![\"Two](\"https:\/\/blog.vionicshoes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/How-To-Properly-Recycle-Your-SneakersFT.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nYour favorite pair of sneakers have grown tired. They fit you like a glove and have accompanied you on nearly every adventure (even the ones they weren\u2019t welcomed on), so it can feel like a shame to toss your old kicks\u00a0 aside after all those years.<\/span><\/p>\n Thankfully, there are many ways to give your old pair of runners a new life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to doom your faithful pair of athletic sneakers to a life in the landfill. Instead, there are some better ways to extend the duration of your running shoes and reduce your carbon footprint. Wondering how to recycle shoes? This shoe recycling guide will tell you everything you need to know about ways to recycle sneakers, ensuring your runners can continue to live on for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s no one way to properly recycle old sneakers (or even <\/span>walking shoes for women<\/span><\/a>). You might think your running shoes are ratty beyond use, but we can guarantee there\u2019s still a life for your athletic sneakers\u00a0 out there somewhere. Just imagine what you could do if you steered your unwanted athletic shoe pairs towards a purpose like a shoe drive .\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Need help brainstorming some ways to properly recycle your old shoes? Here are four options to choose from:<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, your local recycling bins aren\u2019t equipped to recycle shoes. Most city-wide recycling programs are designated for materials that include cardboard, paper, metal, glass, and certain plastics. But that doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have options.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to donate your shoes to be recycled into a new form, try looking into a textile recycling company or textile bin dropoff in your area. These are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint<\/a> while giving your exercise shoes<\/a> new life. Oftentimes, you\u2019ll see these bins near shopping centers, but you can ask around in your community to gain some local insight.1<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n Textile recycling companies can turn your old pair of sneakers into several different materials that hardly resemble shoes at all. When these companies work their recycling magic, these are just a few things that can be made from your shoes:2<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n Every year, 24.2 billion pairs of shoes are made globally. And because of the large number of products being produced, a majority of that material finds its way to the landfill. Although your shoes contain natural materials, they also contain plastic which could take hundreds of years to break down.<\/span><\/p>\n Your urge to <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>throw out your pair of shoes is likely saving them from decades spent sitting in a landfill. This, in turn, saves the surrounding groundwater from plasticizers and toxic chemicals that your shoes can leak.3<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n When done properly, recycling your shoes can help:2<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n We understand that fashion trends can often fade before your pair of shoes has even kicked the bucket. Donating can be an effective and simple way to reduce your carbon footprint, while also providing a pair of shoes that someone else might need.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a breakdown of what shoes are in most demand:3<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n For other shoe types\u2014like high heels, which are reportedly the least in demand\u2014you can find other ways to donate them locally or even offer them up for free on an online marketplace. For more tips on how to manage your less desirable shoes, keep reading below.<\/span><\/p>\n Believe it or not, there <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> a right and a wrong way to go about donating your old footwear. With such an abundance of well-loved boots, sneakers, and flats being dropped off at local shops, it can be challenging to stay on top of such a high inventory. Even local donation stores only sell around 25% of shoes to customers in your area. The rest are exported to emerging countries.<\/span><\/p>\n While there is some demand in these areas, a majority of the shoes exported end up flooding local markets abroad. These flooded markets put pressure on local salespeople, disrupting economies in the community and creating more supply than demand.<\/span><\/p>\n The shoes you donate can just end up in the landfill anyway if you\u2019re not careful. That\u2019s why we recommend:<\/span><\/p>\n So, before filling bags and boxes with shoes for donation, consider what organizations might be best equipped to handle higher quantities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you hear the word \u201ccobbler\u201d, you might imagine a craftsman from hundreds of years ago. Contrary to popular belief, however, the field of cobblers is alive and well. If you’re still a fan of your favorite old pair, you can make them as good as new again through the work of a local shoe repairman.<\/span><\/p>\n Cobblers are able to fix just about any type of shoe ailment\u2014they can provide new soles on your sneakers, add new heels, or even change the color of your shoes. Even if you think your pair is beyond repair, odds are, a cobbler has found a solution around it.<\/span><\/p>\n The only problem is that repairs can sometimes get pricey, depending on how worn your shoe is. Because of this, it\u2019s recommended that you take your shoes in for upkeep before they get too worn down.<\/span><\/p>\n If there isn\u2019t a cobbler near you, or your budget doesn\u2019t support a more substantial repair, you can always try to repair your shoes at home (try an at home workout<\/a> while you\u2019re at it to increase your eco friendly ways). Here are some tactics you can use for some DIY shoe operations:4<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n Most recycling that people think of is considered downcycling\u2014the process of turning high-value products into lower-value products. Upcycling turns regular recycling on its head, taking old materials and making them into higher valued materials.<\/span><\/p>\n There are ways that you can upcycle your shoes even at home. Try a DIY project that gives your sneakers a new look, either with new laces, patches, or a painted design on the fabric. Upcycling can allow you to enjoy a pair that\u2019s no longer your style and turn them into a pair that\u2019s fashionable and trendy.5<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n Here are some ways that you can upcycle your own pair of shoes:6<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n Feeling stuck between recycling your old sneakers or upcycling them? If you\u2019re looking for a method to reduce more of a carbon footprint, upcycling might be your best option. When you recycle, energy is used to convert your shoes back into their smallest components.<\/span><\/p>\n The energy needed for this conversion requires time, labor, and emissions. And once these elements have been pared down to their simplest form, they need to be reprocessed into new materials and products. Upcycling keeps these products at their original form, allowing them to be reused at their highest value\u2014<\/span>and<\/span><\/i> preserving the time and energy that recycling requires.7<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n After years of wearing your favorite pair of sneakers, you might be unaware that your shoes can do the same to your feet. Years of wearing unsupportive sneakers can leave their mark. Rather than succumb to sore feet, why not try a stylish pair of shoes that don\u2019t sacrifice fashion for comfort?<\/span><\/p>\n Vionic can help you find your desired comfort with our <\/span>Vio-Motion\u2122 footbed technology<\/span><\/a>. We provide a wide range of innovative footwear\u2014from sandals to sneakers, boots, and insoles\u2014granting you a new spring in your step. Even for all the years\u2014and footsteps\u2014to come, your shoes will continue to deliver you comfort and ease.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ways to Properly Recycle Your Sneakers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How to Recycle Your Shoes Into New Materials<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Benefits of Recycling Your Shoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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![\"shop-walking-shoes-for-women\"](\"https:\/\/blog.vionicshoes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Active-Sneakers-NEW.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nHow to Donate Your Shoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Correct Way to Donate Your Shoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Repairing Your Shoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/blog.vionicshoes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/How-To-Properly-Recycle-Your-Sneakers1-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRepair Your Shoes At Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Upcycle Your Shoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"Full](\"https:\/\/blog.vionicshoes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/How-To-Properly-Recycle-Your-Sneakers2.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nThe Benefits of Upcycling<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Choose Shoes That Don\u2019t Wear You Down With Vionic<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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