#11: TOMS Shoes
TOMS shoes took the US by storm when they debuted in 2006. Their comfy canvas shoes stood out because the company vowed to donate one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. Inspired to help those less fortunate, thousands of people bought a pair. However, the company’s well-meaning intention negatively impacted the populations they tried to help.
It turns out that TOMS’ donations to children in developing nations disrupted local economies and created a dependence on outside aid. Local shoemakers went out of business, which caused people to lose jobs and livelihoods. In addition, the soft canvas of TOMS shoes was often inappropriate for certain terrains and cultures. A lot of the donated shoes have ended up in landfills.