Shout out to our partners and friends because they know sustainable living is more urgent than ever! Daily, we hear from them about how we make it super easy for them to do something good in their communities and for the planet. Here’s a fact on which we may all agree: the smallest acts can make significant differences.
For instance, our mail-in bag program allows any person to support a cause by simply filling it with 6-8 pairs of unwanted sneakers instead of throwing them in the trash. Of course, we want to thank our marathon partners, such as the Boston, Marine Corps, and Austin Marathons, who partner with us to get sneakers into the circular economy.
For every 10 pairs of athletic shoes rescued from ending up in landfills, our partners lower our carbon emissions by 300% and save 5,000 gallons of water!
The Environmental Cost of Footwear
Here’s the scoop: sneakers contribute significantly to environmental pollution. Ever thought about the anatomy of sneakers? We have! Easily, there could be dozens of parts in sneakers, including plastics, foam, and synthetics. Manufacturers are seeking ways to make athletic shoes more sustainable, but we have a long way to go.
Unfortunately, more than 300 million shoes and sneakers end up in landfills thrown away by Americans. In turn, as those sneakers decompose, the footwear releases toxins into the air—for generations. That’s why we exist as a company. We’re hear to help North American communities embrace sustainable living.
How Sneaker Reuse Promotes Sustainable Living
By joining the sneaker reuse movement, run retailers, marathons, road races, and even individuals have an opportunity to embrace sustainable living. In other words, we all have a chance to transform waste into an opportunity. How so? By putting those sneakers into the circular economy, we extend the life of sneakers.
The reality is that the planet needs us all to work together to help save it. The oceans, trees, animals, and every living thing on it, need our collective efforts. Still, you might ask what happens to the sneakers that go into the circular economy. Well, it’s simple. The sneakers are sold by small business owners in developing nations.
Sneaker Reuse and Social Impact
When athletic shoes get shipped to our international warehouse, we consolidate them with hundreds of thousands of others. So far, our social enterprise has shipped more than 40 million shoes and sneakers to developing nations such as India, Haiti, and Colombia—over 20 countries in total.
In turn, the 4,000 micro-entrepreneurs we partner with in those countries, many of them women, have the chance to help themselves. They get the sneakers ready for sale in their local communities, which is a reason we request quality products. People worldwide depend on sneakers that are in good shape for sale and reuse.
Incorporating the Sustainability Into Your Life
Now that you know a little about why sneaker reuse is essential, and sustainable living is so important, you might wonder how to do it. It’s actually pretty easy to practice it. For one, you can declutter closets and storage by looking for sneakers you don’t wear any longer and giving them for a cause through the free mail-in program.
But you can do a little more if you’re committed. You can share sustainable living with your friends, teammates, and family. The fact is that often people don’t know how easy it is to dispose of sneakers they don’t want, which is why so many of them end up in the trash. You join a global effort by taking the extra step to encourage others.
Getting sneakers into the circular economy is a fantastic start. However, there are other things we can each do. For instance, we can adopt a minimalist mindset and reduce consumption. We can also purchase vintage and second-hand goods and donate merchandise we no longer need to others.
A Path Toward a Sustainable Future
As many of our partners and team realize, small actions can lead to big change. It starts with each of us, and then we can take our message to others. Collectively, that’s how one person can help drive change. Keeping sneakers out of landfills and placing them in the circular economy does so much for our planet and its people.
We have a request of you. Every time you lace up a pair of sneakers, remember that they’re an opportunity for you to make an impact—not only on your fitness and health—but also the planet. So, let’s run into the future believing we can be kind and good and make a difference—one step at a time.
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