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Circularity is no longer optional—here’s why, according to the BFA Summit
On 3rd April 2025, the Soles4Souls team joined industry leaders at the British Footwear Association (BFA) Sustainability Summit—a key event exploring the shoe sector’s biggest challenges and opportunities.
As an official partner to the BFA, Soles4Souls featured prominently throughout the day. We networked with attendees at our booth, shared the impact of our programs with brands, and presented our mission to a packed audience of retailers, manufacturers, and sustainability advocates.
Couldn’t make the Summit? Don’t worry. Here’s a quick recap of our presentation, “Stitching Social Impact Into Clothing & Shoe Circularity”, and how your brand can make a real difference, too.
How Soles4Souls grew from disaster relief to global impact
We opened with a quick look at how Soles4Souls began. We were founded in 2006 in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, expanding to Canada, Asia, Europe, and now the UK. We also explored our four key programs and our north star: creating $1 billion in economic impact by 2030.
Then, we showcased three circulatory strategies that brands can use today. They highlight not only the importance of footwear circularity, but also how accessible it can be: improving inventory management, customer engagement, and sustainability performance.
1. Circularity clears stock, cuts waste, and boosts brand impact
First, we tackled the issue of aged inventory. For retailers and manufacturers, holding or destroying stock is costly and wasteful, while selling it to liquidators can damage brand image.
But donating that inventory to nonprofits helps to extend the lives of shoes and clothing, putting them in the hands (and feet!) of people who need them most. Simply, unwanted stock isn’t waste; it’s an untapped opportunity for impact.
Our partners play a crucial role—not just donating goods, but also co-creating fundraising campaigns and mobilizing employees.
Here’s what apparel brand Bombas shared about our work together: “We are proud to have partnered, collaborated, and grown with Soles4Souls over the past five years. Their powerful programming furthers our shared mission of bringing dignity and comfort to those experiencing homelessness.”
2. Every touchpoint is a circularity opportunity
Next, we explored how multiple customer touchpoints, both online an offline, can bring circularity to life.
In brick-and-mortar stores, physical collection bins encourage foot traffic, especially when paired with rewards like 10% off a future purchase, and/or loyalty rewards. Meanwhile, point-of-sale donations let customers round up their purchase to the nearest $/£/€, with the extra fee going directly to nonprofits.
These initiatives can all be underpinned by omnichannel campaigns and opportunities, such as Instagram ads and at-home shoebox donations, that drive stronger customer engagement long into the future. When built into the brand experience, circularity can truly boost both sustainability and customer loyalty.
3. Sorting and grading services transform goods into valuable resources
Due to new EU and UK legislation, more and more brand partners ask us if we can help them beyond their usual donations. Ideally, they want “one-shop-stop” for everything: donations, sorting and an end-of-life solution. In Europe, we have a great partnership with Erren Recondition that helps us to just do that, and even more.
Erren Recondition positions itself as a product saver: it sorts, grades, and reconditions products. What can be resold goes back to the brand/retailer. What can be reused is donated to Soles4Souls. And what cannot be saved is used to create energy.
In the UK, Soles4Souls also provides sorting and grading services directly to brands and retailers who need them, and can provide end-of-life solutions (downcycling into housing material) via an external partner.
We also shared how Soles4Souls accepts all types of donations, from brand-new unsold inventory, to imperfect products, to gently-used shoes and clothing. How we use these products differs with each of their conditions—but we always make sure they’re put to the best possible use.
Brands must unite for profit, people, and the planet
We closed the session by highlighting what drives Soles4Souls: building a
coalition of supporters who are passionate about creating opportunities for children, families, and communities around the world.
A key theme throughout the BFA Summit was that we can’t achieve sustainability alone. The climate challenge is far greater than just our sector, and any resolution can only be achieved if we collaborate as one.
For Soles4Souls, this means working with logistics specialists for warehousing and distribution support, and partnering with a variety of brands for product donations and take-back programs. And if you’re exploring circularity, we’re ready to help you take the next step.
Could you help us create opportunities for people through shoes and clothing? If so, we’d love to hear from you— please email corporate@soles4souls.org
