Recently, the ZULIZ high-tech safety shoe launch event and charity gala came to a successful conclusion. At the event, the “ZULIZ Love for the Elderly Charity Action” was officially launched. This industry event with the theme “Caring for the Elderly, Warming the Twilight Years” not only unveiled an upgraded version of the safety shoe series, which embodies ten years of research and development achievements but also initiated a new era of “business for good” in the Chinese aging industry through the innovative charity model of donating 5 yuan for every pair of safety shoes sold. During the event, over 1000 caring individuals participated, raising a total of 1.5 million yuan in donations. This marks ZULIZ’s transition from the brand concept of “caring for the elderly” to a systematic social value creation project.
ZULIZ, the disruptor in the silver economy: Strategic positioning and industry mission As the first drafting unit for the national standard of “Elderly Shoes,” ZULIZ has established industry barriers with 527 patents for elderly shoes, maintaining the top spot in national sales for four consecutive years. Its core competitiveness not only lies in product innovation—such as the upgraded safety shoes featuring a six-fold anti-fall technology system with X Ultra Stabilizer chip to prevent imbalance, heel support module to prevent backward falls, and stable footplate to prevent sideways falls—but also stems from a deep understanding of the needs of the elderly demographic. According to a research report on elderly travel and foot health released by the Foot Science Research Institute of Health Times, 89% of seniors have foot problems. Drawing on years of research and development experience, ZULIZ has established four core technologies: foot shape adaptation technology, arch support balance technology, foot pressure release technology, and walking safety protection technology. Supported by these core technologies, ZULIZ has transitioned from a mere product supplier to a provider of solutions for elderly living.
At the industry level, ZULIZ’s rise coincides with the boom of China’s silver economy. It is projected that by 2035, the scale of the silver economy will exceed 30 trillion yuan, accounting for approximately 10% of the GDP. ZULIZ has recently partnered with the China Aging Development Foundation to launch the “Love for the Elderly Charity Action,” aiming to build a comprehensive service system covering clothing, food, transportation, and medical needs for elderly individuals in rural areas through a dual-drive approach of “products + charity.” In his address, the Chairman of the Foundation, Yu Jianwei, noted, “ZULIZ, using products as a link, deeply integrates commercial value with social responsibility, setting a model for the industry.” The chemical reaction between charity and business: Constructing a sustainable development loop. The greatest innovation of this event lies in ZULIZ’s groundbreaking integration of charity donations with product sales. Founder Zhang Jingkang announced that starting in 2025, for every pair of safety shoes sold, 5 yuan will be allocated to the “ZULIZ Love for the Elderly Fund” under the China Aging Development Foundation, dedicated to supporting elderly individuals in rural areas. This “consumption equals charity” model not only aligns with ZULIZ’s consistent approach of “speaking through products” but also pioneers a new paradigm of philanthropic marketing in the aging industry.
From a business perspective, this model achieves a triple value enhancement: Firstly, it strengthens brand differentiation through its philanthropic attribute, allowing ZULIZ to stand out in a competitive market. Secondly, it transforms consumers into “philanthropic partners,” boosting user engagement and repeat purchases. Thirdly, it establishes quantifiable social responsibility metrics, contributing to elderly public welfare initiatives and fulfilling the responsibility of leading enterprises. Investing in “philanthropic attributes” in products will likely become a significant factor influencing consumer decisions in the future.
On the philanthropic front, this model addresses two major pain points of traditional charity: sustainability of funds, by creating a stable philanthropic fund through product sales, and precision of resources, with funds specifically allocated to support rural elderly individuals for food, clothing, and discretionary expenses, ensuring targeted assistance and dedicated fund usage. This paradigm shift in social philanthropy, from social responsibility to a strategic engine, exemplifies ZULIZ’s commitment to Professor Zhu Rui’s theory of “New Quality Philanthropy” from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. This theory emphasizes achieving symbiosis and mutual prosperity between social and business values through technological innovation, sustainability, integration, and collaboration.
ZULIZ’s practice embodies the essence of “New Quality Philanthropy” by integrating “caring for the elderly” into its product DNA, from developing professional shoe lasts based on thousands of elderly foot shapes to owning 527 patents for specialized elderly shoes. Every shoe becomes a carrier of warmth, embodying the concept of “product as philanthropy” and generating dual social benefits from product innovation.
By activating channels for philanthropy, ZULIZ’s 3000 stores serve not only as sales terminals but also as hubs for transmitting love for the elderly. Through displaying philanthropic posters, the offline network transforms into a matrix for spreading philanthropy, creating a “scenario-based philanthropy” model where commercial spaces become vehicles for creating social value.
Through ecological collaboration for philanthropy, ZULIZ establishes a tripartite network of “enterprise-charity fund-consumers.” Collaborating with the foundation ensures transparent fund management, specifically designated for rural elderly assistance projects. ZULIZ develops its employees and consumers into ambassadors for elderly care, fostering a sense of engagement, mission, and responsibility. This ecological operation elevates the philanthropic actions of a single enterprise into a systematic social project.
Lessons for the industry: Insights from ZULIZ on the future of the silver economy.
ZULIZ’s practices provide a replicable methodology for the elderly industry: Firstly, demand-driven product innovation involves deeply understanding the unmet needs of the elderly population and integrating their real needs into product design. For instance, the X Ultra Stabilizer chip in the safety shoes maintains dynamic balance to meet walking posture needs, and the “shoe horn” heel design addresses the issue of elderly individuals struggling to bend over when putting on shoes. This ability to transform “issue – technology – product” is the foundation of doing business for good.
Secondly, a sustainable philanthropic business model discards the traditional “one-time donation” approach and establishes a self-sustaining mechanism for philanthropic funds through product sales. With the upgraded safety shoes, for every pair sold, 5 yuan is allocated to the “ZULIZ Love for the Elderly Fund” under the China Aging Development Foundation. This aligns philanthropic spending with corporate revenue growth, ensuring continuous philanthropic practices.
Thirdly, a value network of mutual benefit involves creating a shared value community that includes the supply chain, consumers, and philanthropic organizations. In this event, suppliers and distributors collectively donated over a million yuan, forming a philanthropic ecosystem of “enterprise leadership and industry chain response.” This synergy catalyzes social responsibility as a driver of industry chain enhancement.
In conclusion, amid the accelerated aging population, ZULIZ’s exploration is not just a practice of corporate social responsibility but a redefinition of the value paradigm in the silver economy. Through the dual-drive of “technology + philanthropy,” ZULIZ demonstrates that business and philanthropy are not opposing forces but can empower each other in a symbiotic relationship. As Professor Deng Guosheng from Tsinghua University stated, “Contemporary enterprises need to innovatively fulfill social responsibility and create shared value.” ZULIZ’s practices show that when businesses choose to do good, they not only gain brand value but also become a core force for driving social progress. In the future, as the silver economy enters the era of billions, this “business for good” model may become an industry standard. The symphony of technology and philanthropy will resonate strongly in the silver age, guiding the Chinese aging industry towards a more compassionate stage of development.
