For the conscious consumer on the search for a good quality pair of winter boots, there are many animal -friendly alternatives to leather and suede on the market today. Many modern vegan leathers and suedes come in the form of synthetics such as PU which is a much better alternative to the highly toxic petroleum-derived PVC. PU (polyurethane) although still derived from petroleum, is still a more environmentally-friendly option than leather - according to the ‘Pulse of the Fashion Industry Report 2018’. Aside from PU, you can also find shoes made of cotton, hemp, cork, recycled plastic bottles or tyres, recycled polyester, Pinatex (made from pineapple leaves) and Muskin which is leather made from mushrooms.

Below I have listed 5 Awesome boots from vegan brands who are committed to producing cruelty-free footwear with sustainability in mind: