It seems that if they don’t seem to be donated, components of our outdated sneakers can solely actually be “downcycled,” or repurposed as lesser-value gadgets like rubber flooring. And here is the difficult factor about sneakers—trainers specifically: Since they’re made utilizing a few totally different supplies, they’re arduous to take aside. As such, most of them do not get an opportunity at a second life and are destined to (very, very slowly) decompose in a landfill after we’re achieved with them.
On prime of that, avid runners undergo sneakers at Usain Bolt–stage velocity. Most specialists suggest switching trainers after 300 to 500 miles; a lot past that, they will lose their cushioning and will result in damage. Relying on how a lot you run, this might imply you are eliminating a pair each 4 to 6 months.
In response to this trashy drawback, some sneaker firms are beginning to promote runners which can be simpler to take aside for recycling. One other method is to create sneakers which can be designed to remain in use for longer, just like the Eliot Runner, the primary sneaker from traditional operating model Tracksmith.