Adidas will double production of sneakers made of plastic removed from the oceans

Adidas confirmed in February 2019 that it will double production of sneakers made of plastic taken from the oceans. More than 11 million pairs are estimated to be produced to meet consumer demand. The announcement is a response to the high demand from the public that is increasingly looking for environmentally sustainable products that represent a solution to the environmental crisis.

In 2018, the company produced more than five million pairs of Ultra BOOST sneakers, which is partnered by the NGO Parley for Oceans. The model is 95% made up of oceans plastic and 5% recycled polyester, a composition similar to the material used in Real Madrid and Bayer Munich uniforms, for example. Adidas bet is based on expressive sales growth, which in 2017 surprised with one million pairs, after the launch of only 50 units of the Ultra BOOST prototype in 2016.

Eric Liedtke, global brand executive at Adidas, said that more than beauty or comfort, the company is looking for ways to help the environment. "With Adidas products made from recycled plastic, we offer our consumers real added value in addition to the look, functionality and quality of the product, because each shoe makes a small contribution to the preservation of our oceans. So after a million pairs of shoes produced in 2017 and five million in 2018, we plan to produce 11 million pairs of shoes containing recycled ocean plastic in 2019, ”he concluded.

Each pair of the model removes the equivalent of 11 plastic bottles from the seas, which is the responsibility of Parley for Oceans. The NGO operation is located in the Maldives and along 1, 000 coral islands off the west coast of India. Parley also supplies plastic to the Corona brewery, luxury fashion brand Stella McCartney and outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia.

The company has also pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050, with an interim goal of reducing its global carbon footprint by 30% by 2030. These commitments are part of Adidas' adherence to the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Action. Climate, which was announced at the COP24 conference in Poland. The letter was signed by 43 major fashion brands from around the world, including H & M, Inditex and Gap.