Sneakers have a large environmental impact, both in their production and disposal. The materials used to make sneakers often require energy-intensive processes that can cause air and water pollution. Additionally, the synthetic materials used in many shoes are not biodegradable and will remain in landfills for hundreds of years after they‣ve been discarded. Sneaker manufacturing also relies heavily on hazardous chemicals such as dyes, glues, solvents, and finishes which can be released into the environment during production or when disposed of improperly. Finally, shipping sneakers around the world requires burning fossil fuels which contributes to climate change. To reduce these impacts it is important to buy sustainable sneakers made from natural materials with minimal packaging and transport emissions whenever possible.