Green Sneakers collection box filled with used sneakers ready for recycling

FAQs

How It Works

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Order your free collection box (shipping and marketing materials included)

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Fill it with gently used sneakers—no cleats, dress shoes, or boots

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Ship it back using our prepaid label

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Your Impact = 1 tree planted per pair in Haiti or East Africa

We make it easy to go green!

Sneaker Drive

What is Green Sneakers?

Green Sneakers is a sneaker drive collection program that helps organizations give athletic shoes a second life through the reuse economy. We collect gently worn, used or sneakers, and in return, we plant a tree for every pair through our partnership with veritree. 

We work with sneaker retailers, run specialty and outdoor stores, gyms, YMCAs, community centers, and companies looking for CSR or ESG-aligned initiatives. 

Yes! We provide free collection boxes, marketing templates, and prepaid shipping. There are no startup costs or fees to participate. 

Collection & Logistics

How do the collection boxes work?

You receive prepaid collection boxes from us. Fill them with gently worn, used, or new sneakers. Please be sure to tie the laces together. Once full, use the included prepaid label to ship them back—it’s that easy. The shipping carrier will be either UPS or FedEx, you can choose at sign-up.

We accept gently worn, used, or new sneakers. Avoid sending heavily damaged, torn, or water-logged shoes. Nothing with holes or soles falling off. We aim to give the sneakers a second life through the Reuse Economy. The used sneakers will be sent to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries who sell them to support their families and pave a path out of poverty. 

We accept athletic sneakers and running shoes only. We do not accept dress shoes, sandals, heels, boots, or cleats.

Each box typically holds 40–45 pairs, depending on shoe size and style. 

Impact & Reporting

How does the tree planting work?

For every pair collected, we’ll plant one tree through veritree, our climate tech partner. You can view live updates on trees planted, carbon offset, and social impact here on the veritree x Green Sneakers Impact Hub.

Yes, your contributions will be shown on the veritree x Green Sneakers Impact Hub. You can also request a customized impact report showing your results in trees, gallons of water saved, and more.

Currently, we’re restoring mangrove ecosystems in East Africa and supporting agroforestry in Haiti. Both regions focus on community empowerment, food systems, and biodiversity restoration. 

Getting Started

How do I sign up?

Just fill out a quick form on our website. We’ll send your collection box and assets within a week so you can start right away. 

Most partners run an ongoing collection year-round, but you can keep it going as long as you’d like. Some even make it a permanent in-store or facility drop-off, while others will do collections around events or holidays such as Earth Day…etc.

The only thing we ask is there are no sneakers with major holes and no soles falling off. Just pack them in the box tightly and send them back. We’ll handle reporting your totals after processing and will plant trees or cut checks accordingly.