Thousand Fell, the eco-minded shoe brand selling directly to customers since last November, has detailed its recycling program – a key element of its appeal to shoppers. Having now sold a sufficient number of shoes, the company is beginning to receive returns from initial customers after approximately ten months of use, and anticipates recycling around 3,000 pairs each quarter by 2021. They project the ability to expand this capacity to 6,000 pairs of shoes. This recycling initiative, facilitated through collaborations with United Parcel Service and TerraCycle, provides customers with an alternative to discarding their shoes, offering a $20 refund upon receiving the used footwear.

This program positions Thousand Fell among a growing number of retail businesses exploring methods to integrate reuse into the product lifecycle. Nike, for example, operates a “reuse-a-shoe” program in select stores, accepting athletic shoes from all brands for recycling purposes. Additionally, various companies are establishing denim recycling collection points to transform old jeans into new materials.

Furthermore, Thousand Fell’s partner, TerraCycle, has pioneered a reusable packaging system, modeled after traditional milk delivery services, under its Loop brand (in collaboration with Kroger and Walgreens). This system aims to replace single-use consumer packaging for items like dry goods, drinks, desserts, and household/beauty products. Throughout the retail sector, zero-waste packaging and delivery options – alongside businesses prioritizing a sustainable, circular consumption model – are gaining significant attention from investors, with interest extending to both delivery services and innovative packaging materials.

“Thousand Fell manages the material streams and covers all costs associated with recycling, including the repurposing of recycled materials into new shoes and the $20 recycling incentive provided to customers,” explained Thousand Fell co-founder Stuart Ahlum in an email.

The clothing and textile industry contributes to 17% of all landfill waste, with shoes being a particularly significant source of waste. Despite representing 10% of retail production capacity, shoes account for roughly 25% of textile waste. Thousand Fell offers its environmentally responsible shoes for under $100, making them accessible to budget-conscious consumers, according to Ahlum.

UPS will handle shipping logistics for the Thousand Fell sneaker recycling program, utilizing its extensive network of shipping locations – including those within Staples stores – as drop-off points for the shoes. In partnership with TerraCycle, Thousand Fell will ensure the old sneakers are recycled sustainably and kept out of landfills. Additionally, UPS’ Ware2Go division is providing fulfillment and warehousing services for Thousand Fell, as announced by the companies this week.

TerraCycle and Thousand Fell are jointly developing a closed-loop system where discarded sneakers will be reintroduced into the supply chain for the creation of new footwear. Thousand Fell customers can monitor their purchase history and the carbon footprint of their sneakers on the company’s website, and can register their shoes upon receipt to initiate the recycling process through a drop-off location or direct shipment to TerraCycle.

“This collaboration between UPS, TerraCycle, and Thousand Fell creates the reverse logistics infrastructure necessary to support a circular economy. It effectively addresses the challenge of collecting used products from customers on a large scale and in a cost-effective manner,” Ahlum stated in an email.