Adidas teamed up with Parley for the Oceans and showcased their latest eco-friendly product: a shoe that is 3D-printed and has a midsole manufactured out of recycled oceanic plastic.
Two previously explored ideas merged into the new concept: the first is using 3D printers in shoe manufacturing and the second is using plastic ocean waste in the composition of the new footwear.
The latter is as recent as June 2015, when Adidas and Parley worked together to address "major threats towards our oceans." The concept that resulted from the cooperation between the two organizations had yarns and filaments collected from the ocean waste as prime materials, and demonstrated how salvaged ocean debris could get new life in form of functional everyday objects.
The sportswear company pushes the bar even higher this time. The prototype shoe has the upper part made of knitted ocean plastic, while the 3D-printed midsole contains gillnets and pieces of recycled polyester.
"The industry can't afford to wait for directions any longer. Together with the network of Parley for the Oceans, we have started taking action and creating new sustainable materials and innovations for athletes," a member of Adidas' Executive Board, Eric Liedtke, said.
Liedtke launched a challenge to other clothing industry rivals, urging them to question why they do what they do, and how they can create a new set of standards. He added that Adidas makes a purpose out of having meaningful talks with representatives from the industry, so that "sustainable solutions" will be designed and implemented for the global issues, such as ocean waste.
This is not the first step that the company took towards addressing plastic ocean pollution. Adidas is enforcing the elimination of plastic bags from its stores by the end of next year. Also, the German corporation wants to see no more plastic microbeads in its core line of products by Dec. 31, 2015.
Forbidding the usage of plastic bottles in the headquarter meetings is a strong signal that the company maintains an eco-friendly agenda.
The recycled ocean plastic shoe still needs a bit of time before reaching the shelves, but with Adidas setting the tune for the industry, it might be that others will follow the trend.
