Despite growing awareness, destruction of unsold inventory remains a reality in the footwear industry.
Brands often face a difficult tradeoff: protect brand value or recover marginal revenue. In some cases, destruction is chosen to avoid flooding markets or undermining pricing structures.
Public cases—such as disclosures by Burberry and Nike in past years—have drawn attention to the issue, but the practice persists quietly across categories.
The root cause isn’t malice. It’s a lack of controlled secondary channels.
Relay provides that missing infrastructure.
By offering a brand-safe resale pathway, Relay allows excess footwear to be sold responsibly—maintaining brand integrity while preventing unnecessary waste.
Waste isn’t always careless.
Sometimes it’s the result of having no better option.
Sources referenced:
Financial Times • Business of Fashion • Corporate sustainability disclosures