FitSugar

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST

I've told you about a great way to donate your kicks to people who can't afford sneakers of their own, but Nike has another great way to get rid of your old sneakers (instead of just tossing them) called Reuse-A-Shoe. Basically, all you do is donate your old sneakers (not just Nikes, they'll take any brand of sneaks) to their designated drop off locations and they will take care of the rest. They turn those old shoes into a recycled product known as Nike Grind. From there, the Nike Grind materials are separated into three categories: outsole rubber, midsole foam and upper fabric. This Nike Grind material is used in production of surfaces like FieldTurf fields that Nike helps donate around the world. For each field, they're talking the amount of rubber from approximately 75,000 pairs of shoes, unused manufacturing material that won’t end up in landfills.

For more information on the program and to find a Reuse-A-Shoe drop off location near you, visit Nike.com.

Easy Ways to Green Your Fitness and Daily Routine

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:38:43 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

You carry your own water bottle, use a reusable shopping bag, and sort your recyclables from the trash. Here are more easy ways to green your daily routine without thinking about it.

Choose Wisely

Look for eco-friendly companies when shopping for workout clothes and gear. Gaiam, Patagonia, and GoLite are just a few of the companies that use organic fibers in their clothing and accessories. Green your yoga session by investing in a mat made from sustainable ingredients, like Manduka's eKO Mat.

Reuse Old Fitness Gear

If you've Downward Dogged your yoga mat into tatters or have equipment from your days of being in the neighborhood soccer league, blow off the dust bunnies for a cause. Bring new life to your old gear through these programs.

Recycle Your Mat: Send your old mat (or drop it off at a participating location), and this company will work with other organizations to find creative new uses for it.

Sports Gift: Organize a collection in your neighborhood, school, or office for old gear like soccer balls, tennis rackets, and athletic shoes, and this nonprofit will ship them to underprivileged children worldwide, so they can enjoy sports too.

Reuse-a-Shoe: Donate worn sneakers to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program, and they'll turn your pair into material for playgrounds and other Nike products. Find a drop-off location or start your own shoe drive at Nikereuseashoe.com.

Keep reading for more green fitness tips.

Don't Throw Out Those Used Sneaks! How to Recycle Old Fitness Gear

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:05:25 PDT

Exercising regularly means going through lots of fitness gear. Instead of just tossing out old kicks or a worn-out yoga mat, do something good for the Earth. Here are ways to recycle or reuse old workout gear.

Sneakers

Donate: You can toss them in a Goodwill bin, or send them to an organization that'll put them to good use. Soles4Souls's tag line is "Saving the world - one pair at a time." This organization takes your tired, but "gently worn," sneakers and finds needy feet to fill them. They strongly suggest organizing shoe drives and mailing all the pairs to one of their three warehouse locations. Another organization, One World Running, has been serving runners around the world since 1986. Through collection programs, they are able to provide shoes for needy runners across the world. Check here for drop-off locations.
Recycle: Turn your old shoes into something new. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe takes all brands of sneakers that are beyond "gently worn" and turns them into a recycled product known as Nike Grind, which is used to make tracks, indoor basketball courts, fields, and playgrounds. Just drop off your retired sneakers at any Nike store, or check here for drop-off locations.
Reuse: Keep an old pair of sneakers around for days when you're running or walking in the rain or on muddy trails. Some people even use old shoes as plant potters. Fill a disinfected shoe with soil and grow some basil or cilantro on your deck or windowsill.

Keep reading to find out what you can do with your old fitness clothes, equipment, and yoga mats.