The Lifestyle Sports Adidas Trainer Scrappage Scheme is back again this year, giving people the option to trade in their old trainers in any Lifestyle Sports store and get 25pc off a new pair of Adidas Response or Supernova trainers. Lifestyle Sports has also partnered with two Irish companies – Thornton Sports and Replay Sports – on an innovative project to ensure that the recycled trainers will go into making Ireland’s first, environmentally friendly astro-turf pitch.
As Ireland produces more than 40,000 tonnes of rubber waste a year that goes directly to landfills, Lifestyle Sports and Adidas are aiming to collect 18,000 trainers this year. This will equate to 6.3 tonnes of rubber that would otherwise end up in a landfill and directly contribute to CO2 emissions.
Some of Ireland’s top sporting heroes are also lending their support to the initiative, including Adidas athletes Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell. They will be appearing at three Lifestyle Sports stores around the country to encourage the public to donate their used trainers to the Lifestyle Sports Adidas Trainer Scrappage Scheme.
As part of the scheme, customers will be encouraged to get their gait analysed so they can find out what type of trainer most suits their running style. Free gait analysis will be available in Lifestyle Sports stores.
Mark Stafford, chief executive, Lifestyle Sports, said: “Last year, thousands of people took part in the Trainer Scrappage Scheme and we felt our customers would like the scheme to move on and do something innovative in Ireland like, going green. In 2012, our goal would be to host a competition where a community or club could win a fully recycled green astro facility. To that end people can drop off old trainers in Lifestyle Sports anytime they want even after 8 May.”
