adidas X parley recycle ocean plastic debris into three new ultra boost designs

just in time for earth day 2017, adidas has taken further steps towards helping to end plastic pollution by releasing three new sneaker models woven from marine plastic debris. the new kicks are part of a two year partnership with parley for the oceans—an organization dedicated to bringing creatives together to help end the pollution of our waters. the new ultraBOOST sneakers will repurpose an average of 11 found plastic bottles per pair, and take a major stride towards adidas’ goal of creating one million pairs of ultraBOOST from up-cycled marine plastic in 2017 alone.

the parley ultraboost X sneaker
images courtesy of adidas

the adidas X parley for the oceans three new sneakers use a fresh blue colorway influenced by the shades of the ocean, and are set to be available in the classic ultraBOOST model, the ultraBOOST X, and the ultraBOOST uncaged. the designs—which will hit the market may 10—sport a primeknit outer woven from 95 per cent parley ocean plastic, turning threat into thread by spinning found debris into a workable yarn. the commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop at the knitted body, with the laces, heel webbing, heel lining, and sock liner covers all made from recycled PET material.

the classic parley ultraboost design

with statistics showing that one truck of plastic waste gets dumped into our oceans every minute, adidas has set to use its global brand name to get behind sustainable manifacturing. adidas CEO kasper rorsted explains that ‘at adidas, our core belief is that through sport, we have the power to change lives. this becomes particularly relevant when we talk about the impact we have with our sustainability work. we are one of the very few companies that integrate sustainability into their business model, which becomes most visible in the fact that we take sustainability to the product level.’

the parley ultraboost – uncaged

by weaving intercepted ocean plastic into their designs, adidas set out to implement the parley A.I.R strategy—Avoiding virgin plastic, Intercepting plastic waste, and Redesigning new alternatives. adidas X parley’s plastic repurposing doesn’t stop at shoes—the sports giant are even weaving the plastic yarn into gym wear, and has even created recycled plastic jerseys for four major league soccer teams.

the parley ultraboost – uncaged

‘every second breath we take is generated by the oceans,’ comments cyrill gutsch, founder of parley for the oceans. ‘and still, we are destroying them in rapid speed. together with adidas we achieved the impossible and turned the severe threat of marine plastic pollution into an opportunity for the whole industry.’

the adidas X parley 2017 collection

mathias amm, product category director at adidas running, elaborates on the collaboration, detailing that ‘as a global brand we have a responsibility to help change the world for the better. 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.’

the adidas X parley 2017 collection