Unfortunately, many products are out of stock on the website, making it a bit tricky to order, but the company certainly takes sustainability seriously.

Will’s Vegan Store launched in 2013 as an ethically made, cruelty-free footwear company, and it’s interesting watching its subsequent sustainability progress. It became certified carbon neutral certified in 2016. It introduced bio-based content into its vegan leather in 2017, recycled options in 2019, and now has a fully biodegradable sneaker. While its vegan suede is 100% polyurethane, it is seeking more sustainable alternatives. Also, customers can mail back their footwear at the end of life for recycling.

Fit: True to size, uses European sizing

Flats & Flip Flops

This footwear is ideal for warmer weather or indoor use.

Slide Sandal – Indosole Slide for Women (also available for men)

We love many of the sustainable features of these handmade sandals, but were disappointed with overall comfort. Indosole uses minimal packaging, and the soles are made from old tires from Indonesian landfills. There is also a layer of natural rubber between the recycled tires and the footbed. The company also has active in corporate giving programs, such as providing food to Bali, Indonesia, families when the tourism industry collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions.

While the waterproof slides are well made and attractive, we found them less comfortable than expected, despite the contoured footbed. The soles were quite rigid and the footbed texture felt rough against the foot.

Indosoles was created with a vision of finding a useful purpose for spent tires, which can be a breeding ground for mosquito-borne illnesses in tropical climates. Tires are not biodegradable and are sometimes burned, creating toxic fumes. To date, Indosoles has kept more than 80,000 tires from landfills.

Fit: Indosole slides aren’t available in half sizes. We recommend a larger size if you’re between sizes.

Flip Flops – Sanuk Ziggy Flip Flops for Men

This lightweight flip flop is comfortable and features a nice mesh material. The midsoles are thick and bouncy and are slightly contoured. Sanuk makes a variety of products for men, women, and children, including sandals, slippers, sneakers, and loafers. The company has been making numerous sustainability strides.

Sanuk moved the majority of its production from China to Vietnam, which helped reduce the carbon footprint of its products because Vietnam uses a lot of hydropower, while China generates a lot of electricity from coal. The company is taking steps to reduce waste, conserve water, and avoid hazardous chemicals.

It sources many natural and recycled materials, like straw, hemp, and recycled cotton, polyester, and EVA. For example, its new Veg Out collection is 100% plant-based and made with recycled natural materials. Although most of its products are vegan, when it does use leather, it sources it from LWG tanneries. Sanuk performed a lifecycle analysis of its packaging and has been using less plastic and paper.

Fit: True to size

Flats – Rothy’s Mary Jane for Women

This versatile flat features a flexible sole and square toe, and it hugs the foot with a strap. Rothy’s Mary Janes are super comfortable, soft, and machine washable. The shoes are made from recycled water bottles, and the outsoles contain some natural rubber.

Rothy’s uses recycled water bottles in all its products and has repurposed millions of water bottles to date. It also uses ocean-bound marine plastics in bags and algae-based foam in its sandals. The company also offsets carbon emissions with CarbonFund.org and owns and operates its own LEED-certified factory in China, which it says makes it easier to reduce waste and implement sustainable innovation.

Fit: True to size

Footbeds

Quality shot insoles can help boost alignment, maintain proper arch support, and improve weight distribution.

Insoles – Sole Performance Medium with Met Pad (Unisex)

This footbed is designed to relieve foot pain by distributing weight and pressure and supporting the natural alignment of the foot bones. These inserts are a simple way to revamp a pair of shoes that isn’t comfortable or that lacks arch support. We find them ideal for sneakers, hiking boots, and running shoes. They quickly became a product we use almost daily.

You can either heat the footbed in the oven at 200° F for 2 minutes or wear them for a few days to have them naturally mold to your foot. Because they are temperature sensitive, avoid leaving them in the car on hot days or in direct sunlight.

They are made with ReCORK recycled wine corks, a material that is naturally antimicrobial and is overwhelmingly carbon negative. Sole also uses BLOOM algae foam, a bio-based material that partially replaces the fossil-fuel-based material in its sandals. Algae is a quickly renewable resource and harvesting it helps protect natural ecosystems from harmful algae blooms.

Fit: Sole Insoles are not available in half sizes. If in between sizes, order half a size up and trim them down.

Leading the Way Towards More Sustainable Footwear

Although the footwear industry isn’t known for being sustainable, numerous companies that are sourcing cleaner materials, minimizing emissions, and using cruelty-free materials. We were especially impressed by the sustainability initiatives and ingenuity of Allbirds, Bogs, Cariuma, Forsake, Icebug, Indosole, Nisolo, Rothy, Sanuk, Sole, and Will’s Vegan Shoes. These companies are leading the industry toward a greener and cleaner future.