Established in 2012 in the United States by co-founders Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin, Rothy’s is a San Francisco-based footwear and accessories brand known for knit-to-shape shoes and bags made from recycled materials, including repurposed plastic bottles and ocean-bound plastic.
1. Environmental
Sustainability
Rothy’s positions sustainability “at the heart of all we do,” with a clear focus on recycled materials, durable products, and a certified zero-waste factory. It shares specific achievements around recycled inputs, packaging reduction, and end-of-life solutions, but offers very little quantified data on climate, water, or overall material mix.
IMPACT AREA 01
Materials
& Sourcing
- All Rothy’s are knit with 100% recycled materials, with uppers spun from repurposed plastic bottles, and its signature rPET thread is Recycled Content Certified, proving that it comes entirely from recycled sources.
- The brand reports having transformed at least 225,794,969 plastic bottles into products, avoiding waste.
- Bags are knit from 100% recycled materials, using a blend of OceanCycle-certified ocean-bound plastic and the signature recycled thread.
- Rothy’s highlights a small set of “hero” materials, including hemp and RWS-certified merino wool, with merino shoes knit from a proprietary blend of RWS wool and recycled thread.
- Other components include algae-based strobel boards and outsoles made with recycled and plant-based TPU, plus bag hardware made from non-toxic virgin metal that is nickel- and lead-free.
- Overall, Rothy’s puts clear emphasis on recycled and certified inputs, but does not publish a full fiber breakdown.
IMPACT AREA 02
Climate
& Emissions
- In the reviewed materials, Rothy’s does not disclose greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, or 3) or publish a climate strategy aligned with science-based or net-zero targets.
- The brand notes that its wholly owned factory workshop in Dongguan, China is LEED Gold certified, with LEED Platinum offices, but does not share related energy or emissions data.
- Rothy’s presents recycled materials, circular design, and reduced packaging as climate-relevant solutions, yet no life-cycle assessments or quantified climate comparisons are published.
IMPACT AREA 03
Water
& Chemicals
- For its ocean-bound marine plastic, Rothy’s uses OceanCycle-certified materials collected within 30 miles/50 km of coastlines or waterways in regions with mismanaged waste. OceanCycle’s standard includes environmental criteria such as proper wastewater and chemical handling in the recycling supply chain.
- The brand specifies that bag hardware is made from non-toxic virgin metal that is nickel- and lead-free, addressing some common heavy-metal concerns in trims. Additional details would add validity, though.
- Beyond these assurances, Rothy’s does not disclose water-use data, reduction targets, wastewater treatment information, or a brand-wide chemical management program (e.g. RSL, ZDHC).
IMPACT AREA 04
Circularity
& Waste
- Rothy’s emphasizes product durability and longevity, positioning fast fashion as a burden on the planet and stating that its machine-washable products are made to last for years; testing shows bag handles can hold over 100 pounds.
- Its patented seamless knit-to-shape construction is claimed to generate 30% less material waste than traditional cut-and-sew methods, while also avoiding hard seams and stiff edges.
- The brand encourages customers to resell, gift, or donate items that are still wearable, and offers a Rothy’s Recycling program for end-of-life shoes and bags, which can be dropped off in stores. Participants receive a US$20 discount code per pair or bag recycled. Returned products are disassembled into upper, insole, and outsole, then shredded or baled and sent to recycling partners for new uses.
- Rothy’s boxes are made from recycled cardboard and are strong enough to ship without an additional outer box, which the brand says has saved over 3.3 million pounds of cardboard.
- The Dongguan factory workshop achieved LEED Gold in 2022, with LEED Platinum offices, and in 2023, the facility obtained TRUE Platinum zero-waste certification, indicating high waste-diversion performance.
- Rothy’s defines circularity as a whole-brand approach, from sourcing through design, manufacturing, breakdown, and remaking. They acknowledge that “circular production” does not yet fully exist. Its internal standard is to use a majority of recycled or bio-based materials and to offer an end-of-wear solution for every product.
- However, the brand does not disclose volumes of products collected via take-back, specific waste-diversion rates, so the scale of its circular initiatives remains unclear.