Shoe Repair Awareness Week

Shoe Repair Awareness Week: Saving Soles and the Planet, One Pair at a Time

National Shoe Repair Awareness Week was created by a congressional proclamation in 1994 for the purpose of educating consumers about the economic, environmental and physical benefits of shoe repair.

Shoe repair is an age-old practice that has unfortunately fallen by the wayside in a culture dominated by fast fashion. However, it offers numerous benefits — not just for your wallet, but for the environment as well.

Here’s why repairing your shoes makes a difference:

  • Reduces waste: Every pair of shoes repaired is one less pair headed for a landfill. By extending the life of your footwear, you’re helping to decrease the millions of shoes disposed of each year.
  • Saves money: Quality shoes can be expensive, and repairing them is often much cheaper than buying a new pair. Simple fixes like resoling or re-stitching can breathe new life into a worn pair of shoes at a fraction of the cost.
  • Preserves craftsmanship: Many shoes, especially leather or high-quality brands, are built to last with proper care. A cobbler’s skill can restore these shoes to near-new condition, preserving the craftsmanship and materials.
  • Supports local businesses: By taking your shoes to a local cobbler, you’re supporting small businesses and artisans in your community who are keeping the craft of shoe repair alive.


In today’s fast-paced world, consumerism drives many to replace rather than repair. Unfortunately, this mindset has contributed to a massive environmental crisis that many people are unaware of — the staggering number of shoes that end up in landfills each year. Shoe Repair Awareness Week, which takes place in October, is an opportunity to highlight the environmental impact of discarded footwear and advocate for sustainable practices like shoe repair. By making conscious decisions to repair rather than replace, we can reduce waste, save money, and extend the life of our favorite shoes.

Find your local shoe repair shop here.

The Shocking Statistics: Shoes in Landfills

Footwear, particularly shoes, is one of the most wasteful consumer products. Globally, about 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced every year, and many of those end up in the trash within a few short years. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away annually, most of which end up in landfills. Here are a few more startling statistics:

  • 20 billion pairs of shoes are discarded globally each year, contributing to the ever-growing waste crisis.
  • On average, Americans buy 7.5 pairs of shoes per person annually, many of which are quickly discarded due to wear or changing fashion trends.
  • Most shoes are made from materials like rubber, leather, and synthetic fabrics that can take up to 40 years to decompose. Some estimates even suggest that certain types of shoes, especially those with rubber soles, can take 1,000 years to fully break down.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for more sustainable footwear habits. While recycling initiatives are slowly gaining traction, a large portion of shoes still end up in landfills, where they contribute to pollution and the emission of harmful chemicals.

The Environmental Case for Shoe Repair

Choosing to repair shoes over replacing them isn't just an economic decision — it's an environmental one. The production of shoes requires significant resources, including water, energy, and raw materials like leather and rubber. The footwear industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and pollution.

Here’s how shoe repair helps reduce environmental impact:

  • Conserving resources: The more shoes we repair, the fewer new ones need to be produced. This reduces the demand for raw materials, energy, and water used in the manufacturing process.
  • Decreasing carbon footprint: The production of one pair of shoes can generate as much as 30 pounds of carbon dioxide. By repairing shoes instead of buying new ones, you reduce your personal carbon footprint.
  • Minimizing toxic waste: Many shoes contain synthetic materials that release toxic chemicals into the environment as they decompose in landfills. Repairing shoes helps keep these harmful materials out of the waste stream.

How You Can Get Involved During Shoe Repair Awareness Week

Shoe Repair Awareness Week is an opportunity to take stock of our habits and make more sustainable choices. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

  1. Repair, Don’t Replace: Before throwing out a pair of shoes, take them to a local cobbler for evaluation. Simple repairs like replacing soles, re-gluing heels, or re-stitching seams can extend the life of your shoes significantly.
  2. Donate: If you have shoes in good condition that you no longer wear, consider donating them to a charity or a shoe recycling program. Many organizations accept lightly worn shoes to distribute to those in need.
  3. Spread the Word: Use social media to raise awareness of the environmental impact of discarded shoes. Share facts and stats about shoe waste and promote the benefits of shoe repair. Use hashtags like #ShoeRepairAwareness and #SustainableFootwear.
  4. Buy Quality: Invest in high-quality, durable shoes that are designed to last and can be repaired over time. Fast fashion footwear may be cheap upfront, but it often wears out quickly, leading to more waste.
  5. Care for Your Shoes: Regular maintenance, such as polishing leather shoes, replacing worn laces, and waterproofing, can extend the lifespan of your shoes and prevent premature wear and tear.

Shoe Repair Awareness Week is a reminder that small, conscious decisions can have a big impact on the environment. By opting to repair rather than replace our footwear, we reduce waste, conserve resources, and contribute to a more sustainable future. So, the next time you’re about to toss out a pair of shoes, remember: saving your soles might just help save the planet.