Hundreds of used sneakers arrive each week at a workshop east of Paris, where workers inspect them for resale, redistribution or rejection.
Thomas Adamson And Nicolas Garriga Mohamed Boukhatem , co-founder and director of SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, poses in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
A worker uses a toothbrush to clean a used sneaker at SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Salvaged sneakers for resale are stored in a bin at SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Used sneakers are stored in a room of SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. A worker sorts through used sneakers at SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Mohamed Boukhatem, co-founder and director of SneakCoeurZ, a nonprofit organization giving used footwear a second life, poses in Champs-sur-Marne, east of Paris, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The nonprofit SneakCœurZ is in the business of sorting the shoes to check which ones can be resold or redistributed, and which have to be rejected. It says it collected 30,000 pairs of used sneakers last year and resold 2,000 pairs, and wants to scale up that process.“Today, there is no project of this scale in the sneaker sector,” said Mohamed Boukhatem, the organization's director general and co-founder. “We are the only ones able to industrialize both the processes and the collection of sneakers for reuse.” The group's work underscores a growing waste problem in France, where the capital Paris is long one of the world’sThe stakes are huge: the textile industry is among the world’s most polluting, and the fashion and textiles sector accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations. The European Parliament has said textiles were the third-largest source of water degradation and land use in the European Union in 2020. Refashion, the French government-approved eco-organization for clothing, household linen and footwear, says 259 million pairs of shoes were sold in France in 2024. It says only about a third of used textiles and footwear are separately collected, with much of the rest left in cupboards or thrown away with household waste. At its workshop in Champs-sur-Marne, workers for SneakCœurZ inspect the used shoes and check which can be salvaged. “The structural elements of the shoe are what determine whether we can refurbish it or not,” workshop manager Paul Defawes Abadie said. “A damaged Velcro strap isn’t a deal breaker. A lace isn’t a deal breaker. Dirt is never a deal breaker,” he said. “What really matters is the wear of the structural materials, especially the outsole.” Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation. The nonprofit says it redistributed more than 7,000 pairs to people in need and helped create 19 jobs. “Over the next three years, the goal is to triple or even quadruple these volumes and move to an industrial scale,” Boukhatem said.Its 2020 anti-waste law requires unsold nonfood goods to be reused, donated or recycled instead of destroyed. Authorities introduced a state-backed repair bonus for clothing and shoes in November 2023. Separately, lawmakers are still working on a bill aimed atThe bill passed the National Assembly in March 2024 and the Senate in June 2025, and the government said in February that it was still aiming for a joint parliamentary committee this spring. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Fights erupt at Palatka Junior-Senior High after field trip focused on mental healthThe Block Jax owner continues working on parking solutions ahead of busy sports weekendMother of teen punched during arrest says officer went too farSlow down & move over: Ride-along with JSO traffic patrol drives home important safety reminders⚾️ Opening Day + perfect weather=the ultimate Friday night in Jax0:33Study finds most ‘Mayport Shrimp’ dishes served in Jacksonville area are actually importedViral video of Dasaun Williams’ takedown prompts new use of force questionsNew ‘larger format’ Publix store in SilverLeaf features wine bar, expanded deli menu, custom pizzasNew ‘larger format’ Publix store in SilverLeaf features wine bar, expanded deli menu, custom pizzasUSS Donald Cook departs Mayport as Operation Epic Fury continuesFamily of A’hmari Robinson shares stories at candlelight vigil days after his deathDevelopers break ground on affordable housing project in St. AugustineGetting ready for the next GROW ROUND! Tower Garden maintenance...End the month off right with this lineup of events from March 26-29Big: Culture & Arts Festival brings Grammy-nominated rappers, art, culture to Gainesville▶Split Happens Ep. 9: The role of mediation in resolving legal disputes efficientlyBurden of failing roof lifted for Jacksonville veteran through volunteer projectFriends and family gather to remember 19-year-old who died in motorcycle crash on Buckman BridgeAccused shooter in death of 2-year-old boy denied bondJacksonville mentor known as ‘That Lemonade Lady’ fighting for life after electrical shockGardening in a new light. Some recommended updates for healthier seedlings.Families bid farewell as USS Mason heads out for deployment from Naval Station MayportPowerful winds, worsening drought threaten Jacksonville areaYour next beach day find could change someone’s life. 🌊☀️
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