Two years into its partnership with Parley, this product launch is another step in the company's commitment to create one million pairs of shoes made from up-cycled marine plastic in 2017. "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,” commented Kasper Rorsted, adidas CEO.

“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. But we do not stop there. We not only see sustainability as an opportunity to get a competitive advantage. We see it as an obligation for us as a global company to do business in a responsible and sustainable way.”

New running shoes

Following last year's launch of adidas' first products made from Parley Ocean Plastic, adidas unveiled details on the upcoming Parley editions of UltraBOOST, UltraBOOST X and UltraBOOST Uncaged. Using intercepted marine plastic, adidas is creating high performance products, including swimming and outdoor items that were released earlier this year. In addition, two major activations are planned to continue to raise awareness for the state of the oceans.

adidas is calling on its global community to sign up for the adidas x Parley Run for the Oceans, a global digital activation taking place around World Oceans Day 2017. Also, on 23 April, following the inception of the adidas x Parley Real Madrid and Bayern Munich jerseys in November 2016, four MLS teams will take the pitch in game jerseys made from Parley Ocean Plastic. The unique kits will be worn when New York City FC host Orlando City SC and when LA Galaxy welcome Seattle Sounders at Yankee Stadium and StubHub Center, respectively.

"Every second breath we take is generated by 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", said Cyrill Gutsch, Founder of Parley for the Oceans. "We established Parley Ocean Plastic as a premium material, a symbol of change, a flag for a strategy that can end the problem for good: Parley AIR. Avoid, Intercept and Redesign.”

Sustainability Report

The company also released the 17th edition of its Sustainability Progress Report. The report is an annual overview of achievements and challenges, outlining adidas 2020 targets in reaching its six strategic priorities: from using more sustainable materials in its production, to tackling the ever-growing issue of water scarcity or the empowerment of its supply chain workers, among others.

“No matter how far adidas has come with its sustainability efforts over the years, we know that we can always improve,” said Kasper Rorsted. "For this reason, we are calling all creators, our own employees, our partners and consumers as well as suppliers to be a part of this important journey. We strive to give them the space their ideas and creative force need to improve our company's sustainable efforts.”

Some highlights from the 2016 Sustainability Progress Report include elimination of approximately 70 million plastic shopping bags as a result of the global switch from plastic bags to paper bags in retail stores, and achievement of 23% water savings per employee on adidas sites (2008-2016).

The 2016 Sustainability Progress Report is available here.

www.adidas-group.com