Adidas Resolves to Step Away From Plastics for 2020 and Beyond
In January, adidas marked a sustainability milestone, announcing that for the first time, more than half of the polyester used in adidas products will come from recycled plastic waste. The company also expressed a commitment that beginning in 2024, the company will use only recycled polyester. In 2020, adidas also plans to produce a record 15 to 20 million pairs of shoes with plastic waste collected from beaches and coastal regions. In 2019, adidas produced more than eleven million pairs of such shoes. Substituting recycled polyester for traditional petroleum-based polyester is a major step towards greening in the footwear and garment sector. Currently, polyester is the world’s most widely used fiber, and recycled polyester production requires 59% less energy.
This commitment to increased use of recycled plastic in products is part of adidas efforts to avoid plastic waste and stop the pollution of the world’s oceans. The increasing use of recycled materials is just one example of adidas’ sustainability activities.
Other sustainability and Circular Economy plans announced in January 2020 include:
- The market launch of a fully recyclable running shoe “Futurecraft Loop” is planned for 2021.
- adidas is working to develop bio-fabricated materials for sports apparel
- Plastic-free locations: adidas sites are now largely plastic-free. Around 40 tonnes of plastic waste are avoided each year.