NEW AT METRO RUN & WALK

FITNESS APPAREL RE-USE & RECYCLING!

Undeniably, the “green” movement is here.  The green movement is a collective term for the individuals and organizations involved in efforts to protect the environment.  In many ways, we are all a part of the green movement. 

As individuals, we recycle bottles, cans, and plastics.  We recycle our newspapers and junk mail.  We turn old print outs into scrap note paper, we’re using “greener” detergents, and we keep our thermostat o 68 in the winter and 75 in the summer.

In the store, we recycle the cardboard boxes that products are delivered in.  We use 5 gallon DeerPark water via a dispenser to avoid individual 16oz. disposable water bottles.  We all carry re-usable hydration packs or handheld bottles when running or walking.  And, we’ve been recycling shoes for a very long time.  The shoes are collected by an organization called Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation (PPPF) and are sent to Africa where they are sold to vendors in major metro areas who in turn create jobs. The money from the sale of the shoes provides training and tools to the poorest rural farmers. http://www.pppafrica.org/?s=shoe.  .  (Another well known running shoe recycling program that you may have heard of is Soles for Souls.  http://www.soles4souls.org/.)

Though all of this was good, it didn’t  seem like enough.  So, when our team started wondering and thinking about how we could become more “green,” after doing some research, we came to several different conclusions:

1) Some people prefer to see their donations used in their local communities; and

2) Recycling doesn't have to be limited to shoes.

Clothing makers have introduced new fabrics that are “eco-friendly.”  This means that the fibers used in the clothing are environmentally friendly, coming from either organic plants, recycled plastics, or from fibers derived from plants such as bamboo.  In fact, some of the apparel that we carry actually features these eco-friendly fibers.  There is, however, debate about whether or not these fibers are truly eco-friendly since some argue that it takes more energy to produce these fibers. 

Clothing makers are developing programs for recycling both in their factories and with consumers.  In 2005, Patagonia introduced their “Common Thread Program” that allows consumers to send back used Patagonia apparel for recycling:  http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?slc=en_US&sct=US&assetid=1956.