Adidas Reveals Recyclable Performance Running Shoe
Adidas said Wednesday (April 17) it will tackle plastic waste with the reveal of Futurecraft.Loop – a 100% recyclable performance running shoe.
In 2019, Adidas will produce 11 million pairs of shoes with Ocean Plastic by Parley through intercepting plastic waste on beaches, remote islands, and in coastal communities.
Adidas says it is committed to using only recycled polyester in every product and on every application where a solution exists by 2024. The company says creating products with premium materials by Parley, made from up-cycled marine plastic waste, is the first pillar of Adidas’ sustainability strategy.
“Taking plastic waste out of the system is the first step, but we can’t stop there,” said Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member at Adidas, responsible for Global Brands.
Sports footwear typically include complex material mixes and component gluing – resulting in a shoe which can only be downcycled. After close to a decade of research and development alongside leading material development, manufacturing, and recycling partners across Asia, Europe, and North America, Adidas says it has found a way to change the process.
The first-gen Futurecraft.Loop shoe is rolling out as part of a global beta program with 200 leading creators from across the world’s major cities. Adidas will challenge them to run, return the shoes, and share feedback on their experience, ahead of the second-gen drop.
The insights will be used to shape the roadmap for the wider release targeted for Spring Summer 2021.
