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After a long lull in my running career I decided it was about time I started afresh. Pregnancy put a halt on it because I was sick, stressed and had an overcomplicated situation. I had spent the previous years running in my brother’s old trainers which seemed to do the job quite nicely, although they used to squeak a treat in the rain. However with a new baby and new year I decided it was about time I did the honourable thing and purchase myself a new fancy pair. After all I had been through last year I think I deserve it!

Unfortunately running shoes – the ethical kind – seem to be few and far between. After looking I only came up with a few resources.

www.organicathlete.org has a good article that was a great starting point for me. It is a review of Brook’s Cascadia running shoes (developed with input from vegan ultra-marathon champion Scott Jurek), but also is informative generally about materials used.

It states the majority of running shoes available are free from animal products (but animal products are poor materials to use in running shoes – leather isn’t breathable and animal based glue is no where near as good as synthetic). However, the processes for making the shoes are wasteful and many of the structural pieces of running shoes are petroleum based. The article also goes into detail about the Green Rubber and MOGO midsole construction Brooks has developed and reviews, personally, the trail specific Cascadia running shoes. If you are interested you should check it out.

Apart from this the only other ecological running shoes I have come across on my search are New Balance shoes.

However it seems to be a question of compromise with these companies, although New Balance and Brook’s are heading in the right direction and are the most ecologically sound, they aren’t without some problems. Harlemrunner.blogspot.com has a good list of the pros and cons for Nike, Reebok, Asics, Adidas, Brooks and New Balance (considered a few of the more responsible mainstream brands –yes, even Nike, who has reformed itself since the days of child labour).

Whatever you buy though, it seems to be a question of compromise on which ethical issue is most important. I think though that I will look into buying a pair from New Balance or Brook’s as they seem to have the best reviews. I am not sure what pair yet but that is a whole other issue!

UPDATE: I just came across this nifty little pdf from ethical consumer click here. It rates the different companies for ethics.