A sneaker is a small engineering marvel made of foam, rubber, textiles, plastics, and adhesives. That mix is exactly what makes it so difficult to throw away responsibly. Left in a landfill, a single pair can take up to 40 years to break down, slowly releasing materials that never needed to be wasted in the first place.
Reuse first, recycle second
The most sustainable thing you can do with a wearable sneaker is keep it being worn. That is why ProjectKix prioritizes reuse: gently used pairs are kept in circulation, extending their life and displacing demand for brand-new footwear. Pairs beyond reuse are handled responsibly so materials stay out of the trash.
Why landfills are the wrong answer
- Hundreds of millions of pairs are discarded worldwide every year.
- Footwear is bulky and slow to decompose, taking up long-term landfill space.
- Reusing a pair avoids the carbon and resources required to manufacture a new one.
Recycling that funds something bigger
What sets a ProjectKix drive apart is that recycling is also fundraising. The same act that keeps sneakers out of landfills generates support for disabled athletes and the charities our partners choose. When you are ready, you can donate shoes or host a shoe drive for your community.