As part of its recent pledge to use only recycled plastics by 2024, Adidas revealed a new sneaker made from 100% recyclable materials. Driven by a connection to environmental organisation Parley for the Oceans, the new sneakers are made from recycled polyester recovered from plastic littered on beaches – intercepting it before it reaches the ocean. One of the most innovative developments is that every part of the sneaker is made from the recycled plastic and the way the sneaker was made means it can be fully recycled at end-of-life. Actions that have made Adidas’s approach effective include:
- Making a public pledge
- Connecting to action groups
- Materials innovation
- Challenging the linear economy.
Every part of the sneaker is made from the recycled plastic and the way the sneaker was made means it can be fully recycled at end-of-life
An Adidas shoe made from recycled polyester recovered from plastic littered on beaches. Source: Adidas