The wellington boot, we remember them fondly from muddy walks in parks when we were kids. But Wellies aren’t limited to outdoor, muddy activities these days. Today, wellies are a fashion staple for every age group, from kids to seniors to fashionistas on Oxford Street.
Sadly, they haven’t always been the most Sustainable item of footwear, but if you’re in search of eco-friendly wellies that don’t harm animals or the environment, you’ve clicked the right link.
With a saturated market, it can be overwhelming picking an ethically-responsible boot manufacturer. So here is everything you need to know about eco-friendly wellies and where you can get them.
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Why are eco-friendly Wellies an Essential for your Boot Rack?
Playing and walking outdoors is only fun when your feet are safe and warm. If your shoes aren’t made from a waterproof and durable material, you’ll soon have pretty wet and miserable feet.
With good-quality wellies, you can perform those challenging outdoor tasks with your pinkies warm and dry. These rogue-looking rubber boots keep your feet safe whether you’re working on a farm or strolling in a jungle.
Wellies have been around for centuries, owing to their durability and usefulness. But recently people have started to acknowledge that standard wellies aren’t very sustainable. They were traditionally either made from PVC or leather, both not-so-environmentally friendly materials.
Today, we see many manufacturers producing sustainable wellies that don’t strain the environment like their older counterparts.
But, how do you find the best sustainable and ethically made wellies when there are endless options on the market? Don’t worry, we got you. Skim through the following sections to be a smart eco-friendly shopper.
How are standard wellies made?
Wellies were initially made from different kinds of leather to achieve a seamless look. Since original leather is quite durable, those wellies worked really well. However, with the arrival of modern shoe materials and increased leather prices, most manufacturers switched to PVC wellies in the last century.
The leather or PVC sheets used for making wellies were pressure-treated and bleached with different chemicals to achieve a smooth finish. All these chemical dying and pressure-treating methods weren’t sustainable and called for a solution.
How can wellies be sustainable?
With the rise of ethically-responsible brands, we’ve started to see sustainable wellies (and all other kinds of shoes) in the past two decades. Today, wellies can be made from natural substances that are biodegradable and (in some instances) recyclable.
Any welly manufacturer that uses naturally sourced rubber fibre to make wellies is doing a great job because now, you get to wear your favourite shoes without ruining the environment.
What should we look for to know if a wellie is eco-friendly?
Shopping is a hectic task for environmentally conscious people especially because of the amount of greenwashing prevalent in the market. It’s hard to know who to trust, and when the throwaway culture is on the rise, finding woke brands is indeed difficult. But luckily, you can do this with a quick checklist in hand.
If you want to purchase wellies with a clear conscience, here are a few points to look for in prospective brands:
1. Materials
Leather and PVC wellies are not sustainable or ethical. If you want cruelty-free and sustainable wellies, look for pairs made from natural rubber. Rubber is a natural material so obviously more environmentally friendly than those made from plastic. It it also a stronger material meaning that your wellies will last you longer.
2. Manufacturing Practices
Sometimes a brand uses sustainable materials, but its manufacturing practices don’t adhere to ethical standards. Looking into a prospective brand’s labour rules, codes of conduct and certifications can clear the picture. For more on certifications see our article Why is Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Important.
3. The Prospective Brand’s Sustainability policies
Top-tier sustainable brands take pride in declaring their sustainability and production guidelines. Read up on a manufacturer’s views on sustainability, circular fashion, and recycling to know its credibility. If it’s silent on the issue there could be a good reason why.
4. Brand Transparency and Sustainability Indexes
Reliable brand rating indexes such as those from Good On You and Remake aim to categorize sustainable and ethical brands according to their manufacturing practices. Not all smaller brands are on the list but once you shortlist a few names, look up their ratings to see if they’re worth your money.
5. Wellies’ Recyclability
When pure rubber is mixed with other synthetic fibres, it doesn’t remain recyclable or biodegradable. However some brands will take your wellies back and recycle them. Therefore, it’s smart to ensure that the wellies you’ll purchase are recyclable.
If a brand checks these five points on your list, you won’t regret purchasing wellies from it. And luckily, there are multiple brands providing a substitute for today’s irresponsible fashion horizon. Not sure where can you get ethically-made wellies? We got you!
Here are a few credible names making wellies that stay solid and look dashing:
our 12 favourite Eco-Friendly Welly Brands
Price Guide:
£: averaging £0-50
££: averaging £50-£100
£££: averaging £100-200
££££: averaging over £200
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1. matt & nat
Based: Canada
Ships to: UK, US, Canada, Europe
Made in: China
Price: ££
Sustainability creds: one factory holds Social Accountability International – SA8000 certification which they are hoping to roll out, vegan, and cruelty-free production
For more on vegan shoes, see our guide. We also feature Matt & Nat in our guide to sustainable handbags here.
2. lakeland
Based: Canada
Ships to: UK, US, Canada, Europe
Made in: Sri Lanka
Price: £
Sustainability creds: One factory holds Social Accountability International – SA8000 certification, vegan, and cruelty-free production
Since the material quality determines your wellies’ longevity, Lakeland uses FSC certified rubber to meet the highest quality standards. Lakeland delivers wellies across the globe to meet the increasing product demand. Lakeland wellies are vegan, cruelty-free, and durable – all positives packed together.
Available at Ethical Superstore.
3. kamik
This post first appeared on Good Maker Tales: Sustainable & Ethical Fashion, please read the originial post: here
