Crocs is going to shoe the world. Read about how they are going to recycle “worn-out” Crocs into another shoe destined to protect the feet of what’s commonly called “the third world.”* Here’s a posting of the AP story.
And here’s the Crocs site explaining it all. You will notice the Wear a Pair/ Share a Pair promotion, which invites consumers to… um, consume more. Another way to link ecology with consumption. Save the Earth by buying MORE stuff: a wondrous NEW style of Crocs that is a MUST-HAVE.
Now of course I understand that a manufacturing company needs to manufacture stuff to keep going, and heaven knows I understand capitalism. It just irks the HECK out of me to see, so plainly, the results of a bunch of folks who sat down at a conference table one day and said, “Okay, we need to find another reason for the public to give us their money. What’s our angle? Oh yeh, how about we’ll make them feel guilty about…buying stuff. That’s a sure-fire way to get them to buy stuff.”
There’s gotta be a better way, and next time you and I chat, I’ll tell you about it. Of course, it’s something only the resale and consignment industry can do. And we can do it really good.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Nothing wrong with replacing worn-out Crocs with the Bleeding Heart style at all! My issue is with their marketing people, who were looking, I think it’s safe to assume, to sell ADDITIONAL pairs of shoes to a WIDER RANGE of consumers. “Okay, we can’t get the folks who think Crocs are ugly in here, and how about them folks who upchuck at the sight of 99% of their neighbors hopping on some marketing bandwagon?
“Let’s see, how can we motivate THEM? Oh yeh, let’s appeal to their Democratic leanings…. my God think of the unshod children in Ethiopia. That’ll do it. An ecological message AND one which reflects NOSTALGIA.
“Hit it, Tommy.”
Now I admit, Susan, I do own a single pair of Crocs. Weird tan/pearlized wedgies. I bought them just to see if they were truly comfy, and they are. But I will also admit to upchucking at the sight of every 6-yr-old in Creation in pink or purple “classic” Crocs, and also to being old enough to have heard from my mother about the starving children in Ethiopia (who are, alas, going into their 3rd generation of starving children, which IS a deep tragedy not suitable for light and entertaining comments, so here I leave you.)
OK, I understand your issue with the marketing part of it. (I’m in marketing and have my own fair share of cynicism about things like this.) But if I’m going to buy a pair anyway, what’s wrong with choosing the ones where I’m also helping to provide shoes for someone else? It’s not a new style; it’s just that you buy the recycled ones as well. They did this to help promote their donation program.
And I’m about to replace my Crocs now. I’m thrilled to know that they can be recycled rather than just tossed. (No one wants to buy my used Crocs. Trust me. 🙂 I’m a big fan of resale shops and do consign my clothes, but this is one place where I do think buying new does some good.