inov-8 Shoes are Likely Vegan

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Brand Highlights

Founded in England in 2003 by Wayne Edy, inov-8 is a footwear and outdoor apparel brand that puts a lot of research into making effective and durable technical and athletic footwear. They're a charitable brand that's active in their community, and has a 3-pronged approach to sustainability - durability, environmental impact reduction, and community.

About inov-8

“Graphene - the world’s strongest material - has been infused in the rubber outsoles of our shoes, making them tougher and more durable than any other soft rubber outsoles on the market.” - inov-8 team

Are inov-8's shoes "intentionally" vegan?

It's not clear what the motivations are behind inov-8's exclusion of animal-derived materials from their product line, so it's difficult to comment on this. It's worth noting, however, that on their website's FAQ page, inov-8 states that “All of our shoes that do not include leather and/or suede are vegan.” We have asked the inov-8 team to clarify, and they told us, "We do not plan to use any Suede or Leather in any of our upcoming designs. I hope this helps.” Beware - the brand does use wool in many of the socks they produce and sell.

What materials are used to make inov-8 shoes?

It's not clear what specific materials are used to make inov-8 shoes (we have reached out to the inov-8 team for some details, and are awaiting reply), as the product shoe descriptions on their website do not mention what materials are used to make them. The brand claims to "incorporate recycled materials into as many of our products as we can," and says they incorporate 15-20% recycled rubber and graphene into their soles. The brand however use wool in many of the socks they produce and sell.

Are inov-8 shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

As a brand, inov-8 claims to take a 3-pronged approach to sustainability: durability, environmental impact reduction, and community. In terms of durability, they incorporate graphene and increased testing into their designs, in order to make them last longer. In terms of environmental impact reduction, they claim to minimize waste and pollution, while also increasing the use of sustainable materials (they do this by incorporating recycled materials, and making their patterns increasingly more efficient to minimize production waste, and where possible, turning that waste into kids' shoes). In terms of community, they donate sales to local environmental charities and volunteer within their communities. It's also worth noting that they've set up an internal Sustainability Working Group (SWG) that are tasked "to investigate every aspect of our business, identifying key areas where we can improve and practical steps to do so." The brand also says that within their office, paper and card are recycled along with the shoe boxes.

Does inov-8 use green shipping methods?

One of inov-8's sustainability initiatives is the reduction of freight impact. The brand claims that only urgent samples are transported by air, and that they have reduced road freight by shipping directly from the factories to the nearest local seaport.

Does inov-8 use eco-friendly packaging?

inov-8 claims to use lightweight shoe boxes made from recycled materials, that are themselves recyclable, and that they keep print on the boxes to a minimum and make responsible choices with the ink used. The brand also says that they reuse bulk boxes in the warehouse. One interesting initiative in this regard, is the use of their organic biotechnology-based "Back to Earth Polybags." According to inov-8, these "polybags are made from previously discarded materials, and include an organic biotechnology that allows microbes in the natural environment to consume plastics, just like they would consume leaves and other organic matter."

Is inov-8 a charitable company?

inov-8 appears to be very active in their charitable efforts. According to the brand, "We are proud to work with several partners and charities with whom we share many of the same beliefs and values." Some of the charitable and community organizations they currently partner with include Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Rerun Clothing, and Waste into Wellbeing. You can learn more about their charitable and community partnerships here.

Are inov-8 shoes recyclable or compostable?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if inov-8’s shoes are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from the inov-8 team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my worn out inov-8 shoes?

We’ve asked the inov-8 team if they currently have, or are developing, a shoe recycling program, and are awaiting reply. In the meantime, Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired, donating them to someone in need, or taking them to a clothing recycling depot (if available in your city), which can strip them down to their recyclable components.

Where can I buy inov-8 shoes?

inov-8 shoes are widely available - aside from being available directly from their website, you can buy inov-8 shoes from Amazon, from Zappos, and from several other online retailers. They also have a large international retail network of resellers, which you can find here. The brand also recently opened it's first branded store, The Forge, in Cumbria, England.

Do inov-8 shoes ever go on sale?

We haven’t noticed any sales for inov-8 shoes when visiting their site and perusing their social channels. However, they currently offer a 10% discount for subscribing to their newsletter.

Where are inov-8 shoes made?

inov-8 designs their shoes in the USA and UK, and manufactures them in China.

Are inov-8 shoes ethically made?

Being that their shoes are made in China, it's difficult for us as an outside, non-certifying 3rd party to verify whether or not inov-8 ensures its factory enforces all international and local labour laws, regulations and fair working standards to provide a safe and fair working environment for their workers. According to the brand, "We ensure our suppliers abide by our Code of Conduct – integrating principles of sustainability into all business decisions; the responsible use of natural resources; the reduction, minimisation and where-ever possible, the avoidance of pollution and waste; and the manufacturing of products according to the principals of sustainability." They also say that their factory "prides themselves on having and offering: no employees under 18 years old; internal training and development opportunities; very low staff turnover; good working conditions in a safe working environment; excellent extraction facilities ("better than any factory we have seen in Europe", according to the brand); above-average salaries for the area; employee accommodation where possible; canteen with menu; some sports facilities; and recycling of water, metal, rubber, paper and some upper materials where possible.

Does inov-8 promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

inov-8 appears to incorporate some elements of a circular economy, such as using high-quality materials; building their products to last; incorporating recycled materials; contributing charitable efforts to environmental initiatives; and actively working to minimize their environmental impact.

Inov-8 Product Range

inov-8 makes men's and women's technical and athletic footwear in a wide variety of styles and colours, at a mid-range price point. Their current range of running shoes, gym shoes, and hiking shoes includes: