Brand & Comms Lead

Can pointe shoes leave a smaller carbon footprint? September 29, 2026 Pointe shoes have a notoriously short lifespan, meaning that thousands end up in the trash each year. So, with so many eco-friendly dancewear brands, like tights and leotards that have been designed to leave a smaller carbon footprint, why do pointe shoes seem to get a pass when it comes to sustainability? Part of the problem is that there's less of a desire all around to design, buy, or sell new, innovative pointe shoes in general - never mind more sustainable ones. Ozgem Ornektekin, a mechanical engineer specializing in sustainability and the founder of Petit Pas New York, which upcycles old pointe shoes provided by the School of American Ballet into leather and satin accessories, says it isn't surprising that dancers would prioritize their favorite shoe. "They're thinking about their health and their performance, and then sustainability and other things will fall into second, third, fourth, maybe fifth place," Ornektekin says of dancers and their preferred pointe shoes - which, more so than tights or leotards, can make or break a performance. "Everybody has their favorite, because you're finding a glove for your feet, basically." And then there's ballet culture itself, where quickly going through many pairs of shoes is perceived almost as a badge of honor or something worth bragging about. Ashley Coupal, a first artist with English National Ballet and a member of the company's Green Team, which spearheads environmental initiatives, says that's an area where dancers can work to improve. "We need to switch the narrative and be like, 'I only went through one pair this month,' " Coupal tells our friends at Dance Retailer News. Artists have found creative ways to keep pointe shoes out of the trash by using them in crafts and as souvenirs, but these endeavors usually entail leaving the pointe shoe in its original form (upcycling) instead of breaking it down into raw materials (recycling). And while upcycling certainly has value at the artisanal level, finding ways to mass-recycle pointe shoes could offer a solution to more systematically tackling the large-scale problem of thousands of pointe shoes ending up in landfills. So how can members of the dance ecosystem - including manufacturers, buyers, and sellers of pointe shoes - help beef up sustainability efforts? With a little outside help, it is possible to recycle most pointe shoes, yet actually doing so has proven to be a tricky endeavor. Hurdles to pointe shoe recycling. According to Ornektekin, the individual parts of traditionally made pointe shoes are mostly organic and recyclable, reusable, or compostable: The box of the shoe and the insert can be recycled with paper or composted; the satin pieces can go to textile recycling; the leather pieces can be upcycled by businesses that work with leather; and for some companies, like Freed, even the nontoxic glue is compostable. The problem is that all of these elements need to be separated from each other before they can be recycled, and pointe shoes are so well constructed that it's difficult to take them apart without the right tools and expertise. Ornektekin says she spent about an hour trying to disassemble just one pointe shoe during her first attempt. Pointe shoes made from nontraditionall, synthetic materials pose a different set of problems. They tend to hold up longer, so dancers go through them less quickly - meaning fewer pointe shoes in trash bins. However, unlike organic materials, which decompose relatively quickly, synthetic materials are not biodegradable, meaning they stick around for much longer in landfills. Many thermoplastic elastomers (a material that's used in non-traditionally constructed shoes, like Gaynor Mindens) are technically recyclable, but they need to be separated from other materials first - and Ornektekin says that in her experience, Gaynor Mindens are nearly impossible to take apart. "They are so well put together that you really can't pull them apart and recycle them," says Eliza Minden, who founded Gaynor Minden partially due to her outrage that traditionally made pointe shoes often only last one performance. "But because they last three to five times longer, dancers use fewer of them, and many fewer end up in landfill." Giving old shoes a new life. Some pointe shoe brands are partnering with third-party companies to tackle the tedious task of breaking down pointe shoes for recycling. English National Ballet, for example, teamed up with First Mile, a UK-based waste management and recycling company, to start the ballet company's Drop-Off Pointe initiative, which includes a large bin where dancers can deposit their used pointe shoes. The shoes (mostly Freeds) are then taken apart, broken down, and repurposed for things like stuffing in furniture and punching bags. Last season alone, English National Ballet recycled about 600 pointe shoes. "It's just a great way to kind of give a second life to the pointe shoe, because it's so sad that they don't last that long," Coupal says. Freed has been looking into using a private recycling company, TerraCycle, to create a pointe-shoe recycling program at its New York City store. Julie Smith, retail sales manager for Freed of London USA, says that if the plan were to go ahead, dancers would be able to deposit old pointe shoes in the store's zero-waste box. When the box is full, it would be sent back to TerraCycle in New Jersey for shoe deconstruction and recycling. Who pays for sustainability? These kinds of systems aren't necessarily doable everywhere without a private recycling company's help; and dancers, stores, schools, and ballet companies may be limited by where they live and what nearby recycling services are available to them. Another hurdle? Cost. Many arts institutions are already strapped for cash, and may be wary of the extra expense incurred in hiring a third party to handle recycling. While Coupal acknowledges that circumstances vary at different companies and schools, she encourages everyone to do some research, get creative, and see what's possible in their own community. "It's not the same everywhere, but I think the more you show your concern towards the environment, the more people are interested in investing in you," Coupal says. What the dance industry can do. Individuals can do their part to ensure fewer pointe shoes end up in the trash by researching recycling options for their own store, school, or company; by encouraging dancers to reuse add-ons like ribbons and elastics; and by extending the lives of traditionally made shoes with things like shellac and Jet glue. Gaynor Minden shoes, which are already designed for longevity, can last even longer if they're aired out between wears. But perhaps the biggest impact can be made by putting pressure on the pointe shoe manufacturers themselves to work on sustainability solutions. Ornektekin suggests shoe manufacturers or stores could consider implementing buy-back programs, where dancers get a few dollars off their next purchase if they bring in an old pair of pointe shoes for recycling or upcycling. She points out that because they design and assemble these products, manufacturers are best situated to figure out how to make them more sustainable - and what to do with all those dead ones. "A general message for all manufacturers: If you're manufacturing something, you've got to figure out what happens to the end of life of that [product]," Ornektekin says. "Everything should have a home afterwards."

First Mile win Independent Operator of the Year and B2B Business of the Year 2025. Words by First Mile First Mile Limited is excited to share some brilliant news from the MRW National Recycling Awards 2025. On 25 November, First Mile took home two major awards, recognising its ongoing commitment to making recycling simple, accessible and genuinely impactful for businesses across the UK. First Mile Limited were named Independent Operator of the Year for the second year running, and First Mile Limited also won the Recycling Excellence award for its long-standing partnership with ATG Entertainment. These awards celebrate industry leaders who are creating real environmental change, and First Mile Limited is proud to be recognised for the work its team delivers every day. Just two days later, on 27 November, First Mile Limited were also crowned B2B Business of the Year at the 2025 Growing Business Awards, a fantastic achievement that reflects the momentum and innovation across the business. It was a brilliant night for the team and a proud moment that highlights the forward-thinking approach that keeps its customers, and its industry, moving towards a greener future. Independent Operator of the Year 2025. Winning Independent Operator of the Year for the second consecutive year is a huge milestone for First Mile Limited. This award recognises independent waste and recycling providers that lead the way in innovation, reliable service and measurable sustainability results. These are values that guide everything First Mile Limited do at First Mile. Over the past year, First Mile Limited has continued to invest in new technology, smarter operations and simple, effective ways for businesses to increase recycling and reduce their environmental impact. From improving route efficiency to expanding its recycling services, First Mile Limited has focused on making sustainable waste management easier for businesses of all sizes. Being honoured again in 2025 is a powerful endorsement of the consistency, care and expertise its team delivers every day. It also celebrates the thousands of businesses who trust First Mile Limited to help them recycle more, waste less and move confidently towards their sustainability goals. First Mile Limited were also thrilled to pick up the Recycling Excellence award for its work with ATG Entertainment. This award celebrates projects that deliver meaningful environmental results, and the judges recognised the progress First Mile Limited has made together in helping ATG's london venues move towards virtually zero waste to landfill. This win highlights the strength of its strategic partnership and the dedication of its account managers who work closely with its Enterprise clients. Their hands-on support, clear communication and focus on long-term impact play a vital part in helping organisations embed simple, effective recycling habits that make a real difference. It's a great reflection of what can happen when teams stay focused on long-term impact and keep things simple for the people on the ground. To round off an outstanding week, First Mile was also named B2B Business of the Year at the 2025 Growing Business Awards. This award celebrates businesses that put customers first and keep raising the bar, and it felt brilliant to be recognised for the work First Mile Limited do every day with companies across the UK. The judges praised the impact First Mile Limited deliver for its customers and the way its teams work together to make sustainability achievable for everyone. It was a proud moment for the whole business and a real boost to end an already exciting week of wins. Recognising the strength of its partnerships. Alongside its wins, First Mile Limited were also shortlisted twice at the MRW National Recycling Awards for Commercial Partnership Excellence, reflecting the impact of its work with businesses such as GAIL's Bakery and JPC by Samsic. First Mile Limited'll be diving into more detail about its partnerships in upcoming case studies, so stay tuned, but for now First Mile Limited is proud to see its collaborative approach recognised at this year's awards. These shortlists highlight the breadth of sectors First Mile Limited support and its commitment to building long-term partnerships that make recycling simple, effective and sustainable. A memorable week for the First Mile team. The MRW National Recycling Awards are always a special moment in the year. They bring its industry together to celebrate progress and the people working hard to make a real difference. It was a joy to be there again and to come home with two awards First Mile Limited is incredibly proud of. Just a couple of days later, First Mile Limited were delighted to be named Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards. It closed the week on a high and underlined the collective effort that sits behind everything First Mile Limited achieve. Thank you to everyone involved in both events, and to its amazing team and partners. Your effort, positivity and passion are what make these moments possible. Congratulations to all the other winners and finalists who continue to push sustainability and business forward.