for the oceans: adidas, real madrid + parley reveal jersey using recycled plastic

in a collaboration with their sponsors adidas, real madrid FC are set to utilize the entirety of their global marketing reach and exceptional performances on the soccer pitch as a platform to increase awareness for the current state of our oceans using kits made out of recycled plastic from parley.

left, toni kroos, center parley founder cyrill gutsch and right nacho fernandez

on august 6th, at an exclusive event in hunters point, new york, adidas football revealed the new real madrid third kit. it is the first jersey to ever be mass produced (for madrid) by parley. the manufacture uses a technology that converts ‘up-cycled marine plastic debris into technical yarn fibres‘ thus capable of transforming plastic waste into high-performance footwear & apparel. it will be worn in the upcoming 2018/19 seasons sporting a bold new colourway that mimics a shade found in healthy coral reefs as a homage to the vital role they play in the ecosystem.

2014 world cup winner toni kroos sports the new kit

founder of the manufacturer, parley, cyrill gutsch has called for a ‘material revolution.’ the partnership and collaboration with real madrid is an attempt to further facilitate the global the discussion regarding the use of plastic as ‘a toxic substance….[that] creates too much damage to our oceans & our own health.‘

prolific striker karim benzema sits alongside new talisman gareth bale

a report in 2017 was published by the ocean conservancy which stated that ‘over half of land-based plastic-waste leakage originates in just five countries: china, indonesia, the philippines, thailand, and vietnam.‘ this came as a result of ‘increasing economic power [illustrated through an] exploding demand for consumer products that has not yet been met with a commensurate waste-management infrastructure.‘ it is currently believed that ‘about 40 percent of the world’s ocean surfaces‘ (according to biologicaldiversity.org) consist of swirling plastic which has led to a detrimental impact to our oceans and the delicate ecosystem. in april 2018, designboom covered that a sperm whale found washed up on the southern coast of spain was caused by the 64 pounds of plastic debris found ingested by the mammal.

pictured l to r, b to f: marco asensio, captain sergio ramos, keylor navas, lucas vasquez

solutions to the ocean plastic pollution are largely in the development phase, such as ocean cleanup’s giant pac-man system. however, the initiative taken by adidas, not only as a founding member of parley for the oceans, but using their partnerships as part of their ocean plastic program to end plastic pollution in the oceans is an example of how companies can use brands and sports as a vehicle for communication and increase involvement of the global issue.
squad players walk on the pier with the nyc skyline in the background
vice-captain marcelo of brazil, models the new kit