Carnival launches shoe recycling program across U.S. fleet
The cruise line has partnered with Miami-based Sneaker Impact to collect and process footwear left onboard or donated by guests and crew.
Carnival Cruise Line has launched a shoe recycling initiative across its U.S. fleet through a partnership with Sneaker Impact, becoming the first cruise line to work with the organization. The program is intended to divert footwear from landfills.
Unclaimed shoes left onboard, along with pairs donated by guests and crew, are collected and sent to Sneaker Impact’s Miami facility. The organization uses a proprietary sorting system to determine how each pair should be handled.
Shoes that remain in good condition are offered to small business owners in developing countries for resale. Footwear that is no longer wearable is separated into materials that can be reused in products including athletic surfaces, yoga mats and footwear components.
Carnival said five ships offloaded more than 500 pairs of shoes in July. The cruise line estimates that expanding the initiative across its full fleet could give a new use to about 50,000 pairs.
The partnership also supports Carnival Corporation’s sustainability strategy, which covers its eight brands.
