Cog Store | Chaussures, sneakers et baskets veganes et écologiques

In terms of materials, COG makes a simple and radical commitment: our entire collection is free of animal leather, and our adhesives are exclusively water-based. This is how we can offer you vegan, cruelty-free shoes with PETA APPROVED VEGAN certification. An ethical approach that is dear to us: at COG, we want to protect life in all its forms, whether human or animal.

But choosing leather-free fashion isn't just a moral commitment; it's also a way to support sustainable production that emits fewer greenhouse gases. Indeed, livestock farming is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is compounded by soil pollution and deforestation. As for mineral tanning of leather, it requires the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment, which are often released into nature, polluting rivers near tanneries.

COG has chosen to say "stop" and offer an ecological and sustainable alternative, without compromising on style and quality. To achieve this, we worked tirelessly to find excellent materials that are comfortable to wear, durable, and good for the planet.

Thus, our responsible dress shoes and sneakers are made from natural or recycled materials, as well as synthetic fibers whose production has a carbon footprint 2 to 20 times lower than that of leather. Our materials, designed with respect for the environment and the people involved in their creation, are OEKO-TEX 100 certified. Finally, COG supports the circular economy and prioritizes the use of recycled materials, giving a second life to materials that were destined for the landfill.

For example, the exterior cladding of our vegan sneakers Topsy and Wallace Black Grape It is made of imitation leather composed of grape pomace, recycled polyester and water-based polyurethane. For the rest, we have mainly selected ecological and recycled materials:

• Plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean, then repurposed, for the inner lining and the laces.
• Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the laces.
• Cork and recycled plastic fibers for the insole.
• 30% recycled rubber for the outsole

Creating eco-responsible shoes in a framework that respects the people who make them: a guiding principle we have followed since the founding of COG. To fully realize our idea, we turned to the Porto region of Portugal, renowned for its excellent artisans specializing in shoemaking.

Located less than 1,200 kilometers from our Lyon headquarters, our workshops provide us with multi-generational expertise, which we witness firsthand during each of our visits. From cutting and gluing to sewing, each employee contributes their specific skills to the creation of our designs. On-site, our teams can monitor the progress of production while admiring the mastery and technical prowess of these artisans.

A guarantee of quality, but not only that: Our vegan shoes are made with consideration for people and respect for their rights.. We guarantee that our products are handmade in a healthy environment, respecting hygiene and safety rules, by workers who earn a decent living from their work.

Choosing local production for our sustainable sneakers is also a way to reduce distances, and therefore significantly limit greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation. With COG, your shoes don't travel thousands of kilometers before arriving at your door!

Finally, to further control our carbon footprint, we have chosen to use locally sourced materials from European companies located in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The COG brand was created to make high-quality vegan dress shoes and sneakers accessible to as many people as possible. Our products are manufactured using an ecological and ethical approach, without compromising on aesthetics or comfort. Our goal: to design exceptional shoes based on understated yet elegant designs, unparalleled production ethics, and unmatched comfort. These qualities, combined with an affordable price, are the key to offering the shoes of tomorrow: responsible footwear, within everyone's reach, and not a privilege reserved for a select few.

However, reconciling ethics, quality and accessibility comes at a cost that may be surprising, and the cornerstone of COG ethics is our transparency:

• The price of European manufacturing: offering eco-friendly "Made in Europe" shoes inevitably impacts the production cost of our models, especially since our shoes are ordered in small quantities. But this choice is an integral part of our philosophy: to produce under good working conditions, while limiting CO2 emissions related to transport.
• The price of time-honored craftsmanship: our vegan shoes are made in a small family workshop where expertise has been passed down for three generations. Our assembly plant, located a few kilometers south of Porto, enjoys an excellent reputation in the field. Naturally, these experienced artisans must be paid fairly for their expertise, and the cost of manufacturing our shoes is intrinsically linked to wages and overhead costs in Europe.
• The price of quality materials: did you know that the price of a high-quality material can be 2 to 5 times higher than that of an entry-level material? COG sources exclusively from European suppliers, while giving preference to high-quality materials, and as much as possible, natural materials (like grape pomace) or our recycled materials. This approach necessarily translates into a higher price for our sustainable sneakers when they leave the factory.

In this context, setting an affordable selling price, while assuming high production costs in compliance with our ethical and ecological values, is a real challenge that we have met.

To define our prices, we have therefore adopted a clear and transparent four-step methodology:

• The specifications for the model are submitted to the workshop. The workshop then provides us with a manufacturing price, taking into account labor and material costs.
• In addition to this production price, there is the cost of our fixed costs and variable expenses.
• Based on this amount, it is possible to calculate a margin that will allow us to replenish our stock and not sell at a loss.
• Finally, the margin and the cost price can be added together to determine the selling price of our vegan shoes on the website.

Through its many commitments, COG works daily to achieve its ambition: to democratize ethical, vegan, unisex and stylish fashion.

At COG, we commit to propose vegan shoes that respect animals, humans, and our planet. Our models, whether they are eco-friendly sneakers or durable ankle boots such as our Olympe or our women's Chelsea Laïka, embody this ethics. Each pair of shoes is designed with environmentally friendly materials and vegan, without any compromise on quality or style. We pride ourselves on guaranteeing a European local production, by maximizing the purchase of materials manufactured according to a circular economy process. Our approach goes beyond simply manufacturing shoes made without animal products, It aims to raise awareness among our customers about thoughtful and controlled consumption, in contrast to fast fashion.

Environmentally friendly materials

Our vegan shoes are made from innovative and eco-designed materials. These solutions ecological can be plant-based. These include grape marc which is a by-product of the wine industry, offering an ecological, sustainable, and beautifully finished alternative to traditional animal leather while mimicking its aesthetic qualities and robustness. We also use recycled cereals, thus giving new life to waste destined for disposal. Furthermore, our designs incorporate recycled plastics, such as rubber and... plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean Sea, transformed into high-quality synthetic fibers, which are then woven into fabric. These materials are not only environmentally friendly, but they also ensure the durability and comfort of our shoes. Our little extra? The materials that make up our eco-friendly shoes made without animal-derived materials They are hypoallergenic, anti-perspirant, odor-resistant, and abrasion-resistant. They also meet the European OEKO-TEX 100 standard (textiles made without substances harmful to human health and the environment).

A local production

At COG, we produce all our shoes in Portugal, in family workshops located south of Porto. This choice of local production not only reduces our carbon footprint, but also guarantees... good working conditions to the people who make our products, and a sanitary environment that respects the well-being of these artisans. Moreover, this production policy ensures that each pair of COG The shoes that come out of our factories are the result of exceptional expertise and a meticulous process, within which every detail counts. By working with European suppliers, We also ensure that the employees of our partner workshops are also valued by being paid fairly.

Discover the behind-the-scenes of our awards and production in one click.

Making the circular economy work

While recycling a pair of shoes remains a delicate operation to this day, producing recycled shoes - or made from recycled materials, is at the heart of our concerns.Thus, the circular economy, and giving a second life to used materials, are an integral part of our production approach. Our team strives to minimize our environmental impact by prioritizing suppliers who can offer us certified materials that incorporate recycled content and use non-toxic, water-efficient manufacturing processes. By choosing raw materials from the circular economy, such as recycled synthetic fibers, we contribute to waste reduction and the preservation of natural resources. Furthermore, our shoes are designed to last, which reduces the need for purchases, and encourages our customers to embrace a way of more responsible consumption.

Interested in secondhand goods? We invite you to discover... here Our discounted shoes and imperfect shoe models sold at promotional prices.

All our shoes are vegan, This means that all animal-derived materials are banned from their composition. Each style proudly bears the PETA APPROVED VEGAN label. Awarded by the animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), this label guarantees that our products are entirely free of animal materials and involve no form of animal cruelty. It is a rigorous certification that validates our commitment to offering synthetic alternatives to animal leather and any other material or process involving the exploitation of animal species. Therefore, by choosing to purchase a pair of PETA-certified COG shoes, our customers are making a choice that respects animals, all living things, and biodiversity, since, as an added bonus, our materials are also the result of environmentally friendly production.

From a general perspective, the customer reviews demonstrate not only their support for our brand and the ethical initiative we are undertaking through the sale of our vegan shoes for their positive impact on the environment and animal welfare, but also their satisfaction with the durability of our products.

Customer reviews of our products also indicate that they appreciate their innovative design, the superior quality of the materials used, and their comfort underfoot. Therefore, each comment left by our customers is a source of satisfaction for us, not only because it allows us to gauge their level of appreciation, but also to understand what they like or dislike about our products. eco-friendly shoes views by our community, and what areas we need to work on to improve the COG customer experience.

Sharing photos of our shoes on our customers' feet is just as gratifying and a source of pride for us, because more COG shoes on their feet means fewer exploited animals and a better-treated planet! And for that, we can only express our infinite gratitude to everyone who supports us!

Finally, one point on which our customers often express their satisfaction is transparency which we are keen to demonstrate, and to remain true to our founding commitment to produce our shoes locally within Europe. This guarantees fair trade practices of which we can only be proud.

COG is committed to offering vegan and eco-friendly footwear, placing ethics and sustainability at the heart of our approach. Every pair of shoes, whether it's a our sneakers, of our Chelsea boots, ankle boots Or Richelieu, is designed with eco-friendly materials and responsibly produced in Portugal. Our PETA APPROVED VEGAN label guarantees that our designs are cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. The positive feedback we receive from our customers testifies to the quality and positive impact of our shoes on the planet and its inhabitants, which for us is an accomplishment, combined with the pleasure of knowing that our values ​​resonate with a growing number of people.