Building a sustainable wardrobe and becoming a more conscious consumer can get challenging when it comes to shoes. Usually, there aren’t a lot of affordable options that care about the environment, ethics, or both. That’s why, when I found LOVE OUR PLANET by NOVI I knew I had to learn more about the brand and try their shoes.
First of all, what is LOVE OUR PLANET?
It is a shoe brand that reuses waste to create new stylish shoes that help with the reduction of CO2 emissions. Sustainability is the heart of the brand, so they try to use as many recycled materials as they can.
But, is it ethical? What kind of materials do they use? Are the shoes comfortable? and most importantly…
Is it worth it?
What makes LOVE OUR PLANET unique?
♡ Affordable♡
Compared to other sustainable brands of shoes, this one has to be one of the most affordable I’ve found.
♡ recycled MATERIALS ♡
Instead of producing more raw materials, they focus on using waste and giving it a new purpose.
♡ Versatile design ♡
The colors they use are mostly neutrals, so they will look good with a lot of your outfits.
♡ COMFORT ♡
You can walk in these shoes for hours and you’ll be grateful you bought them. These pass the comfy test.
The shoes I’ll be basing my review on, are the Jadu boots that I purchased myself. This post is not sponsored.
1. packaging & shipping
They come in a carton box and some tissue paper covering the boots.
There isn’t a lot to say about the packaging. I think it looks cute and it contains only the necessary amount of tissue paper to keep the proper moisture level in the box.
The box is made of 100% recycled paper, so I can reuse it or compost it and it will be gone in a few weeks!
2. design and quality
When it comes to the boots I ordered, I think the design is good. Timeless, classic, and modern. They offer the same boots in color beige, so there are other options if black is not your thing. This applies to almost all of their designs, they have more than one option so you can choose what suits you better.
When it comes to quality, they look nice and durable. I needed some boots with a thick sole that allowed me to walk in the rain and the snow, without looking like a snowboot. The sole of my boots is thick and I feel safe walking in them. So, I think the quality is also great!
The only thing is, I notice the brand in the sock of the boot fade away after a month of wearing them, but I don’t think that’s an issue for me.
3. the materials
Pros:
- They are made of recycled materials. You will find a lot of Water-based PU which is an eco-friendly polyurethane resin, recycled polyester, and recycled TPR for the soles. You can also find recycled cotton, recycled PU foam, recycled TPU, Tencel, and cork.
- Reusing the waste helps more the environment than creating new products with new sustainable raw materials, and also makes everything more affordable.
Cons:
- Faux leather tends to last less than real leather, so for the ones that use this material, maybe you will need a new pair of shoes in a few years.
- Polyester is not biodegradable and in some cases, it can only be recycled once. So, you need to take good care of your shoes to avoid them ending in landfills again,
4. the impact on the planet
- Faux leather is not the most long-lasting material out there, but when it comes to these shoes, the production of them is better for the environment than real leather ones. However, when it comes to long-lasting, real leather can last decades, while faux leather just a few years (2-7).
- Recycled polyester and TPU are not biodegradable or compostable materials, which means they will eventually end in a landfill. But, it was waste since the beginning, so you will be reducing the trash as long as you keep wearing them.
- Using waste materials rather than destroying them, avoids CO2 emissions that increase the greenhouse effect and subsequently global warming.
5. ethical production & transparency
They claim to work ethically, applying fair trade to everything they do. However, I’m worried I can’t find exactly where they make the shoes. It says it’s in Asia, but not the country.
They count with several certificates, but only in the environmental part. Some of these are the Transaction Certificate issued by The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). RCS certifies products obtained from recycled materials and validates the content of recycled materials.
They have a vegan, chemical, recycled materials, and physical tests with certificates. You can read more about it on their website.
6. the price
HOW MUCH IS IT?
The prices go between €39.99 (a pair of sandals) to €74.99 (a pair of snow boots).
The Jadu boots I ordered were €59.99 ($68 USD).
Personally, I consider the price affordable keeping in mind it is a sustainable brand.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Honestly, I think they are. In fact, they are a good start if you’re looking for sustainable shoes on a budget.
My personal experience has been great so far. The boots are comfortable to walk on, they keep my feet warm and I love the thick sole.
Would I buy them again?
Absolutely! I would like to try the beige pair, to compare the materials.
I hope you found this review helpful, let me know what your experience with the brand was, in case you’ve tried it already.
Here’s their website and their Instagram, so you can check out all their products!
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