Minuit Sur Terre is a Fully Vegan Brand

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Minuit Sur Terre Brand Highlights

"Apple, grape, cereal... This is not a shopping list but the composition of our shoes and Accessories for men and women, designed with innovative and eco-responsible European materials. Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed: we also use recycled plastic bottles or fabric scraps to make our products." - Minuit Sur Terre team

About Minuit Sur Terre

Founded in 2017, Minuit Sur Terre is an ethically vegan French footwear brand that uses a variety of innovative materials to make women's, men's and children's shoes. They use fair labour (their shoes are made in Portugal), promote the recycling and re-sale of their second-hand shoes, and donate to animal sanctuaries and protection associations.

What materials are used to make Minuit Sur Terre shoes?

Minuit Sur Terre uses a variety of natural, recycled and synthetic materials to make their shoes, boots and sandals. The specific composition of each shoe will vary from model to model, and each model will list a specific breakdown of its materials in its product description on the Minuit Sur Terre website. The materials they use include a mix of:
-Vegan leather: (uppers & lining) made in Italy from cereals such as corn and wheat, and recycled synthetic fibres.
-Vegan leather: (uppers) made in Italy from grapes (winewaste) and vegetable oils.
-Vegan leather: (uppers) made in Italy from apple waste.
-Recycled bottles: (laces & mesh for trainers) made in Italy and recovered from the Mediterranean.
-"Eco-nappa" & "eco-suede": Solvent-free synthetic leather and suede. The brand aims to replace all their other synthetic materials by natural ones as soon as possible.
-Recycled shoes & rubber: (soles) the brand claims soon their soles will be made of 30% recycled shoes and 70% recycled rubber.

Are the materials used to make Minuit Sur Terre shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, Minuit Sur Terre shoes, boots & sandals are at least somewhat eco-friendly, as they do incorporate many natural and/or recycled materials into their designs. They do not currently use any tools or programs that can quantify and share the eco-friendliness of their products, other than sharing the specific breakdowns of the materials used in each shoe. And while the brand still uses some virgin man-made synthetics in some models, which are generally considered worse for the environment than recycled synthetics or natural materials, those materials are widely considered to be more environmentally friendly than animal-derived leathers. This is backed up by data from inside the fashion industry as well as outside of it. For the data, please see Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative.

Does production of Minuit Sur Terre shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Minuit Sur Terre has, and what they do to remediate it. Minuit Sur Terre does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in these areas.

Does Minuit Sur Terre use green shipping methods?

It's unclear from their website if Minuit Sur Terre uses net-zero or negative emissions shipping partners, either domestically or internationally. We’ve asked them for clarification, and they've informed us that, "We have not yet implemented a "green" delivery method, unfortunately."

Does Minuit Sur Terre use eco-friendly packaging?

According to Minuit Sur Terre, "We use 100% recycled packaging: the package shipping box, the shoe box, the stuffing paper inside and the cardboard inside the shoes are all made of recycled cardboard."

Can I recycle my Minuit Sur Terre shoes?

Yes! Minuit Sur Terre shoes can be sent back to them to be upcycled into new soles. Since the winter of 2019, Minuit Sur Terre has gradually been replacing all the soles of their sneakers with recycled soles.

How should I dispose of my worn out Minuit Sur Terre shoes?

You can either try to have them repaired, or send them back to Minuit Sur Terre in exchange for a €10 voucher, and in partnership with a Portuguese company, they will turn your old shoes into soles for their sneakers. More information on Minuit Sur Terre's shoe recycling program can be found here.

Where can I buy Minuit Sur Terre shoes?

Minuit Sur Terre footwear can be purchased from their website, and can be shipped worldwide. They also work with dozens of retailer partners across France, and a few in Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK. Their shoes are also available online through various retailers such as Immaculate Vegan.

Do Minuit Sur Terre shoes ever go on sale?

At a discounted rate, Minuit Sur Terre sells their second-hand shoes in very good condition, or their prototypes or pairs with micro-defects on their second-hand platform, Aurore.

Are Minuit Sur Terre shoes ethically made?

Yes! Minuit Sur Terre shoes are made in Porto, Portugal, which means their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations.

Does Minuit Sur Terre promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Minuit Sur Terre incorporates several elements of a circular economy/slow fashion model, such as: employing fair labour; using recycled packaging; using eco-friendly (recycled and natural) materials; avoiding bargain basement pricing; working with a shoe recycling partner; and selling their second-hand shoes and prototypes.

Is Minuit Sur Terre a charitable company?

Yes! For every 100 pairs sold on their second-hand platform, Aurore, they donate €1000 to an animal or environmental protection association, as chosen by their customers.

Is Minuit Sur Terre an ethically vegan brand?

Minuit Sur Terre is an intentionally and ethically vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. For the brand, being vegan is because of "an ethical and environmental commitment.”

Minuit Sur Terre Footwear Range

Minuit Sur Terre makes a fairly wide range of vegan leather and suede shoes, boots and sandals. Their overall style can be described as playful yet elegant, and feature many classic looks. Many of their designs are in the female aesthetic, although they have several shoe models for men and children as well.