What are Newbies made of and what is the best way to dispose of them?
Our Newbies are made from a specially formulated polymer using Polyvinylalcohol (PVOH). PVOH is hydrophilic (i.e. it loves water) polymer. It breaks down quickly in the marine environment without attracting other toxins or forming microplastics, as traditional polymers would.
1. Re-use 'em
Why not share the joy of Woolybubs by passing them on to the next little hero? The best sustainable practice is to pass the shoes on to others. Younger siblings are sure to love them as much the second time around. If you don’t have siblings to give them to, you can donate them to friends, families or local organizations that are in need.
2. Boil 'em.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Toss the shoes in the pot for 30 to 40 minutes. Just give the pot a stir to help the dissolution process. When fully dissolved, pour the liquid down the drain. This liquid consists of small oxidised polymer chains that eventually break down to carbon dioxide and water.
3. Send 'em back.
Don’t want to deal with your old shoes? We get it. Life is busy and we don’t all have time to boil our shoes. But that’s kind of what we do for a living. Just send your shoes back to us and we’ll be happy to re-use, recycle or compost them for you.
