Adidas is getting serious about making sneakers from ocean waste
With new ocean-inspired coloring, Adidas is releasing "Parley" versions of its most popular Boost running shoes: the Ultraboost, Ultraboost X, and Ultraboost Uncaged.
Parley is Adidas' partner in the Parley A.I.R Strategy, which turns ocean plastic waste into thread that is woven into running shoes. Each shoe uses an average of 11 plastic bottles per pair and incorporates recycled plastic into the shoe's laces, heel webbing, heel lining, and sock liner covers.
"The new additions to the adidas x Parley collection are another step in our journey to creating one million pairs of Ultraboost from up-cycled marine plastic," Mathias Amm, a product category director at Adidas, said in a statement.
Adidas previously released an ocean plastic waste sneaker, but it was a limited release and more of a proof of concept. These new Boost sneakers are a step forward as Adidas seeks to use more sustainable materials moving forward in its regular offerings.
Adidas reiterated its commitment to green materials in its recently released sustainability report, which highlighted that the company is on track to use 100% sustainable cotton by next year. It also said that it saved 70 million plastic shopping bags by switching to paper bags in its stores, and it detailed a commitment to make the new Adidas MLS uniforms with Parley recycled plastic.
The shoes will be available for sale online and in select Adidas stores May 10.
