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We’ve personally researched and reviewed the top sustainable kids’ shoes on the market. These are our picks for children’s sneakers and shoes based on fit, style, durability and brand ethics.

to school days and everything in between, a good pair needs to be comfortable, supportive, durable, and easy enough for little ones to actually wear. And while kids may outgrow their shoes quickly, that doesn’t mean their footwear has to be disposable. Choosing thoughtfully made shoes with better materials and responsible manufacturing practices can help lessen their impact and, when possible, extend their useful life.

Fortunately, a growing number of sustainable kids’ shoe brands are rethinking the way little feet are outfitted. From natural and recycled materials to thoughtful construction and timeless designs, these brands are creating shoes that are kinder to growing feet and the planet alike.

Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite sustainable kids’ shoes and sneakers, with options for babies, toddlers, and big kids. We looked for brands that prioritize responsible materials and manufacturing alongside what matters most for kids’ footwear: comfort, fit, durability, and styles that can keep up with everyday life.

Our methodology & criteria:

Each brand featured in this guide was evaluated against The Good Trade’s standards for sustainability, quality, and wearability. Because kids’ shoes have to work hard (and often get outgrown before they’re worn out), we paid particular attention to materials, construction, comfort, fit, and overall durability.

• SUSTAINABILITY | We looked for shoes made with lower-impact materials, including natural, organic, recycled, and responsibly sourced fibers and materials, as well as brands that prioritize ethical, transparent manufacturing practices.
• COMFORT & FIT | Growing feet need room to move. We considered how comfortable and supportive each pair feels, along with thoughtful details like flexible construction, cushioning, adjustable closures, and sizing designed for growing feet.
• STYLE | Sustainable doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. We selected brands offering versatile, thoughtfully designed shoes that can work for everything from everyday play and school days to more dressed-up occasions.
• DURABILITY & LONGEVITY | Kids put their shoes through a lot, so we looked for pairs made to withstand real-life wear. We considered construction, materials, and how well each shoe holds up over time, as well as whether it can be passed down, resold, repaired, or otherwise kept in use longer.

Ultimately, the most sustainable kids’ shoe is one that gets plenty of wear and doesn’t need to be replaced before it has to be. These are the brands we’d turn to when shopping for better-made shoes for growing feet.

Looking for kids’ clothing? These are the best organic kids’ clothing brands, tested by our editors.

1. Ten Little 

Best For | Developmentally supportive shoes for growing feet
Materials | Natural rubber outsoles, 100% cotton lining, high-quality vegan uppers, and recycled materials in select styles
Sizes | 0–18M, sizes 3–13, and select styles through 4Y

Ten Little takes a thoughtful approach to children’s footwear from those very first steps through the preschool and elementary years. The brand offers a curated collection of podiatrist-backed shoes for babies, toddlers, and kids, including sneakers, sandals, boots, and more, with features designed around the way little feet grow and move. There’s even a personalized sizing platform that can remind parents when it may be time to size up, plus a text-to-order option that makes replacing outgrown shoes one less thing to remember.

The shoes are equally thoughtful in practice. Ten Little’s sneakers have wide, foot-shaped toe boxes, flexible zero-drop soles, grippy rubber outsoles, and easy-to-use closures that encourage little ones to get dressed themselves. The sandals have become a summer favorite for our editors’ children since the closed-toe Everyday Sandals are water-friendly yet offer more coverage than traditional open-toe sandals. From first walkers to bigger kids, Ten Little makes shoes that feel genuinely designed with growing feet (and the parents trying to keep up with them) in mind!

2. Veja Kids

Our Pick | Esplar Chromefree Leather
Materials | Chromium-free leather, rubber and rice waste, sugar cane, organic cotton, recycled polyester
Sizes | 0 months–4Y

These were without a doubt the fanciest (and priciest!) of the bunch, but my kid took to them instantly. They are comfortable, supportive, and easy for her to take on and off independently. Made from sustainable recycled materials and leather that is tanned in a process free from chromium and other harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment. These are sneaks that go with absolutely everything, and they make my daughter feel extremely *cool* (peep that cool kid squat below!).

Though they are white and therefore became instantly dirty on their inaugural neighborhood walk, they wipe off super easy with a wet cloth. The interior, made from sugar cane and organic cotton, is so soft that my kid skips the socks (her preferred style). With an over $100 price tag, I had extremely high standards for these shoes, but they delivered on all fronts. We love them so much I feel like I need a matching pair…

What my daughter loves | The athletic style is not her usual look, but she is very into the way they feel. On days where running around and hard playing outside or in P.E. are on the schedule, these are the sneaks she’s reaching for every time. Plus, they go with literally every single outfit she wears!
Things to keep in mind | These are not going to be your cheapest buy — not by a long shot. The pair we got is $105, which is steep for a shoe that your child might grow through in less than a year. However, these shoes are extremely well-made, and are ideal for handmedowns. With their unisex style and durable quality, they could easily serve multiple kids over the years.

3. Rothys

Our Pick | The Kids Sneaker
Materials | Knit from Rothy’s signature thread (spun from recycled plastic water bottles)
Sizes | 10T–4Y

Rothys makes all of its shoes from an innovative thread spun from plastic water bottles and marine waste. They prioritize using natural materials as well, like recycled rubber and renewable algae for their footbeds! The ultra-flexible material also makes their shoes washable. Even cooler? Their factory in China is the first to achieve LEED Zero Waste Certification! This means that they’ve reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water, or waste.

But my daughter was more interested in the rainbows. The cute terry design offers a fun pop of color and texture to these cute slip-ons. She also discovered that the sturdy toes are good for “practicing ballet,” or giving her mom a heart attack by teetering around on her toes. These are definitely too big for her right now, but I can tell they will be heavy on rotation as soon as she grows into them.

What my daughter loves | The slip-on style is a huge hit with my kid, but honetly the rainbows are probably the real winning feature for her.
Things to keep in mind | Size up! These styles are a bit narrow and run smaller. They are technically machine-washable, but if you go with white and you have a child as dirt-forward as mine, don’t expect them to stay that way.

4. Native Shoes

Our Pick | Frankie Sugarlite and Charley Sugarlite
Materials | Bio-based materials, rubber, EVA
Sizes | C4–J6

While the most popular Native Shoes kids’ collection among my friends is their best-selling Jefferson style, my child just will not try it. (It’s my fault: I picked up a thrifted knock-off version that gave her blisters once.) She was all about the sandals instead, delighted by the color choices, which she declared “So cute and pretty!” With a sugar-derived sole that is perfect for jumping in puddles and splash parks, these cute sandals are lightweight, hand-washable, and odor-resistant. The hook-and-loop straps are toddler-friendly and the color combos are cheery and bright. While the Frankie style fit her well in the size up, the Charley is a bit big — so we basically have a pair for now and another that is perfect for next summer!

What my daughter loves | The colors, and the true-sandal, open-toed style. They don’t get stinky from her sweaty feet!
Things to keep in mind | Open-toed means they are exclusively weekend-shoes: The style is banned from both her school and summer day camps. This does make them more special to her, but it’s a little annoying to have to argue over it when she wants to wear them every morning as I’m trying to get her out the door.

5. Teva

Our Pick | Midform Universal
Materials | REPREVE® polyester yarn, EVA-foam, rubber, recycled plastic
Sizes | 4T–7Y

I have a pair of Tevas that have been with me for nearly twenty years, so I know firsthand how well these shoes withstand the test of hard wear and time. I was so excited to get my daughter some adventure sandals, but she had thoughts of her own! With her preference for clomping around the house in my heels, it was no surprise that my daughter chose the mid-form sandals from Teva. It’s the closest she can get to having her own heels, she tells me. (They are who they are! 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Made from recycled materials, these cute sandals are cushy yet sturdy, with a flexible adjustable strap that she has delighted in fitting herself. While they aren’t exactly the ideal footwear for her more physical activities, they are a much safer alternative to the aforementioned heels she likes to steal from my closet, which have a tendency to twist her tiny ankles and make her fall. She’s been reaching for these when she wants to feel “fancy but in a cool way.” And honestly, they nail it.

What my daughter loves | The height — the platform style is a great option for heel-interested kiddos who could still use a little time to master walking safely.
Things to keep in mind | There’s a learning curve! She stubbed the front a few times and tripped as she got used to the extra material.

Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and she is the author of Finishing Lines, where she writes about her fear of finishing, living a creative life, and (medical) motherhood. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.