Australians call them “runners.” The British know them as “trainers.” Americans refer to them as “sneakers.” Whatever you call them, these casual shoes are worn by billions of people around the world. Today, roughly 23 billion shoes are produced each year. So, how can we balance our love of sneakers with the need for sustainability? Watch the informative video below as Angel Chang explores how shoe manufacturing impacts our planet.

Did you know the TZHS Leo Club continues to host a sneaker drive with @gotsneakers? This is a great way to raise money, help less fortunate people around the world and support sustainability. All the footwear collected is counted and sorted at one of @gotsneakers regional sortation facilities. The footwear is categorized based on size, style, and condition and subsequently packed for distribution around the world, primarily to micro-enterprises in impoverished countries such as Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Ukraine.

Unwearable footwear is recycled into new products such as tracks, playgrounds, and other athletic surfaces.
Here is @gotsneakers footwear compensation guide.

Many of us have utilized our stay at home time for cleaning out drawers and closets…I am sure you have accumulated a pile of footwear during your “quarantine cleaning” you deem no longer useable. While you may not be able to get to one of our collection boxes at this time… please put your discards aside for the time when we will once again be together.

#StayStrongDutchmen

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