The Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program focuses on finding positive ways to make use of discarded kicks. Kids go through shoes so fast it'll make your head spin. Parents often worry about what this cycle of sneaker destruction does to their pocket book, but few stop to worry about the detrimental effects these discarded shoes have on the environment. The city of Tucson, Ariz. took notice and has decided to take action.
Working in conjunction with the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program, the city has begun integrating old shoes into athletic surfaces for basketball courts and playgrounds. The worn-out shoes are separated into three components: rubber from the outer sole, foam from the middle and fabric from the upper portion of the shoe. The rubber is melted down and added to the surface providing a cushioning anti-slip covering for running tracks. The fabric is used as padding for basketball courts and the foam is transformed into a springy surface ideal for tennis courts.
Now, tired shoes are reborn into a variety of surfaces.
What's Driving This Trend
- Sustainable Footwear
- Opportunity to innovate and create more sustainable footwear options through repurposing and recycling.
- Circular Economy
- Opportunity to shift towards a circular economy model by reusing and repurposing discarded shoes.
- Green Infrastructure
- Opportunity to create environmentally friendly infrastructure by incorporating recycled materials into playgrounds and sports facilities.
Who This Affects Most
- Footwear Manufacturing
- Disruptive opportunity for footwear manufacturers to embrace sustainability and circularity in their production processes.
- Waste Management
- Opportunity for the waste management industry to develop innovative solutions for shoe recycling and repurposing.
- Sports & Recreation
- Opportunity for the sports and recreation industry to integrate sustainable practices by using recycled materials in the construction of sports facilities.
