The 8 Best Eco-Friendly Slippers of 2023

Grey felt slippers — Robert Reader / Getty

For many people, feeling relaxed and at ease in your own house starts with a good pair of slippers—and by good, we mean ones that stave off chilly feet and are gentler on the environment. Not only are slippers a great way to keep warm during cold-weather months without bumping up the thermostat, but trading your shoes for slippers also keeps floors cleaner.

While knowing your feet will stay toasty is the most important consideration when it comes to bagging yourself brand new slippers, you’ll want to sweat the small stuff, too. That includes seeking out companies that use sustainable materials, provide fair wages, and reduce their impact in other ways, in addition to any personal requirements. Maybe your arches need a little more support than your average slipper can muster, or perhaps you need grippy soles for hardwood floors.

Whether you’re hunting for the best styles for yourself or the smallest members of your family, we found footwear options that bring an extra splash of sustainable, ethical fashion to your wardrobe.

Ahead are the best eco-friendly slippers for your feet and for the environment.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Sanük Cozy Vibe Slipper at Sanuk.com

Jump to Review

Best Overall Runner-up:

Kyrgies Men's All Natural Tengries Slippers at Madetrade.com

Jump to Review

Best With Arch Support:

Giesswein Veitsch Slipper at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Sweaty Feet:

Chilote Leather House Slippers at Madetrade.com

Jump to Review

Best for Hardwood Floors:

Nauseni Original Collection Slipper at Nauseni.org

Jump to Review

Best for Kids:

Baabuk Yves Slippers at Baabuk.com

Jump to Review

Best Vegan:

TOMS Ezra Slipper at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best Upcycled:

One432 Mehindi Home Slipper at One432.com

Jump to Review

Courtesy of Sanuk

View On Sanuk.com

With a bouncy sole and fuzzy, fluffy recycled wool lining, Sanük's Cozy Vibe slipper is our top choice for sustainable house shoes. This style combines a mix of recycled polyester and sugar cane EVA outsoles that show what can be achieved using materials on their second lease of life.

While these slippers aren’t vegan, they’re made using responsibly-sourced wool that doesn’t come from the practice of mulesing—a practice we should avoid if we want to do right by our furry friends. That wool is an essential part of the design of these slippers, which are moisture-wicking in summer and extremely toasty in winter, with wool’s antibacterial properties also designed to stop any unpleasant odors.

We also love that the brand, Sanük, is also part of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). This holds it to account according to sustainable development goals, which drill down into the company’s environmental and human impact.

Price at time of publish: $85

Available Colors: Charcoal, oatmeal | Certifications: GRS Certified recycled polyester | Vegan: No

4.9

Courtesy of Kyrgies

View On Madetrade.com

Smart meets comfort in these striking slipper-boots from Kyrgies. Designed to fit your feet “like a warm hug,” they’re made using wool cut into pieces and sewn together by hand. The best bit about these slippers—which are available in a range of bright colors made using low-impact dyes—is that they don’t really look like slippers at all. No, these shoes will be as comfortable out on the drive as they are in your living room. That’s mostly thanks to their vegetable-tanned leather soles, and the hidden elastic that keeps the shoe together, enabling them to mold to your body like a second skin.

Each pair is lovingly crafted by artisans in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, using centuries-old traditions of felted shoes and using all-natural wool grown on family-run farms. The sustainable credentials don’t end there, however. The company is part of the 1% for the Planet movement and has donated trees to reforest U.S. communities affected by fire.

Price at time of publish: $89

Available Colors: Charcoal, plum, oatmeal, orange, gray | Certifications: Retailer is Climate Neutral Certified | Vegan: No

4.8

Courtesy of Giesswein

View On Amazon

Austria might be better known for its opulent architecture than its shoemaking traditions, but that’s something these virgin merino wool slippers from Austrian brand Giesswein are set to change. Unisex in design, they’re the ideal choice if you’re never too long off your feet. With a solid rubber sole and leather footbed, they provide remarkable stability whether you’re indoors or out. Merino wool also has incredible antibacterial properties, so there will be no unsavory smells coming from your feet.

Sustainability underpins everything about this shoe, with the company committed to using 100% renewable resources and up to 90% recycled water in its manufacturing processes. The natural qualities of the virgin wool mean that these slippers will remain soft and warm—and ewe (sorry!) won’t want to take them off.

Available Colors: Gray, red, navy blue | Certifications: None | Vegan: No

Chilote Unisex Wool and Salmon Leather House Slippers

Courtesy of MadeTrade

View On Madetrade.com

Love a cozy pair of slippers on your feet but find they quickly become a little too cozy? This Patagonian brand might be the solution for you. The knitted sheep wool upper is naturally moisture-wicking, so your toes will stay at the perfect temperature (and without any unpleasant odors!), regardless of how warm they get. Vegetable-tanned salmon leather upcycled from the local fishing industry is used for the sole, providing the ultimate balance between comfort and durability.

But it doesn’t end there. The best thing about these uber-sustainable slippers is that they're individually crafted by artisan groups across Patagonia. Each pair comes with a unique QR code, which you can scan to find out all about the geolocation of the female artisan who made it. Chilote is also B-Corp-certified, has a minimal carbon imprint (offset through a collaboration with EcoSphere), and each pair of slippers comes with its own repair kit. As a result, these cozy creations from the southernmost reaches of South America will last for years.

Price at time of publish: $84 for Unisex Wool and Salmon Leather

Available Colors: Natural | Certifications: B Corporation | Vegan: No

Nauseni

View On Nauseni.org

Nothing promises catastrophe more than a slippery, hardwood floor and a maiden pair of slippers—let’s face it, “slippers” doesn’t just refer to the fact they’re easy to put on! If you love your wooden floors but don’t want to end up sliding around, then Nauseni’s range of footwear with Himalayan buffalo suede soles might just be the fit for you.

Hand-felted using wool dyed in bright colors by artisans in Nepal, these minimalist slippers are just as comfortable as they look. They’ve got a conscience, too: Each pair is handmade by women who were skilled up in the art of weaving by this brand borne out of the Nepalese earthquake, and who now have access to a sustainable income from their craft. This slippers are also the absolute match for wooden floors and guarantee you won’t be falling head over heels—ever.

Price at time of publish: $75

Available Colors: Mountain coral, tikka red, midnight sky, Himalayan grey, Galeck maroon, Gurung green, yeti white, nettle green | Certifications: None | Vegan: No

Courtesy of Baubuk

View On Baabuk.com

Kids, and, well the whole family, won't be able to help but adore the Baabuk range of slippers, thanks to the range of eye-catching colors and cozy, glove-like fit. Designed in Switzerland and crafted in Nepal, these ankle-high slippers are made from 100% New Zealand wool with a natural crepe rubber sole for comfort and stability.

B-Corp-certified Baabuk has opted for mindful choices throughout the manufacturing processes, from selecting New Zealand wool (as the water used in the felting process is recycled so as not to pollute local rivers), to opting to house their factory in Nepal where workers' wages are 25% higher than the national average. While your kids might not care much about the nitty-gritty details, they’ll absolutely adore the care, attention, and love that has gone into these booties.

Price at time of publish: $39

Available Colors: Navy blue, dark grey, emerald green, dust blue, honey, pink, light grey, orange | Certifications: B Corporation | Vegan: No

Toms

View On Walmart View On Dsw.com View On Lovethesales.com

Get that soft, fluffy feeling on your feet alongside zero animal-derived materials with these cushioned vegan slippers. Instead of wool, these slippers use faux fur for the lining, and a polyester upper which is made using recycled plastic bottles.

Doing good doesn’t just stop there. Part of the Fair Labor Association, TOMS is committed to fair working conditions for its factories, with fair pay and safe workplaces just a couple of their key commitments. A third of all profits also go to grassroots organizations across the world.

Price at time of publish: $59

Available Colors: Smoke grey, mid grey, natural, black | Certifications: B Corporation, Fair Labor Association | Vegan: Yes

One432

View On One432.com

Stylish might not be the first adjective you associate with slippers. Luckily, these 100% gorgeous recycled cotton slip-ons from One432 are rewriting the sustainable fashion playbook. Taking inspiration from traditional Punjabi shoes, these slippers are fully symmetrical and designed to mold to your feet—making them comfy, ethical, and chic.

This company is rewriting the rules of the fashion business, too; 50% of all net profits made are shared directly with the artisans in Pakistan with whom they work, who also receive a guaranteed living wage for their craftmanship.

Price at time of publish: $47 for Mehndi Rust

Available Colors: Black, red, orange, pink, yellow, blue | Certifications: None | Vegan: Yes

Final Verdict

Nothing says comfort quite like a pair of slippers designed to fit your feet “like a warm hug” which is why the Kyrgies Tengries are our top pick. Alternatively, opt for cozy knitted booties from Chilote, made in Patagonia using organic wool and vegetable-tanned salmon leather.

What to Look for in Eco-Friendly Slippers

Materials

Look for those that use natural materials such as cotton and hemp, as these have a significantly reduced environmental impact compared with non-organic fibers and are biodegradable at the end of their life. Alternatively, house shoes that use recycled synthetics, such as polyester or fibers made from salvaged single-plastic bottles, can also be considered to have a lower carbon footprint than virgin synthetic materials, as they reduce landfill.

Wool is also another popular material for slippers, thanks to its moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties. Although it's not vegan, it is natural and durable. Choosing products made from sustainably and consciously sourced wool means opting for low-impact farms and those that avoid inhumane practices such as mulesing.

Durability

One of the biggest ways you can reduce your environmental impact is by lowering the number of items you buy—and ensuring that those you do are built to last. Follow manufacturer guidelines for care to lengthen your slippers’ lifespan. Additionally, consider wearing socks inside—rather than going barefoot—as this can help reduce odors from embedding into the material, thus making them nicer to wear for even longer.

Trusted Certifications

Apparel companies can set themselves apart by adopting sustainability certifications to prove the quality and eco-friendly nature of their products. Some of the key ones to look out for include B Corporation, Fair Trade, and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Why Trust Treehugger?

We scoured the globe looking for slippers that met out criteria: Not only do they need to look and feel good on your feet, but they need to be having a minimal environmental impact, too. We looked for companies using recycled materials, as well as those incorporating organic natural fibers into their designs. Sustainability isn’t just about green credentials, however. This guide seeks to include brands who support fair labor practices and use their profits for positive projects around the globe.

Steph Dyson is a sustainability journalist who spends every possible waking moment in her slippers and has strong opinions on what makes a good house shoe. Having pledged to reduce her carbon footprint one item of clothing at a time, she’s conscious of how her spending habits can impact the environment and is always on the lookout for more ethical and sustainable choices.

The 8 Best Eco-Friendly Robes of 2023