Every year, millions of athletic shoes are discarded, often ending up in landfills. Orange Theory Fitness (OTF) in Palm Desert and Palm Springs is working to combat this issue by partnering with Sneaker Impact, an innovative startup focused on giving old sneakers a second life. Alma Smith, owner of OTF, was motivated to act after learning about the staggering number of shoes that end up in landfills annually. “If somebody else can use them to stay active, that would be our number one goal,” says Smith. However, if the shoes are beyond reuse, they are ground up and repurposed for other applications.

Sneaker Impact, has been leading the charge in sneaker sustainability. Through their program, they place collection boxes at gyms, retailers, and community centers nationwide, offering a convenient way for people to recycle their old shoes for free. Once collected, the shoes are either repurposed and distributed globally or deconstructed to create new products.

This initiative is a small but significant step in reducing the environmental impact of discarded sneakers, helping to give old shoes new life. The collaboration between OTF and Sneaker Impact highlights the growing importance of sustainability in fitness and the collective effort to reduce waste.