Ready to take a step in the right direction? These trainers will make you think twice about your environmental footprint.

As a city that loves style as much as it loves to shop, it’s crucial that Hong Kong begins questioning the impact fast fashion has on our environment. Whilst our streets are scattered with tempting boutiques and shiny shopping malls, there is a way to strike a balance between staying on top of trends and shopping sustainably.

Did you know that over 20 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured each year? With the majority made in China and other developing countries, there’s an unrecorded amount of toxins, chemicals and fossil fuels silently seeping into the environment.

When we found out that producing a pair of trainers emits 13kg of carbon dioxide, we were more than ready to explore some eco alternatives. Unlike many other types of shoes, your favourite pair of runners are made up of uniquely distinct parts – each with environmental implications. The separate parts mean that trainers are one of the hardest things to recycle, as so many different materials are used. Whilst Adidas has proudly sold almost 50 million pairs of its iconic Stan Smiths, more and more people are looking for quality over quantity.

The mindless draw towards consumerism has become an unhealthy part of our culture, so it’s particularly poignant to see places making eco initiatives fashionable. Locally, brands like Back for Basics, Rumi X, A.C.F, A Boy Named Sue, and even pre-owned stores like Vestiaire Collective, HULA and Label Chic are all making a notable impact to prevent fast fashion. Whilst initiatives such as Redress, Green Is The New Black, The Conscious Collective and Wardrobista have already hit the city with a sustainability storm. Globally, entrepreneurs like Boyan Slat, the 23-year-old founder of The Ocean Cleanup, are giving us the hope of wearing 100% ocean-plastic recycled sunglasses in the not-too-far future. And whilst we’re holding back the premature party for plastic-eating enzymes, there are plenty of initiatives adopting the prevention over cure case. Thankfully, some of these leads have walked us towards stylish and sustainable shoes…

Looking for some quick tips for sustainable shoe shopping? Wherever possible, opt for chrome-free leather, vegetable leather (or fruit leather!) or recycled PET, over animal leather and synthetic leather. And for the sole, which is generally rubber, look for natural or wild rubber. You can also double check the rating of fashion brands on independent sites like Better Shoes Foundation or the Good On You app.

Looking to gain a better understanding of our environmental footprint? Click through the slideshow to take a sneak peek at sneakers challenging the plastic game…

Read more: Living Plastic And Waste-Free In Hong Kong: Where To Buy All of Your Essentials