Carnival Cruise Line has partnered with Sneaker Impact to launch a new shoe recycling initiative across its U.S. fleet.  

Through the initiative, unclaimed shoes left behind onboard, as well as those donated by guests and crew, are collected and sent to Sneaker Impact’s Miami facility for evaluation and processing, helping divert footwear that might otherwise end up in landfills. 

According to a press release, this is the first partnership of its kind between a cruise line and the Miami-based organization. 

“We’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste and strengthen our sustainability efforts,” said Benton Lobo, vice president of compliance and environmental operations.  

“In July, with just five of our ships offloading shoes, we kept more than 500 pairs out of landfills in a single month. Scaled across our full fleet, we see the potential to give new life to about 50,000 pairs of shoes. It’s proof that a small idea can add up to a real impact, both onboard and in communities around the world.” 

Sneaker Impact determines the most sustainable path for each pair using its sorting system. 

Those that are in good condition are offered to small business owners in developing countries who can sell them to generate income. 

Shoes that can no longer be worn are recycled by separating and recovering materials that can be repurposed into products such as athletic surfaces, yoga mats, footwear components and more. 

“Sneaker Impact is honored to partner with Carnival Cruise Line, as they share our commitment to sustainability and making a positive impact. Together, we’re making it easy for guests to give their unwanted footwear a second life through reuse and responsible recycling. We’re excited to see how many pairs of shoes, and lives, we can impact together,” noted Moe Hachem, CEO of Sneaker Impact. 

This sustainability initiative follows Carnival’s recent announcement that it plans to achieve a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 2029, compared to its 2019 baseline.