Torn to pieces. Literally.
So what does Nike do with all those millions of shoes? After you toss your trashed trainers, that's when they really get destroyed – by being shredded, along with our manufacturing scrap, into Nike Grind – a raw material that can be used everywhere from your local running track to the soles of your sneaks and the zipper on your hoodie. Here’s how it all works:
- Drop ‘em off.
It all starts with your old athletic shoes. Just bring them to any Nike Reuse-A-Shoe recycling location or one of our events. We’ll take any brand, but check our shoe recycling guidelines before you toss them in the bin. - Ship 'em out.
Once we've collected a large number of shoes, we ship them to one of our processing centers – located in Meerhout, Belgium and Memphis, Tennessee. We also look for the most carbon-efficient shipping methods possible, such as reaching the maximum capacity for shipments. - Grind 'em up.
At our recycling facilities, your old kicks – as well as pre-consumer materials, such as manufacturing scrap and shoes with manufacturing flaws – are sorted and processed into three types of raw material: rubber from the outsole, foam from the midsole and fabric fibers from the upper. We call these materials Nike Grind. - Put 'em back in the game.
If you thought your kicks had seen their last play, think again. As Nike Grind, they could become part of an athletic surface, such as a court, track, field or playground – and pre-consumer material could even get used in new shoes and apparel.
No matter where it goes, Nike Grind gives your old athletic shoes another chance at a winning season. Learn more about Nike products that contain Nike Grind. And remember, it all starts with you – and your old kicks. Get involved now.
