Earth Day – ShoeShareShaping the future

Earth Day – ShoeShareShaping the future

by Clarks x UNICEF

Earth Day – ShoeShareShaping the future

Thanks to our customers, over 200,000 pairs of shoes were donated to Clarks ShoeShare scheme last year raising a fantastic £125,000 for vulnerable children. – 22/04/20

We have worked with UNICEF since 2008 to deliver ShoeShare, a programme that encourages everyone to donate worn shoes they no longer need. By donating your shoes a donation is made to UNICEF that supports the education of vulnerable children.

One of the many projects our scheme has helped fund is the build of sustainable classrooms for children in Africa. Due to inadequate educational facilities, 1.6 million children in Côte d’Ivoire alone do not go to school. That number is gradually decreasing thanks to the work of UNICEF, and the partners who, like us, support them.

Ten-year-old Ange Emmanuel lives in Sanguine, in the West of Côte d’Ivoire. He is one of the many children who can now attend school thanks to the new sustainable classrooms made from recycled plastic bottles.

“Before, there was a lot of dust in the class, and the blackboard was so grey we could hardly read what was written on it,” he says. “When it rained, we all got wet. Animals came at night to sleep in our class. Now, with the new classrooms, everything is so clean. We have a nice big blackboard, and there’s even electricity and light! It feels very comfortable now, and I like coming to school.”

1,300 children like Ange Emanuel now have access to better learning spaces in an environmentally-friendly school. ShoeShare, therefore, has the dual benefit of supporting children across the world as well as diverting shoes away from landfill.

Do you have old shoes that you would like to donate to Clarks ShoeShare? You can join us in helping UNICEF to reach even more kids in danger by donating your old or unwanted shoes at one of 500 Clarks stores around the UK.
Donate your shoes at your nearest Clarks store.

Discover our latest
sustainability stories

Going for goldEver since we were began crafting shoes back in 1825, we’ve been determined to use materials that we believe in. Which is why we’re proud to say that we’re founder members of the Leather Working Group (LWG)…Read more about
responsibly sourced leather
Movement made naturallyOur Trigenic technology optimises the natural movement of your foot through technical innovation and responsive cushioning. So, it’s only natural that we make them using innovative and more sustainable methods…Read more about
the Tri Native
Learning a lesson about sustainabilityFrom shoes to bags, we’ve been providing children with their school essentials for generations now, but we want to do more – we want to lighten our footprint wherever possible…Read more about
sustainable school shoes
Made to last
People. Planet. Now. Always.Shoes form our strongest, most intimate connection to the earth beneath our feet. That’s why we’re striving to make them as sustainably as possible.Discover Made to Last

Earth Day – ShoeShareShaping the future

Earth Day – ShoeShareShaping the future

Discover our latest
sustainability stories

Going for goldEver since we were began crafting shoes back in 1825, we’ve been determined to use materials that we believe in. Which is why we’re proud to say that we’re founder members of the Leather Working Group (LWG)…Read more about
responsibly sourced leather
Movement made naturallyOur Trigenic technology optimises the natural movement of your foot through technical innovation and responsive cushioning. So, it’s only natural that we make them using innovative and more sustainable methods…Read more about
the Tri Native
Learning a lesson about sustainabilityFrom shoes to bags, we’ve been providing children with their school essentials for generations now, but we want to do more – we want to lighten our footprint wherever possible…Read more about
sustainable school shoes
Made to last
People. Planet. Now. Always.Shoes form our strongest, most intimate connection to the earth beneath our feet. That’s why we’re striving to make them as sustainably as possible.

Clarks Shoes

Customer Service