They’re cheap. They’re comfortable. And now, they’re vegan. But are Crocs eco friendly? We investigate
By Diane Small
I’m not going to lie: when I first laid eyes on them, I thought: you have got to be kidding me. People are actually wearing these? In public? But I know I’m the odd one out, as now, Crocs are hugely popular.
And I can understand why, I guess. They’re ultra comfortable, easy to slip on, and come in a whole rainbow of colours, sizes and styles. Kids (and parents) adore them. They’ve even been sported by a plethora of A list celebrities, ranging from Kate Middleton and Drew Barrymore to Helen Mirren and Ariana Grande. Plus, since 2021, all Crocs models have been vegan friendly. But the question remains: are Crocs eco friendly?
And the answer isn’t all that straightforward.
Image below: google.ru
What Are Crocs Made Of?
To know whether Crocs are eco friendly, first we need to know what they’re made of. And discovering it’s a material called Croslite didn’t really help matters.
As I dug into it, I found out that Croslite is a kind of resin. And that from a chemistry standpoint, resins are unprocessed plastic polymers. In fact, Croslite is more like a closed cell foam or rubber than plastic.
Closed-cell foam is foam in which the cells are enclosed by walls and aren’t connected to other cells. It is denser and firmer than open-cell foam and is designed to keep substances such as liquids out.
Confusingly, I also found out that Croslite is essentially a type of plastic known as EVA. This is a thermoplastic material, which combines two types of plastic monomers: ethylene and vinyl acetate. Although this innovative foam is fully recyclable, making it easier for customers to responsibly dispose of their beloved Crocs, it’s still a synthetic material, like plastic. So…not so eco friendly then, Crocs!
Image below: ASOS
The Good News About Crocs
But there is some good news about the eco friendly qualities of Crocs: the process used to make the actual shoe is injection moulding.
This is a type of manufacturing process that is typically used to make products out of thermoplastic materials including EVA.
It’s kind of like using 3D printing for accessories. And as we all know, 3D printing is considered a zero waste process, as only the exact materials needed are used. There is no waste.
However, injection moulding is not completely eco-friendly. That’s due to the vast amount of water and energy used for hydraulic injection moulding. That being said, injection moulding machines that are powered by electricity can save energy, so they are a little more sustainable.
In addition, since September 2024, Crocs has integrated 25% bio circular content within their Croslite compounds. And they are committed to making this 50% by 2030.
Finally, Crocs is promoting the circular economy by encouraging their customers to participate in the brand’s “Crocs Cares” recycling program. This initiative not only aims to reduce the environmental impact of discarded Crocs, but also emphasises the importance of recycling.
Image below: ASOS
The Eco Friendly Future Of Crocs
Crocs have not always been vegan friendly, due to the use of leather in some of their products. However, they stopped using leather in their products at the end of 2021. Moreover, Crocs aims to be a net zero company by the end of 2030.
“Taking action to reduce our environmental footprint by implementing more sustainable practices across our entire business is the right thing to do for Crocs,” says Crocs CEO Andrew Rees. “As a company, we are deeply committed to accountability and we’re confident that we have the right team, the right innovations and the right partners to help us achieve our net zero ambitions by 2030.”
Around 85 percent of Crocs are sold without boxes, and the company is exploring other ways to reduce packaging. The brand is also working on transitioning to renewably sourced energy in its offices and distribution centres to meet its net zero goals.
Conclusions
So, are Crocs eco friendly?
Unfortunately, at this point, because Crocs are mainly made of a plasticky, synthetic material, and because they’re not very transparent about the ethics of their production processes, we can’t really say yes.
It’s great that they’re incorporating bio-based, bio-circular content into their Croslite compounds. And we’re glad they’ve gone vegan, and allow you to recycle your shoes. But it seems that Crocs is now in the process of trying to be eco friendly, rather than actually being so right now.
So, what’s a Croc lover to do?
Fortunately, there are some great, more sustainable shoe alternatives to Crocs. Just take a look below!
Image below: ASOS
The Best Sustainable Alternatives To Crocs
1. Keep It Going Recycled Classic Clog
The limited-edition Keep It Going Clog by Crocs is their most eco friendly shoe yet! It’s made by recycling the shoes their customers gave back through their Old Crocs. New Life. program.
The limited-edition clog is made from 25% post-consumer recycled content created from recycled Crocs. The remaining 75% of the shoe is made with normal Croslite material.
We love this initiative, and hope they ‘keep it going’!
Price: $50
2. Revive Shoe
Kane Footwear is a Certified B Corp brand that is dedicated to making a positive impact. Their Kane Revive shoe is washable, quick-drying, and ultra-durable. It’s ethically made in Brazil from sugarcane-based EVA foam. This not only looks and feels great on the feet, but also helps reduce greenhouse gases by capturing CO2 as the sugarcane grows.
Price: $80
3. Jefferson Clog
The stylish Jefferson slip on shoe is crafted from a sugarcane-based EVA material called Sugarlite™, which emits fewer greenhouse gases than traditional EVA materials. This sleek shoe is easy to clean, comfortable, and resistant to odours.
The brand that makes them, Native, has a reputation for creating versatile, water-friendly footwear suitable for everyday use. And as with Crocs, you can recycle your shoes when you’re done with them, too! Just return them to Native’s Remix Project, and they will repurpose your footwear, transforming them into playgrounds for kids.
Price: $55
4. Billie Clogs
While most Croc-like clogs are made from some form of EVA, the Billie is a bit different! Fabricated from high quality, all natural rubber, these vegan shoes are perfect for walking in the rain or pottering about in the garden, because they provide excellent traction for slippery surfaces.
A neoprene lining ensures each step is cushioned, while arch support ensures you’re always walking in comfort.
The brand behind the Billie, Merry People, isn’t yet totally sustainable, but they plan to be more so in the future. Namely, but replacing virgin rubber with recycled. For example, their latest designs use FSC certified rubber in the uppers, and 20% recycled rubber in the outsoles.
Price: $100
5. Rodeo Drive
The Rodeo Drive clog by Ales Grey is super comfy. But that’s not all! These clogs also feature UV+ water resistance and washability, an antibacterial closed-cell structure, and are made with XL EXTRALIGHT® Sustainable+. This is a material made from 51% pre-consumer recycled materials that are GRS Global Recycled Standard certified.
What’s more, their manufacturing process involves zero water waste and uses recycled packaging. But here’s what we love most: for every order placed, a tree will be planted to offset the carbon emissions generated by the package shipment, thanks to their partnership with EcoDrive.
Price: $88
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