Circularity is the future of sustainability. And what does circularity mean? At Rothy’s, we think of it as a continuous loop that renews itself, from material and manufacturing to product and recycling. Our vision is to use twice-recycled materials in new products—to close the loop, like nature does.

Our sustainability pillars.

Products with purpose.

Thoughtfully made from recycled, natural or renewable materials, our innovative products are moving the needle toward circular fashion.

Principled production.

By owning our own factory, we're uniquely positioned to set best-in-class environmental and social standards in pursuit of a zero-waste future.

For people and planet.

We’re only as sustainable as the wellness of our people and communities, so our work environments are built on inclusivity and collaboration.

HERE'S THE LATEST

A first-of-its-kind factory.

As of April 2023, we’re thrilled to announce we are the world’s first shoe manufacturer to receive both LEED Gold and TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification. Additionally, we’re the first factory in China to achieve LEED Zero Waste Certification! We’re proud to push the boundaries of what’s possible and be a leader in sustainable manufacturing.

Industry-leading innovations

Plastic bottles & marine plastic.

More than 166 million single-use plastic bottles have been turned into our signature thread, which we use to craft all our products. And we’ve repurposed more than 603,000 pounds of ocean-bound marine plastic (collected from land within 30 miles of coastlines) by using it to knit our bags and accessories.

Industry-leading innovations

Algae-based foam.

As global temperatures rise, algae blooms expand rapidly and cause ecological unbalance. By using algae-based footbeds and strobel boards (the green part of the shoe under the insole), we’re choosing a renewable resource that helps keep algae from overtaking waterways.

Industry-leading innovations

Natural & renewable materials.

Our signature outsoles are made with 35% natural and renewable materials and minerals, while our insoles contain 30% bio-based material and recycled rubber. Our beloved Driving Loafer outsole is made with material from rubber plants and natural minerals (literally, sand). And that’s just the start. 

Less impact, longer wear.

Here’s our industry-leading approach to creating purposeful products—from materials and manufacturing to wearing and recycling.

Behind every Rothy’s product is the innovative use of recycled, bio-based and transformed materials, from the single-use bottles made into our signature thread to algae-based foams, natural rubber, hemp fiber, and the marine plastic collected from land within 30 miles of coastlines and waterways. 

Our revolutionary knit-to-shape manufacturing combines the best of knitting technology and artisanal craftsmanship to avoid the roughly 30% of material waste common in traditional “cut and sew” production. We ship our products with single-box packaging, which uses a minimum of 70% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.

We don’t believe in fast fashion. We’re all about designing good products that last—ones that serve multiple functions, so you can trade excess for versatility. Every single shoe and bag we produce is fully machine washable and extraordinarily durable—just wear, wash, love.

Recycling shoes on a mass scale is really hard—which is why it isn’t common. We launched our in-store recycling program in 2022 with the mission to keep all Rothy’s out of landfills. By deconstructing well-worn shoes, we’re focused on giving our materials a new life.