Now your much-loved boots, clogs and sandals can continue their merry journey as recycled goods or sold second-hand.
Do you have some Merry People you no longer wear?
In case you missed it, we launched our first-ever Recycling Program last year! Driven by our commitment to make the world a merrier place, this program does exactly that!
With the help of our partners Save the Children and UPPAREL, you can donate your well-worn Merry People shoes to be resold or recycled - saving them from landfill.
Why Is There A Merry People Recycling Program?
At Merry People, we want to make the world a merrier place, reducing waste in our entire supply chain, from first boot sketch to last steps.
Our recycling program is a reflection of our brand values and how we do business. Cass, Head of Product, explains: “When we undertook the full Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) of our Bobbi Boot in 2023, one of the outcomes of our CO2 impact was our lack of knowledge of the end of life of our products,” she says. “As we are continually striving to reduce our environmental impact, our Recycling Program will help us track how many of our boots get resold or are recycled.”
By donating old, well-loved, now unworn boots, together we can keep the merry magic going, while reducing waste and taking further steps towards sustainability.
“The biggest aim is a CO2 reduction, but we also wanted our community to feel good about collecting boot colours as we know they do!” Cass adds.
How Does The Recycling Program Work?
We are so excited to be partnering with Upparel and Save the Children.
Boots in good condition can be resold through Save the Children, while those that can’t, are sent to UPPAREL to be processed into UPtex, a circular material used in packaging, construction and homewares.
The rubber from our boots is also crumbed down and repurposed into outdoor surfaces like playground flooring. How merry is that?
Meet Our Partners:
Upparel:
Upparel: UPPAREL is a textile recycling company built to protect and preserve the planet for the next generation. Each and every item that comes to UPPAREL avoids landfills, helping decrease greenhouse gases and overall waste.
Save the Children:
Save the Children: Save the Children believes in a circular economy. By giving donated items a second life, proceeds from every sale helps build a fairer, safer world for children; funding food, clean water, healthcare, and education.
So, How Can I Get Involved?
It’s super easy! Just give your boots a good clean and drop them into our Melbourne store, or at any Save the Children locations across Australia.
1. At Our Retail Store: In Melbourne, Australia? Step into our first-ever retail store at Shop 2/11 Manchester Lane, Melbourne and speak to our merry team about dropping off your boots in our recycle bin.
2. Save the Children Op Shops: Not in Melbourne, Australia? You can find Merry People bins to drop off your boots, clogs and sandals across the country!
What Are The Next Steps?
All boots, clogs and sandals will then be sorted and either recycled or donated to be resold secondhand, depending on their condition:
- Wearable Boots: If your boots are still in good condition, they can be resold through Save the Children Op Shops to find a home in another part of our Merry People community.
- Unwearable Boots: If your boots have seen too much wear and tear, they will be collected by Upparel and transformed into fully recyclable material.
CTA: Join us in our sustainability journey and give your shoes a new life!
