Why You Shouldn't Throw Away Your Old Trainers

Trainers. We all love them, wear them, and often wear them out. But what happens when they start looking a little worse for wear? The natural instinct for many people is to toss them in the trash, replacing them with a fresh new pair. However, before you throw away your old trainers, consider this: there are better ways to extend their life, save money, and help the environment.

The Environmental Impact of Throwing Away Your Old Trainers

Every year, millions of pairs of trainers end up in landfills, contributing to a growing waste problem. According to Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), over 300 million pairs of shoes are discarded in the UK alone each year. That’s millions of pairs of shoes that contribute to landfill waste, where they will take decades—if not centuries—to decompose. Trainers made with synthetic materials, such as rubber, plastics, and leather, are particularly harmful because they don’t break down easily. Instead, they sit in landfills, contributing to pollution and adding to the already massive waste crisis.

On a global scale, the number is even higher. It's estimated that over 24 billion pairs of shoes are sold worldwide every year. Many of these shoes end up in the trash after just a few years of use, despite the fact that they still have plenty of life left in them.

The Hidden Costs of Trainer Waste

When trainers are thrown away, they don’t just contribute to landfill waste. The production process itself is also a major contributor to environmental damage. The footwear industry is responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions, as well as water and energy consumption. Throwing away trainers prematurely means that all of that effort, energy, and material used to make them goes to waste.

By restoring, cleaning, or reselling old trainers, you’re reducing the need for new production and conserving the resources required to make new shoes. The positive environmental impact of reusing your old trainers is undeniable.

What to Do Instead: Clean, Restore, or Sell

Before you toss your old trainers in the bin, take a moment to consider the alternatives. Here’s why you should consider getting them cleaned, restored, or selling them:

1. Professional Cleaning and Restoration

Trainers are built to last, but over time, dirt, stains, creases, and general wear and tear can make them look old and worn out. However, many trainers can be professionally cleaned and restored to look brand new.

Services like deep cleaning, deoxidation (for yellowed soles), repainting, and re-gluing can breathe new life into your old trainers. With these services, your trainers can look fresh again, ready for more wear, or ready to be sold.

Eco-friendly options like biodegradable cleaning products are also available, making trainer restoration a more sustainable alternative.

At Crep Hero, we offer an affordable professional cleaning and restoration service that can be found on our website here.

2. Selling Your Old Trainers

If your trainers are still in decent condition, why not sell them? Platforms like eBay, Depop, or specialized trainer marketplaces make it easier than ever to find buyers for your gently used trainers.

Not only will you help someone else find their next pair of trainers, but you’ll also keep them out of the landfill. This is a win-win for both your wallet and the environment.

Limited edition and rare trainers, in particular, can hold or even increase in value over time, so reselling them might earn you more money than you expect.

3. Donation

Another sustainable option is donating your old trainers. Many charities accept gently used shoes and give them to people who need them, reducing waste and providing someone else with a pair of shoes they can use.

Benefits Beyond the Environment

While cleaning, restoring, or selling your trainers helps the environment, it also has personal benefits. Here are just a few reasons why it’s worth considering alternatives to throwing your old trainers away:

• Save money – Restoring your trainers is often much cheaper than buying a brand-new pair. Plus, you can get a higher resale value than you might expect if your trainers are in good condition.
• Extend the life of your shoes – Trainers are designed to last, and with the right care, they can often be restored to like-new condition. Why toss them out when a professional cleaning or minor repairs can give them many more years of life?
• Support sustainable fashion – By choosing to restore or resell your trainers, you’re helping create a circular fashion economy, where items are reused and recycled instead of being discarded.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Trainers End Up in a Landfill

Before you throw away your old trainers, remember that there are better options available. Not only can you help the environment by avoiding unnecessary waste, but you can also save money and extend the life of your trainers. Whether you choose to get them professionally cleaned and restored, sell them to a new owner, or donate them to those in need, your old trainers still have plenty of life left in them. So, next time you’re tempted to toss your worn-out trainers, think again: cleaning, restoring, or selling them is a far better choice for your wallet and the planet.

Remember, every pair of shoes saved from the landfill is a step toward a more sustainable future