Crocs, the iconic foam clogs loved by some and hated by others, have become an unmistakable part of 21st-century footwear fashion. With their bright colors, ventilation holes, and slip-on convenience, Crocs have conquered the shoes scene in hospitals, kitchens, gardens, and casual spaces around the world.
But what exactly are Crocs made of? At first glance they look like they could be made of rubber, foam, or some kind of soft plastic. But the truth about the composition of this polarizing shoe is more complex.
In this in-depth post, we’ll take a close look at what Crocs are made of, how they’re produced, and how the company is working to reduce its environmental impact. We’ll also consider how to dispose of Crocs responsibly when it’s time to retire your well-loved clogs.
Table of Contents
What Are Crocs Made Of? Understanding Croslite
Crocs are not made of rubber, foam, or traditional plastic. Instead, they are made from a proprietary, closed-cell resin called “Croslite.” This unique foam material was developed by Crocs and gives the shoes their trademark softness, flexibility, and comfort.
Croslite consists primarily of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a type of lightweight and flexible plastic that has rubber-like properties. EVA polymers are composed of chains of molecules called ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Here’s a simple way to understand Croslite:
- It’s a type of plastic because it is a polymer material created by humans.
- It contains rubber-like qualities because it is elastic, soft, lightweight, and flexible.
- It has a foam structure because gas is introduced into the EVA resin during production to create bubbles and give it a porous texture.
So in summary – Croslite is a foam plastic with rubber-like properties. It’s not quite rubber, foam, or traditional plastic.
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Why is Croslite Used to Make Crocs?
Crocs chose to use Croslite resin to produce their signature clogs because of some key advantages:
- Comfortable and lightweight – The foam construction provides cushioning and reduces fatigue
- Odor/mold resistant – The closed-cell structure prevents bacteria and odors
- Waterproof and washable – It won’t absorb water and is easy to clean
- Flexible – Soft even in cold temperatures
- Durable – Resilient material holds up well to heavy use
By using Croslite instead of materials like rubber or EVA, Crocs created shoes that provide slip-resistant comfort to withstand demanding jobs and activities. Nurses, chefs, gardeners, and recreational boaters love them.
The material is also suitable for a wide variety of customization with Jibbitz charms and for keeping up with the latest pop culture trends through limited edition artist collaborations.
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How Are Crocs Manufactured?
Crocs are produced through a manufacturing process called injection molding. This high-volume technique is also used to produce Lego blocks, plastic cutlery, and many other plastic consumer products.
Here’s a simple step-by-step overview of how injection molding transforms Croslite resin pellets into a finished pair of Crocs clogs:
- Croslite resin pellets are gravity fed from a hopper into an injection molding machine
- The pellets are heated to melt the resin
- The liquid Croslite is injected under high pressure into mold cavities
- Gas is introduced into the Croslite to create the signature foam bubbles
- The Croslite foam expands to take the shape of the mold and cools into the familiar Crocs form
- The finished Crocs are popped out of the opened mold
- The clogs will be trimmed, polished, and packaged at another station
So in essence, liquid Croslite resin becomes foam which then hardens into flexible, finished Crocs.
Modern injection molding and computer automation allow the Crocs factory to spit out thousands of identical Crocs per hour to meet demand all over the world.
See also: Are Oxford Shoes as Comfortable as They Look
Crocs Sustainability Efforts and Use of Bio-Based Plastic
The raw plastic resin used to produce Croslite is created from ethylene and vinyl acetate molecules derived from fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas liquids.
As sustainability becomes an increasing priority for consumers and brands alike, Crocs has announced a goal of cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030. One way they plan to become more eco-friendly is by using bio-based plastics instead of entirely petroleum-based resins.
In 2021, Crocs shared that they will start incorporating a renewable ethylene product called Ecolibrium into their manufacturing. This innovative material produced by Dow Chemical is made from bio-based raw materials like tall oil rather than fossil fuels.
Tall oil is a byproduct of paper pulp production from pine wood, giving Ecolibrium its name after the Swedish word for pine tree. As more forest product industry waste streams are upcycled into shoe materials, Crocs resin can rely less on non-renewable petrochemical feedstocks.
It’s unclear what percentage of Crocs materials currently come from renewable resources, but the company stated that increasing bio-based plastic content will play a major role in reducing the carbon emissions generated during clog production.
Credit: scienceline.org
Crocs Biodegradability and Recycling Concerns
The makeup of Croslite resin, unfortunately, makes Crocs very resistant to biodegradation. Like most plastics, Crocs are designed for durability – not breaking down.
So while wood pulp-derived bio-plastics represent a step toward sustainability for Crocs, their shoes will likely still persist for years even decades in landfills after disposal.
And since each pair contains around two pounds of Croslite plastic resin, millions of tons of post-consumer Croc waste threatens to accumulate around the world even with greener production methods.
This troubling afterlife leads consumers to ask:
Can you recycle old Crocs?
Unfortunately, Crocs cannot currently be recycled. Standard curbside recycling programs cannot process Crocs resin to separate out the ethylene and vinyl acetate components and prepare them for reuse as raw materials.
Specialty recyclers like Terracycle do offer Crocs recycling programs in some locations. But capacity is limited, logistics are challenging, and reuse markets may be lacking for the reclaimed resin.
Until scalable recycling is available, throwing Crocs in the trash should be an absolute last resort. Despite their funky appearance, used Crocs in landfills and nature represent plastic pollution plain and simple.
Responsible Alternatives for Disposing of Unwanted Crocs
When your Crocs have reached the end of their comfortable life, consider these alternative disposal options before putting them in the rubbish bin:
1. Donate old Crocs
Gently used Crocs can be donated instead of discarded. Soles4Souls and other organizations will collect, process, and distribute old shoes to underprivileged communities around the world.
2. Reuse Crocs creatively
Before donating, brainstorm ways you could give your retired Crocs new life. Repurpose them as garden planters, pencil holders, or kids bath toys. With some colorful paint and charms, they can become funky home decor.
3. Send Crocs back to company recycling
While Crocs do not currently operate consumer take-back programs, the company says they recycle 100 percent of factory scrap and defective returns back into new raw materials. Check their sustainability policies to see if post-consumer shoe recycling options become available.
4. Use retail recycling such as Terracycle
Retailers like Macy’s accept all shoe donations for recycling free of charge through partnerships with Terracycle. Look online to find Crocs recycling dropoff locations near your community.
5. Upcycle Crocs resin yourself
If you have the skills, consider shredding clean Crocs into flakes to reuse as raw material for your own crafts, DIY, or fabrication projects. Think outside the box for what you could create!
Writer’s Opinions on Crocs and Environmental Impact
- As a writer focusing on sustainable business and an occasional wearer of Crocs myself, I applaud the company’s efforts to take responsibility for their environmental footprint. More brands should be this transparent about production impacts.
- However, Crocs still has more work to do if they truly want to become sustainable industry leaders. Details are lacking on how much fossil fuel-based plastic they’ve actually replaced in production so far and their timeline for getting to 100% renewable materials.
- I’m concerned that details are also murky on what happens to returned or defective products. Crocs claims 100% recycling of this waste stream but supporting data is needed. Landfilling should never be an option.
- While bio-based resins are a positive step and will reduce carbon emissions, Crocs biodegradability and recyclability must also be dramatically improved. As consumption grows globally, Crocs risk burdening communities with mounting plastic waste unless they innovate on materials, takeback programs, and reprocessing infrastructure.
- As consumers, we can encourage these much-needed solutions by demanding transparency from brands on sustainability as well as taking responsibility for disposing of our products properly at end-of-life. Voting with our voices and wallets is key!
Frequently Asked Questions on Crocs Materials and Recycling
Are Crocs rubber or plastic?
Crocs are plastic, not rubber. They are made from Croslite – a foam resin material containing ethylene vinyl acetate polymer.
Can you recycle old Crocs?
No, Crocs cannot currently be recycled through standard municipal recycling programs. Specialty recyclers like Terracycle accept Crocs for recycling in some areas.
Do Crocs biodegrade?
Crocs are very resistant to biodegradation and can persist in landfills for decades without breaking down since they are made of durable plastic resin.
How sustainable are Crocs?
Crocs aims to cut carbon emissions substantially through use of bio-based plastics but still has work to do to improve sustainability. Details are limited on current renewable materials content and recycling programs.
What are Crocs made out of?
The primary raw material used to manufacture Crocs is a foam resin called Croslite, composed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer pellets.
Are Crocs better for environment than regular shoes?
It depends. Crocs production is more energy-intensive than simpler shoes but they are very durable. sustainably-sourced rubber or organic canvas shoes cause less plastic waste but wear out faster. More study is needed.
Can you make anything out of old Crocs?
Yes! Give retired Crocs new life by repurposing or upcycling them into planters, pencil holders, toys, or even fabrication material. With creativity, Crocs don’t have to become waste.
Should Crocs be disposed in landfills?
No, sending Crocs to landfills should be avoided. Responsible disposal options include donating, repurposing, utilizing take-back recycling when available or innovating your own reuse ideas to keep Crocs in circulation.
Conclusion
Crocs have come a long way from their first boat shoe models debuted in 2002. The brand’s proprietary Croslite foam resin makes the clogs instantly recognizable for comfort and functionality but also raises environmental concerns about plastic waste.
By understanding exactly what materials our shoes are made from including additives and treatments and how they can be recovered sustainability-minded consumers can help drive positive change through our voices and purchases.
Crocs willingness to innovate on renewable materials and provide transparency is encouraging for the industry. But we must continue pushing all manufacturers to take full responsibility for eliminating plastic pollution and designing 100% circular production models and lifecycles where nothing heads to landfills or incinerators in the end.
Our feet support us on life’s journey every single day. They deserve stylish kicks made from healthy, regenerative materials not planet-choking plastics. Perhaps someday “Crocs” will stand for “Clean Resourceful Sustainable Shoes”- wouldn’t that be step in the right direction!
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