Carnival Cruise Line Partners With Miami-Based Shoe Recycling Program

Carnival Cruise Line has become the first cruise line to partner with Sneaker Impact, a shoe recycling initiative based in Miami. Dedicated to keeping footwear out of landfills, the program gives guests and crew the opportunity to give unwanted shoes a second life — reducing waste and advancing circular economy practices.

Through the program, unclaimed shoes left behind on board, as well as those donated by guests and crew, are collected and sent to Sneaker Impact’s Miami facility for evaluation and processing. This helps divert footwear that might otherwise end up in landfills. Using its proprietary sorting system, Sneaker Impact determines the most sustainable path for each pair.

Sneaker Impact then offers shoes in good condition to small business owners in developing countries who can sell the footwear to generate income — while helping provide affordable shoes in areas where access may be limited. For shoes that can’t be worn anymore, Sneaker Impact recycles them by separating and recovering materials that can be repurposed into products such as athletic surfaces, yoga mats, footwear components, and more.

“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 on board and in communities around the world.”

“Sneaker Impact is honored to partner with Carnival Cruise Line, as they share our commitment to sustainability and making a positive impact,” said Moe Hachem, CEO of Sneaker 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.”

With this first-of-its-kind partnership, Carnival Cruise Line continues to advance momentum on Carnival Corporation’s sustainability strategy which stretches across all eight of its cruise brands.