Merrell says its reclamation program could prevent 600,000 shoes from going in the trash by 2025.
Merrell just kicked off an ambitious, broad-sweeping sustainability platform called This Is Home. The brand claims the project will be a vessel for ecologically focused programs in the coming weeks, months, and years.
The platform’s pilot program, Merrell ReTread, is a shoe takeback and recycling initiative.
The shoemaker tapped closed-loop company ReCircled to help out. Founded in 2019, ReCircled provides footwear and apparel brands with upcycling/recycling services for used gear. It also provides a proprietary digital portal that administers the gear takeback process where consumers can initiate used item returns.
To inspire consumer action, Merrell offers some kickbacks. First, it will foot the shipping cost by supplying free return labels. To sweeten the deal, each participant will receive a store credit of $20 once a partnering ReCircled processing center receives their shipment.
Merrell ReTread: Circular Shoe Economy
Although pairing circular economics with consumer incentives isn’t exactly a new concept (take Patagonia’s Worn Wear program, for example), the approach Merrell outlined appears more comprehensive.
Merrell ‘This Is Home’ Sustainability Commitment
- 100% of products will contain organic, recycled, or renewable materials
- 100% responsibly sourced apparel materials
- Reduce shoe and apparel samples by 50%
- Reduce plastic packaging
- Complete 10,000 volunteer hours
