Podcast: Greening My… Sneakers

What if the shoes you wear every day could help heal the planet, not harm it?

Sneakers are more than a fashion staple. They’re a global phenomenon, with billions of pairs produced each year—and most made from fossil-fuel-based materials, assembled in carbon-intensive factories and ultimately thrown into landfill. But a growing movement of footwear innovators is showing that comfort, performance and sustainability can all move in the same direction.

In the latest episode of the Seeing Green Podcast “Greening My…” series — where we explore everyday essentials through a sustainability lens — we take a walk into the world of sneakers and explore how this industry is being reimagined from the ground up.

We explore three key themes:

👟 The Footprint — why sneakers have such a significant environmental impact, from petroleum-based materials and energy-heavy manufacturing to the estimated 22 billion pairs discarded each year.

🌿 The Innovators — a deep look at the brands leading the transformation, from circular pioneers to regenerative material innovators and barefoot performance leaders.

♻️ The Takeaways — easy ways to make your next pair a greener one, from choosing recycled and bio-based materials to supporting brands with repair, takeback and end-of-life recycling programs.

This isn’t about sacrificing style or performance. It’s about stepping into a future where what we wear on our feet supports cleaner materials, better jobs and a circular economy.

Because every step forward can be a step toward a lighter footprint.