Updated: January 2024
Allbirds is a New Zealand-American sneaker brand that has made headlines with being the most comfortable shoe ever made. With that bold promise, the brand has been like a breath of fresh air armed with great marketing and sleek product design.
Allbirds is also known for its sustainable practices by choosing natural and recycled materials over synthetics. Not only does the brand aim to offset their carbon footprint, but their grander plan is also to emit no carbon in the first place.
It is no wonder then that many conscious buyers have grown fond of this newcomer and started to look for Allbirds vegan shoes. But is there any to be found?
Are Allbirds Shoes Vegan?
To our greatest disappointment, Allbirds shoes are not vegan. All of their styles include Merino wool. Even their bestselling Tree Runner (that is seemingly vegan) has a wool footbed.
Since Allbirds is not using any leather, you can consider their shoes vegetarian. But since wool comes with a variety of animal welfare problems, we cannot exactly endorse the brand either. All we can do is wait for Allbirds to release a vegan style.
Looking for vegan sneakers? Check out our list of vegan sneakers here!
The Problem With Wool
Many people wonder whether wool really is that bad. After all, the animal is not killed for it. And if the sheep are taken good care of, where is the harm?
The problem with wool is that over time, sheep have been bred to grow so much excess wool that the animal is not able to shed it itself. That fact alone can cause a lot of suffering for the animal. As the American Society of Animal Science Board of Directors explains:
The excess wool impedes the ability of sheep to regulate their body temperatures. This can cause sheep to become overheated and die. Urine, feces, and other materials become trapped in the wool, attracting flies, maggots, and other pests. This causes irritation, infections, and endangers the health of the animal.
So essentially there is not such a thing as humane wool since the animal has been forced to live in this very unnatural and uncomfortable state. In addition, countless investigations have been able to demonstrate the violent treatment of sheep in the wool industry.
To be fair, Allbirds does source their wool in the most ethical way possible. The company sources the wool from New Zealand and works with organizations like ZQ Merino to ensure the wool is held to high standards of farming, land management, and animal welfare.
But we cannot approve how the company has made the conversation about wool = natural vs synthetics. In reality, you can find a lot of excellent vegan materials that are also completely natural. So you do not have to choose between synthetics and animal exploitation.
FAQ About Allbirds Vegan Shoes
No. Allbirds uses Merino wool in all of its shoes. Even though their wool is ethically sourced, it is not cruelty-free as it poses some serious animal welfare concerns.
Allbirds is a relatively ethical brand. The brand shows commitments to sustainability, carbon neutrality, and to using natural and recycled materials. However, Allbirds still uses wool that contributes to animal exploitation and suffering.
None of Allbirds’ shoes are vegan. All of them contain either wool or Trino – a special mix of Merino wool and eucalyptus tree fibers.
No, Allbirds Tree Runner is not vegan. Unlike Wool Runner, Tree Runner has a vegan upper but its footbed still includes wool.
Summary
Allbirds is a good example of how ethics is not exactly black and white. The company is doing a lot more good for the planet than most other footwear brands. Allbirds is utilizing quality natural material coupled with transparent and carbon-neutral production.
However, the use of wool is still problematic and we agree with vegans who opt for 100% vegan shoes. As soon as Allbirds brings a vegan shoe to the market, we are the first to tell you about it.
Meanwhile, you can check out our list of vegan sneakers that are completely wool-free and vegan.