New Adidas Ocean Plastic Running Shoes Coming in May
Its 2016 Sustainability Progress Report says the company is on track to source 100 percent sustainable cotton by the end of 2018, to eliminate the use of about 70 million plastic shopping bags as a result of the global switch from plastic bags to paper bags in retail stores, and to achieve 23 percent water savings per employee on adidas sites.
In an April 21 announcement, adidas said it will release three new running shoes created with Parley Ocean Plastic™ on May 10 and posted its 2016 sustainability report. The company also said four Major League Soccer teams wore jerseys made from Parley Ocean Plastic™ last weekend as a sign of support for the oceans; adidas reiterated its commitment to help end marine plastic pollution as part of its partnership with Parley For The Oceans.
Two years into adidas' partnership with Parley, this new product launch is another step in the company's commitment to create 1 million pairs of shoes made from up-cycled marine plastic during 2017. "At adidas, our core belief is that through sport, we have the power to change lives. This becomes particularly relevant when we talk about the impact we have with our sustainability work. We are one of the very few companies that integrate sustainability into their business model, which becomes most visible in the fact that we take sustainability to the product level," said Kasper Rorsted, adidas CEO. "But we do not stop there. We not only see sustainability as an opportunity to get a competitive advantage. We see it as an obligation for us as a global company to do business in a responsible and sustainable way."
The company's first products made from Parley Ocean Plastic were announced last year. The upcoming Parley editions are UltraBOOST, UltraBOOST X, and UltraBOOST Uncaged. Using intercepted marine plastic, adidas is turning threat into thread, it says, to create high-performance products, including swimming and outdoor items that were released this year. For more information, visit adidas.com/parley.
The company also is asking stakeholders to sign up for the adidas x Parley Run for the Oceans, a "global digital activation" taking place around World Oceans Day 2017 (June 5-11). To find out more and sign up, visit adidas.com/runfortheoceans.
The 2016 Sustainability Progress Report is the 17th edition adidas has published to date. It outlines adidas' 2020 targets in reaching its six strategic priorities, from using more sustainable materials in its production to tackling the growing issue of water scarcity or the empowerment of its supply chain workers, among others. "No matter how far adidas has come with its sustainability efforts over the years, we know that we can always improve," Rorsted said. "For this reason, we are calling all creators, our own employees, our partners, and consumers as well as suppliers to be a part of this important journey. We strive to give them the space their ideas and creative force need to improve our company's sustainable efforts."
The report says the company is on track to source 100 percent sustainable cotton by the end of 2018, to eliminate the use of about 70 million plastic shopping bags as a result of the global switch from plastic bags to paper bags in retail stores, and to achieve 23 percent water savings per employee on adidas sites (2008-2016).