Excellent
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Apr 28, 2026Zurich-based footwear and running brand On is making a strong effort to improve the circularity of its products through a variety of innovative approaches. The brand has explored subscription-based shoes that are recyclable, bio-based and recycled midsole materials, and resale platforms for used shoes. Still, the brand’s carbon footprint grows each year, and it has yet to incorporate Bluesign-approved materials into its footwear. If you want to learn more about where On lands when it comes to sustainability, we took a deep dive into its practices.
This sustainability analysis evaluates both product- and brand-level initiatives to capture the full scope of On’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Our research draws from On’s published sustainability data, third-party certifications (a cornerstone of our process), and correspondence with brand representatives. We have independently researched five On products to date, giving us an understanding of the brand’s use of low-impact materials, chemistry, and manufacturing practices.
When you’re done reading about On, you can also explore our analyses of other outdoor brands or use our advanced search to find products that align with your sustainability values.
Overall, On’s sustainability transparency is rated “Excellent.” On publishes a detailed, data-driven annual impact report that contains information about its sustainability progress. The report outlines greenhouse gas tracking data, materials sustainability, fair labor practices, and more. On also maintains several thorough sustainability-focused pages on its website, each of which links to articles about its sustainability programs. Recycled material content and whether a product is made with solution-dyed materials are clearly labeled on On’s product pages. Additionally, the brand has been responsive to Better Trail’s inquiries.
On is an industry leader in incorporating recycled content into its products, working toward the ambitious goal of using 95% recycled nylon and polyester by 2027. Recycled materials have a smaller carbon footprint than their virgin alternatives, and as a result, many brands have swapped virgin materials for recycled ones to cut their emissions. In 2024, 85% of the polyester and 92% of the nylon that On used were made from recycled content, up from 80% and 85% in 2023, respectively. The same year, On began using recycled and renewable midsole materials in some shoes, accounting for 11% of midsole materials, including recycled and bio-based EVA. Because EVA foam accounts for over a third of On’s total materials, we’re excited to see its progress toward using lower-impact forms of EVA.
Still, only 29% of On’s total materials meet its “preferred material” criteria, which include recycled materials, bio-based materials, materials made from captured carbon emissions, and recycled and organic cotton. Many brands don’t report on their total material use (which can include materials that aren’t typically made from recycled content, like EVA foam), so we appreciate On’s transparency. Additionally, On is also making substantial progress toward fiber-to-fiber recycling, or recycling fabrics into new fabrics. Most outdoor brands source recycled polyester from plastic bottles, which removes them from a closed-loop system, so we love that On is upping the game. It now uses this material in the Cloudeasy Cyclon shoe, among others. All in all, we think On is on the right track toward decreasing the impact of its materials.
Unlike many brands we’ve researched, On is not a Bluesign System Partner, and we have yet to find Bluesign-approved materials in the products we’ve assessed from the brand. Bluesign-approved materials are subject to high standards for chemical management, and as a result, they have become the gold standard for reducing chemical impacts in the textile industry. Still, these low-impact materials remain rare in footwear, which accounts for most of On’s product line. We hope to see the brand incorporate Bluesign-approved materials in the future, as they become more widely available for footwear products. Unfortunately, we were unable to find much information about the brand’s chemical management program or restricted substances list.
At the end of 2024, On completed its phase-out of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aligning with California and New York legislation banning the use of “forever chemicals” in textiles. In the past, PFAS were used to repel water and oil from outdoor gear, but unfortunately, the chemicals have been associated with a wide range of health impacts, ranging from cancer to developmental delays in children. Now, nearly every outdoor brand that sells products in the U.S. has removed PFAS from its products. On was on track with other brands in the outdoor industry to remove PFAS, many of which stopped using the chemicals in time to meet state regulations. Still, industry leaders like Fjallraven and Keen phased out intentionally-added PFAS in 2015 and 2018, respectively, positioning them as leaders in responsible chemical management.
Compared to other brands, On uses very few natural fibers in its products. Still, it uses some cotton in its apparel and accessories, and is working toward converting all of this cotton to preferred alternatives, which it defines as organic, recycled, and traceable U.S. cotton. In 2024, On sourced 80% of its cotton and cellulosics (such as viscose, modal, and lyocell) from preferred sources, up from 61% in 2023. It aims to source over 95% preferred cotton by 2026, but has not published an update on its goal. The brand doesn’t use leather or down and uses very little wool, but we were unable to confirm its sourcing.
On publishes extensive information about its fair wage and employment requirements in its annual impact report and its Blueprint for Responsible Manufacturing, published in 2024. The brand plans to ensure that 100% of its Tier 1 (finished goods) suppliers are paid a living wage, as defined by the Global Living Wage Coalition, by 2025. As of its last update, in 2024, 70% of its footwear suppliers in Vietnam are paid a living wage. Around 80% of On’s global footwear production by volume happens in Vietnam, so this statistic is relatively reflective of On’s footwear supply chain. Still, it has yet to publish information on its apparel and accessory factories outside of Vietnam. The company has an in-house audit program, but also accepts third-party certifications such as Better Work and the Social Labor Convergence Program. However, since neither Better Work nor the Social Labor Convergence Program provides factory certifications or continual audits to ensure standards are being met, On does not meet our responsible manufacturing criteria. To do so, we require brands to partner with a third-party program that conducts regular audits and assessments to accredit or certify factories against the program's standards.
On has made good progress toward reducing the impact of its packaging, using only recycled and certified materials. In 2021, it began using 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified cardboard for its footwear and accessory packaging, ensuring that paper-based products are sourced from responsibly managed forests. Its paper is both FSC-certified and recycled. On packages its apparel in fully-recycled, high-density polyethylene and its bags in 100% recycled low-density polyethylene, reducing reliance on virgin plastic. On estimates that its packaging changes save 40 tons of ink, paper, and plastic each year, accounting for 160 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The brand is also working to cut waste generated during packaging production and is exploring other ways to reduce the impact of its apparel packaging. Other brands have made progress in reducing packaging size and eliminating poly bags altogether, and we hope to see On engage in these reductions moving forward.
Although On is new to the repair scene, it recently launched its services abroad, and we hope to see it expand the program to the U.S. soon. In 2024, On piloted a care-and-repair program in China to help extend the life of its products. That year, it fixed over 2,000 pairs of shoes and announced plans to expand its services to apparel and accessories. Unfortunately, as of 2026, On does not offer repairs in the U.S. Instead, it replaces products with manufacturer defects through its warranty program. To date, very few footwear brands offer repairs for their products. Compared to apparel, shoes are often more difficult to repair because they aren’t designed for repairability and use many different materials. Still, brands like Nnormal design their shoes with repairability in mind, and we hope to see others follow suit.
We love On’s re-commerce platform, Cyclon, which accepts used On shoes and apparel for resale. The program launched in 2022 as part of On’s goal of improving the circularity of its supply chain. To trade in your gear, fill out this form, and On will send you a prepaid shipping label. After sending in eligible gear, On rewards you with a gift card (generally $10 to $55, depending on the item) that you can use for used gear on Cyclon or new gear from On. If your item is deemed ineligible for resale, On will still grant you a $5 credit. It either donates these items to organizations such as Soles4Souls or recycles them into industrial materials. The brand also operated a unique, subscription-based recycling program for its Cyclon shoes, which were designed to be recycled at the end of life. While the subscription service for these shoes has ended, On plans to offer them to the public in June 2026.
On started tracking its greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, which is when many major brands began measuring their emissions. The brand set a target to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions (from owned assets and purchased electricity) by 46% and Scope 3 emissions (from its materials, transportation, and supply chain) by 55% per dollar of value added by 2030, compared to its 2019 baseline. Notably, the brand set an economic-intensity-based Scope 3 reduction target; this emissions scope accounts for around 99% of its total, and a target like this allows total emissions to increase while emissions per dollar decrease. Still, the target was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative in 2020, ensuring it aligns with the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping the average global temperature below 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
In 2024, On reported emitting just under 365,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), more than tripling since 2020, when it emitted just under 89,000 tCO2e. It also reported that its Scope 3 emissions intensity has increased by 3% and that its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions have increased by 13% since 2023. It attributed the increase in its Scope 3 emissions to an increase in production volumes, and the increase in its Scope 1 and 2 emissions to the expansion of its Zurich headquarters and the opening of just under 20 new brick-and-mortar locations. We hope to see the brand make progress toward its reduction goals moving forward.
In 2020, On published its first annual impact report detailing its sustainability goals and initiatives. Annual impact reports provide transparency into a brand’s practices, and we appreciate that On has been publishing updates for many years. The brand has published a report each year with extensive data detailing its journey to decrease its impact, including using more sustainable materials, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing fair labor practices. Compared to other reports we’ve read, On’s is very thorough, with well over 100 pages of data and case studies on its products and programs. All in all, we appreciate the brand’s transparent reporting on both its progress and growth areas.
On’s Right to Run social impact partnership program donated over $3 million and just under 36,000 products to over 74 community organizations in 2024. The Right to Run program supports causes dedicated to improving running safety, access, and inclusion.
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These products are among the most sustainable on the market and earn our Better Trail Certified distinction. They often meet 80% or more of our sustainability criteria for their category.
These products are solid, middle-of-the-pack options for sustainability. In general, they meet at least half of our sustainability criteria for their category.
These products are among the least sustainable in their product category and have significant room for improvement. Most meet about 25% or less of our sustainability criteria.
Better Trail Certified Process
The world of sustainability can be murky, but Better Trail is here to help bring clarity. We’ve exhaustively researched thousands of outdoor gear products, communicated with brands, and created a detailed and rigorous ratings system to bring it all together for you. At the pinnacle is Better Trail Certified.
Better Trail Certified products score 4 out of 5 or higher in our sustainability ratings and generally meet around 80% or more of our criteria. While it’s true that no product is 100% sustainable—all take resources to create and arrive at your doorstep—these products are industry leaders and among the most sustainable on the market.
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