Men's Dasher NZ
13.65kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
Carbon footprint of a pair of shoes
The median pair of shoes in our catalogue has a carbon footprint of 13.3 kg CO₂e over its whole life, from growing or making the materials to disposal. Half of the 422 shoes and other footwear we have footprinted, from 28 brands, fall between 13.3 and 14.8 kg CO₂e.
13.3kg CO₂e, median whole life
13.0kg CO₂e, median cradle to gate
13.3–14.8kg CO₂e, middle half
422shoes and other footwear in the catalogue
FIG. 01
Where the footprint of a pair of shoes comes from
In the typical split, production makes up about 52% of the total, followed by raw materials at about 43%. The split shows where a maker's own data changes the result most: replacing published averages for the largest stages with your own figures moves the footprint far more than refining the small ones.
The split is the median share of each stage across the catalogue's shoes and other footwear, rescaled to add up to 100%. Read cradle to gate versus cradle to grave for what each stage covers.
- Raw materials 43%
- Production 52%
- Packaging 3%
- Distribution 1%
- End of life 1%
What shoes and other footwear are made of
The main material is the biggest single choice in a pair of shoes's raw-material footprint. These are the main materials of the shoes and other footwear in our catalogue, by share of products:
What lowers it
For each product, our calculator tests common changes and reports the one with the largest saving. For shoes and other footwear, the changes that come out on top most often are:
Share of shoes and other footwear for which each change gives the largest saving.
Shoes and other footwear in the catalogue
Browse all products →
Arch Support Thongs - Black
9.43kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
Women's Handep Cross Black/Batit Dark
11.12kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
Willow - Burgundy
12.03kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
Anytime No Show Heel Grip Sock
13.08kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
UKIYO-Full Sleeves Jumpsuit in Eco Denim
16.24kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
ACOUSTIC AMPLIFIER – WEDGE CUT – GREEN
8.88kg CO₂eEstimate · medium confidence
Velvet Flower Wedges
13.32kg CO₂eEstimate · low confidence
How these figures are made
Each product's footprint is a screening estimate: we read the materials and weight from the product listing, apply emission factors from cited public sources, and follow the ISO 14067 method with every source shown. Without the maker's own energy and supplier data, these are typical values, not measurements of a particular factory.
To footprint your own pair of shoes, start with a free estimate from a product link, or enter your own factory data. See our methodology for the method and sources.
Questions
What is the carbon footprint of a pair of shoes?
Across 422 shoes and other footwear in our catalogue, the median footprint is 13.3 kg CO₂e per item over its whole life, and half fall between 13.3 and 14.8 kg CO₂e. These are screening estimates from product listings; your own product's figure depends on its materials, weight and factory.
Which stage of a pair of shoes's life has the largest footprint?
In the typical split, production is the largest stage at about 52% of the total, followed by raw materials at about 43%.
What is the cradle-to-gate footprint of a pair of shoes?
Counting only raw materials, production, inbound transport and packaging, up to the factory gate, the median is 13.0 kg CO₂e per item. Buyers often ask for this figure for their Scope 3 inventory.
How can a maker lower the footprint of a pair of shoes?
The change our calculator most often finds with the largest saving for shoes and other footwear is “run the factory on solar electricity”. The best change for your product depends on your own materials and energy.
Can I use these figures for my own pair of shoes?
Use them to see the size of the footprint and where it comes from. For a figure to send a buyer, footprint your own product with your materials, weight and factory energy, so the result describes what you make.
Get buyer-ready product carbon footprintsISO 14067 method, a PACT v3 data file and a PDF report with every source. Join the waitlist for launch prices in your region.
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