Carnival Cruise Line Helps Keep Thousands of Shoes on Feet and Out of Landfills
These shoes were made for a second chance. And Carnival Cruise Line is making sure they get one.
Through a new philanthropic partnership with Miami-based Sneaker Impact, unwanted shoes collected across Carnival’s U.S. fleet can continue their journey through reuse or recycling. Carnival is the first cruise line to partner with the organization.
Shoes left behind on board, along with pairs donated by guests and crew, are sent to Sneaker Impact’s Miami facility, where each one is carefully evaluated. Wearable shoes may be offered to small business owners in developing countries, who can sell them to generate income while helping make footwear more affordable in their communities.
For shoes that have taken a final step, the journey is still not over.
Their materials can be recycled and repurposed into products such as athletic surfaces and yoga mats.
Since the program started in July, nearly 1,900 shoes have been kept out of landfills, collected from 17 Carnival ships. Across the full fleet, the initiative has the potential to give new purpose to approximately 50,000 pairs.
