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Shoe waste. It’s a whole thing. That’s why we're proud to be launching takeback for your old shoes, in collaboration with Kickers. Let’s dive in…
How many shoes are produced each year?
According to the World Footwear Network, around over 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced every year across the world. That’s more than 3 new pairs of shoes for every person in the world, every year. We don’t know how many shoes there are in the world, but with a figure like that, you can imagine that we are quite literally drowning in shoes.
Why are shoes not “eco-friendly”?
It’s not that shoes aren’t eco friendly, per say, but shoes are made up of multiple materials making them challenging to recycle. They can also use a lot of carbon to produce - one study found that the production of a pair of running shoes emits 13kg of carbon dioxide. Across the board, the production of shoe materials come with their own environmental challenges such as carbon emissions, excessive water use, negative soil health and toxic chemical use. On top of all this, there is the big challenge of what we do with old shoes that we don’t want anymore, especially as they’re unlikely to biodegrade.
Eesh- we know that sounds intense…but bare with us.
How many shoes end up in landfill?
Roughly 300 million pairs of shoes end up in landfills after they have been worn. That means that around 90% of shoes finish life in a waste site. The Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, which usually makes up the midsole of most running shoes, can last for as long as 1,000 years in a landfill. (Scroll down for solutions).
What is the average life of a shoe?
It depends on the type of shoes and how you wear them, but some reports suggest that trainers used regularly for high impact exercise like running may only last around a year. Sandals appear to last around 4-5 years. If you’re wearing a pair of leather shoes everyday, you will start to notice a decline in quality between 6-12 months (roughly speaking). But we all know that a good pair of shoes can last you years and years.
When should you throw out sneakers and shoes?
Honestly, we don’t think you should be prescriptive with this one. We could tell you to pass them on after ‘x’ number of wears, or when they’ve done ‘y’ number of miles…but really, who is measuring that sort of thing? You know when it’s time to say goodbye. If they’re falling apart, no longer supportive or comfortable, or have lost their shape, then they’re probably at the end of their life. But if you love wearing those beaten up old sneakers, don’t let us stop you.
What to do with shoes that you don't want anymore?
If your shoes are in fairly good condition but just don’t float your boat anymore, donate them to a charity shop, give them to a friend or sell them on a resale platform. You can also take old shoes to your local recycling centre. If they’re eligible for the Kickers Takeback scheme, send them to us.
Can you put old, preloved shoes in the recycling bin?
Don’t be a wishcycler. If you got some really old shoes that aren’t eligible for takeback, we recommend taking them to a clothing donation bin or to your recycling centre, where they usually have a designated area for textiles and shoes.
Shoe recycling bins are widely available, and to find one in your area, you can search by postcode on the Recycle Now website.
Please don’t put them in your general recycling bin. Councils across the country don’t usually offer doorstep collection for textiles, and putting them in the general recycling bin could result in “contamination”- which would mean that nothing else in the bag can be recycled either. And it goes without saying -shoes put in your general waste bin will end up in landfill.
KICKERS X RESKINNED:
Send us your old, preloved Kickers and get rewarded
Give your Kickers new life with Reskinned! Although Kickers make durable footwear to last, we understand that your style or shoe size can change. So why not trade in your preloved Kickers – whether they’re in mint condition or loved to death – and you’ll receive online credit to spend at Kickers.co.uk (up to £20 redeemable against a minimum spend of £60).
The best news is that Reskinned will either recondition or recycle your shoes so that nothing gets sent to landfill. This is just the next step in your shoe’s journey.
And yes, those beat-up school shoes are welcome too.
What happens to the shoes that I send back?
We’ll sort everything by hand. Shoes in good condition will be kept aside for resale. Shoes that need a bit of TLC will be repaired. Shoes that really can’t be saved will be recycled at our own recycling centre. It takes time as each material needs to be separated and recycled in their own way. That means physically pulling the shoes apart by hand. Look, it's not the most glamorous of jobs, but we’ll never skip corners because we stand firmly by our 0% to landfill policy.