Crocs launches recycled footwear programme
Having established its brightly-coloured clog-style footwear on markets around the globe, Crocs, Inc. has now officially launched a recycled footwear donation programme, SolesUnited, which it claims is a “first-of-its-kind” scheme dedicated to providing new footwear to people in need worldwide.
Having already donated more than one million pairs of shoes to people in need through the scheme in the past 18 months, with support from a network of shipping and charity partners such as Brothers Brother Foundation and Feed the Children, the company has now set an ambitious goal of donating two million pairs of recycled Crocs shoes through the programme in 2008 alone.
Under the scheme consumers will donate their worn out Crocs at participating retailers, or send them directly to Crocs’ collection centres, where they will then be sorted, cleaned, ground into new material, and manufactured into new recycled shoes and then distributed.
“We are excited to help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world with a programme that ties so closely to our business,” said Ron Snyder, chief executive. “Many people are unaware of the importance and need for quality footwear around the world. More than one billion people, or one in six people around the world, live on less than $1 a day according to The World Bank Group; through the SolesUnited programme, we can help these individuals. We are confident that our enthusiastic customer base will embrace this programme by returning their Crocs shoes to propel the continual growth of donated shoes in the coming years.”
