Here's How Adidas is Using Your Garbage to Make Shoes!

Content Curator updated

Check out the Adidas UltraBoost--Shoes made from oceanic waste

In this age of rampant environmental disasters caused by man-made problems, Adidas has taken a revolutionary initiative. The sportswear giant has created the UltraBoost shoes made out of plastic fished out of oceans. Yes, you’ve heard that right! Adidas has partnered with ‘Parley for the Oceans’, a non-profit organization which is committed to reducing plastic-waste in ocean bodies across the world.

Prior to the UltraBoost, Adidas had used recycled polyester and sustainable cotton in other products but this is the first shoe which included recycled material. Mathias Amm, Product Category Director of Adidas Running had commented on April 2017, ‘As a global brand we have a responsibility to help change the world for the better.’ Further adding, ‘These designs reflect our support for a great cause, while delivering the exceptional performance we are renowned for – a powerful combination, which we hope will excite and inspire our global community as much as it does us.’

Adidas launched these sneakers back in November 2016 as limited edition range, but due to increased consumer demands, Adidas decided to unveil the general line of UltraBoost sneakers in stores and online from May 2017. The popularity of the new range as well as Adidas’ ideological standpoint in terms of protecting the environment, has received widespread acclaim which has translated to remarkable commercial gains.

In 2017 alone, the German sportswear brand sold 1 million UltraBoost sneakers lending credence to their bold initiative.

The sports brand has been associated with environmental projects for a while now. It had developed a sports shoe model in 2016 composed of 95% ‘ocean plastic’ retrieved off the Maldives coast. In the same year, Adidas switched from plastic bags to paper bags in all its retail outlets resulting in the elimination of about 70 million plastic bags. The brand’s new approach to utilize recyclable waste in its commercial products demonstrates that a corporate giant need not be entirely profit-oriented. Adidas proves that the brand has its heart in the right place with the goal of promoting awareness about ‘Ocean Pollution’; the success of the UltraBoost confirms consumers’ appreciation of this cause. Here’s hoping Adidas’ enterprise encourages other brands to support other pressing issues affecting global environment, because after all, “Impossible is Nothing”.