For 1 in 6 of the world's population, simple things like shoes are a luxury. The funny-looking plastic shoe company, Crocs, is looking to change that. Earlier this year, they launched Solesunited, a program that benefits several fold. First, they'll take back your old, worn out Crocs and recycle them along with all their factory scraps! That would be more than most shoe companies do if they just stopped there, but they don't. No. They make brand new shoes out of the material and give them to people in need all around the world. They've set their sights high, too. In 2008, they want to give away 1,000,000 pairs. Sounds like a lot, but they can do it. In the past 18 months, they've shoed over a million people in Chile, El Salvador, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. If you want your purchase to have an even greater impact, choose the 20% recycled Solesunited Beach (only available in tan, $30 on their site)- a pair will be automatically given to an individual in need. How's that for instant gratification?

My first thought was, "Hey, a Tom's copycat!" But, then I realized: the more, the merrier. I'm sure Tom's would agree! Could Tom's have been the inspiration for Solesunited? Maybe. Tom's is the original altruistic shoe company, and stylishly hip to boot. They even won the 2007 Cooper Hewitt people's choice design award for their concept. For several years, they have been giving away a pair of canvas shoes for every pair sold. They give away about 50,000 pairs a year to children in South America. Solesunited is different from Tom's in that they actually make the shoes out of consumer waste. They also target 20 times more people from all areas of the world, and not just kids- adults too.

The success of this program depends on consumer participation. Tell your friends and sign the pledge. Then, find a recycling outlet or send old crocs in. Sorry, Crocs only, no knock offs! The reason is that they are made from a proprietary closed cell resin called Crocslite. It recycles only with the same. Cheap imitations are made of plain old plastic.

I love it when big companies want to use their power for good and give back to the world!