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.

Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend With These Tips

Leta Shy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:01:59 PDT

Earth Day is on Sunday. It’s a time to think about how our daily routines are impacting the environment, while also helping us remember that our resources are not infinite. If you'd like to green your life even more, here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day this weekend:

Time to recycle: Have an old pair of running shoes that just aren't cutting it anymore, or a yoga mat that's seen its share of Downward Dogs? Before you chuck them away, read our guide on where to donate your used sneakers, yoga mats, clothes, and more, and spend some time this weekend culling and donating your fitness gear.

Shop smart: If you're stocking up this weekend at the grocery store, make smart decisions that will be good for you and the Earth. Don't forget your reusable bag, choose local, organic foods, and try to avoid products with too much packaging to shop eco-friendly. Read more tips for greening your grocery shopping here.

Green your fitness: This weekend, take advantage of the nice weather and move your workouts outside. You'll use fewer energy resources if you trade the treadmill for an outdoor run.

Shop sustainable: Besides donating old clothes for recycling, you can also take care to buy brands that are known for their eco-friendly practices. Many companies use recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, or resource-saving production practices to make high-quality fitness gear. Read our list of some eco-friendly fitness brands here, and shop our favorite eco finds here.

Check out more ideas to green your healthy routine here.

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.

Nike Olympic Innovation: Going Green While Going For the Gold

Susi May — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:05:20 PST

Nike is in the business of dressing athletes, and at the 2012 Olympics, the sportswear giant is helping give athletes a competitive edge with its high-performance gear. This week, Nike unveiled its latest innovations in running gear, explaining that it's "going green while going for gold." Using fabrics created out of recycled water bottles and working towards zero-waste construction techniques for sneakers, Nike's aim is to design more eco-friendly products for the Summer games.

In the trickle-down theory of sportswear technology, elements of these designs will be making their way to the masses soon. Get a preview of what the runners will be wearing in London, including a dimpled speed suit and a marathon shoe so light it feels like a sock.

How to Green Your Running

Susi May — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:01:14 PDT

You might already take your own bags to the grocery store and keep your hot showers short, but there are always new ways to go green. Take running for instance. It's already fairly eco-friendly, but there is always room for improvement. Here are some simple ways to make your sneaker time a bit more green:

Create eco-friendly racing habits: Many of us like to test our mettle among other runners, which means racing. Instead of traveling to destination races, reduce your carbon footprint by racing closer to home. Use Active.com to find an event close to your zip code. Also, look for races that have been certified green by Council For Responsible Sports; the group uses five measurement to determine if a race is environmentally friendly. These certifications last for two years. Another simple tip is carpool to a race or take public transportation if you can.
Look for green sneakers: I am not saying you should limit your selection of running shoes to the actual color green (although Sandra Bullock is a fan of brightly colored sneaks), but look for brands that are eco-aware. For instance, Brooks uses boxes that are made from 100-percent post-consumer-recycled content, and the running shoe giant's Silence sneaker is made out of all kinds of recycled bits. Another eco-option are shoes by Newton. The company also packages its sneakers in 100-percent post-consumer-recycled material shoeboxes that are made less toxic by being printed with soy ink. All shoes by Newton contain recycled materials from the laces and webbing (100 percent) to the outersole (10 percent).
Fight litter bugs: Become an eco-runner and pick up trash as you log miles. Carry along a bag to stash the trash litterbugs have left behind on your favorite running trail or path. While this might not be feasible for every run, try to do it once a month. Running can be a beautiful thing . . . for the environment.

There are a few more ways to green your running, so keep on reading.

When to Ditch Your Old Sneaks and Where to Donate Them

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:47:28 PDT

You finally broke in your running kicks, and they fit as perfectly as a pair of socks. But wait, how long have you been wearing them? Is it already time to spring for a new pair? You're supposed to replace sneakers after 300 to 500 miles, but that's not too helpful if you're not keeping track of mileage and can't remember the date you bought your last pair.

Over time, running shoes lose their ability to absorb shocks, properly cushion your steps, and support your arches. If you continue to run in them, you'll increase the stress and impact on your legs and joints, which is a surefire way to develop shin splints, stress fractures, or other overuse injuries.

Keep reading to find out how to tell it's time to replace your running sneakers.