Iconic Australian gumboot brand Merry People want to make the world a merrier place, reducing waste in their entire supply chain, from first boot sketch to last steps
That’s why Merry People have partnered with Save the Children Op Shops and recycler UPPAREL on a new recycling program that reflects their brand values and how they 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.”
“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.
Do you have some Merry People shoes you no longer wear? This initiative is the perfect sustainable solution to ensure your pre-loved footwear steps into another life, well after your adventures have ended. Now, you can donate your much-loved, well-worn, no longer used shoes to be recycled or sold second-hand to keep the merry momentum going, and continue our sustainable journey together, step by step.
How does the recycling program work?
It’s super easy! Just give your shoes a good clean and drop them into Merry People’s first ever store in Melbourne, or in any of our Save the Children Op Shops.
At Merry People’s Retail Store:
In Melbourne, CBD: Step into Merry People’s first ever retail store at Shop 2/11 Manchester Lane, Melbourne and speak to their team about dropping off your shoes in their in store recycle bin.
Via Save the Children Op Shops:
There are 71 Save the Children Op Shops across Australia, where you can drop off your pre-loved Merrys to our friendly volunteers.
Please note: all our stores are volunteer run, so please check your local store’s opening times.
After drop-off, all Merry People footwear will then be sorted for recycling or reselling depending on their condition:
- Wearable shoes: If your shoes are still in good condition, they can be re-sold through our op shops to find a home in another part of the Merry People community.
- Unwearable shoes: If your footwear has seen too much wear and tear, they will be collected by UPPAREL and processed into UPtex, a circular material used in packaging construction and homewares.
Want to know more? Here’s some FAQs:
“My shoes are still in great condition but I want them to be recycled. What should I do?”
That’s great! We accept shoes that are in wearable and unwearable condition. Our warehouse teams will then sort through the shoes to determine which will be sold in our stores or recycled through UPPAREL.
“I’ve lost one of the shoes and only have one – can I still drop it off?”
Yes! Recycling doesn’t need to be done in pairs. Any boot helps!
“I don’t live near a location, can I mail my old shoes to you?”
Unfortunately no, there is only the Merry People retail store in Melbourne CBD and the Save the Children Op Shops across Australia.
“Do I get a discount/benefit if I drop off old shoes?”
No, but you definitely get all the good feels, knowing your Merry People footwear will be going to a great home or recycled by UPPAREL. How good is that?
“What condition should my Merry People shoes be in to donate?”
As all shoes will be carefully sorted by our Save the Children volunteers, we ask that shoes are clean. Shoes in good condition will be sold second-hand within the Save the Children Op Shop network and shoes that are past their best will be recycled through UPPAREL.
“Can I donate shoes that aren’t Merry People branded?”
Of course! Our friendly volunteers welcome all donations of clean paired shoes in good condition at our Save the Children Op Shops.
About 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.
Find out more about our partnership with UPPAREL here: Five years of textile recycling: Save the Children and UPPAREL’s impact - Save the Children Australia
About Merry People:
Born in 2014 out of a practical frustration in Melbourne, Australia (notorious for its unreliable weather). Merry People sprung into existence in response to the gap in the market. They set out to create a boot that is comfortable, waterproof, quality, everyday and can be worn on commutes and suitable to walk into a corporate office. Merry People rubber boots are hand-crafted, made with care by their expert rubber boot makers in world-class factories.
Images: Mike Chilton / Save the Children