New research by TreadLightly reveals the average Australian admits to owning about five pairs of shoes they don’t wear – the shocking equivalent of 100 million unused shoes that could end up as landfill. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24 per cent) keep onto their old shoes, with many people admitting it’s for a rainy day or for sentimental reasons – while half of respondents (51 per cent) confess to simply throwing their unwanted shoes in the rubbish.
TreadLightly – a new industry-led national recycling initiative powered by the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) and recycler Save Our Soles (SOS) – is addressing the problem by taking unwanted sports and active lifestyle shoes and responsibly recycling them into mats and flooring for retail stores, gyms and playgrounds.
“This research commissioned by TreadLightly and conducted by 10 THOUSAND FEET highlights just how many shoes are collecting dust at home, and how many shoes end up in the rubbish because we don’t know what else to do with them,” said Shaun Bajada, Executive Director, Australian Sporting Goods Association.
Bajada says this is a national problem and a significant environmental concern with shoe components taking over 1000 years to breakdown. “TreadLightly exists to solve a very real industry issue. We’re committed to working closely with retailers, manufacturers and consumers to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint and to stop millions of shoes ending up as landfill every year.”
“Over 110 million shoes make their way to Australian shores each year of which 25 million are sporting and athletic lifestyle footwear. The wider industry, as well as consumers, want to do more to reduce their environmental impact and TreadLightly makes it easy for everyone to do their bit for the planet,” said Bajada. TreadLightly is calling on Australians to help reach its goal of recycling more than one million pairs of shoes by 2023.
“All you need to do is look around your home for any unwanted sports or active lifestyle shoes – from sneakers and trainers to golf shoes – and take them into one of our 400+ participating retailers to be recycled when your state opens up.”
The TreadLightly survey also shows that:
- Women are more likely to keep shoes they don’t wear, holding onto an average of seven
pairs of shoes they don’t use compared to men who keep three. - More than half (53 per cent) of female recipients buy shoes every six months or more – with
most owning an average of 11 pairs of shoes. - In good news, more than two thirds (78 per cent) of respondents said they were willing to
recycle their old shoes if there was a shoe recycling program in their area.
TreadLightly is supported by the Federal Government to recycle more than one million pairs of sporting and athletic lifestyle shoes by June 2023 to save 400+ tonnes of footwear going to landfill.
About Tread Lightly
TreadLightly is a national recycling initiative that provides the inspiration and the means to address the sporting and active lifestyle industry’s environmental footprint by uniting and empowering brands, retailers and consumers to give preloved footwear a new life.
Powered by leading industry body the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) and Australia’s premier footwear recycler Save Our Soles (SOS), TreadLightly is supported by the Federal Government to recycle more than one million pairs of shoes by June 2023, saving hundreds of tonnes from local landfill. Australians can recycle their preloved footwear at participating retailers for them to be recycled responsibly and given new, meaningful life as retail and gym flooring and playgrounds around Australia.
About the research:
The data for the research study was obtained via an online survey of the Australian general public, aged 18+, conducted in September 2021. Sampling was nationally representative on age, gender and location and sourced through an online panel of Australian consumers.
10 THOUSAND FEET is an Australian market research agency that provides a full suite of action driven research services. With over 18 years of experience working with industry bodies and consumer brands, 10 THOUSAND FEET is the leading research agency within the sporting goods
space. See www.10thousandfeet.com