Adidas Sustainability: Shoes on a Mission to End Plastic Waste

Adidas is a global supplier of performance sportswear that aims to be the best sports brand in the world—in more ways than one. While providing innovative, high-performance footwear and clothing is a hallmark of the company, so too is the organization’s multifaceted approach to sustainability.

adidas sustainability

Adidas is greener thank you think.

For decades, Adidas’ sustainability efforts have served as a guiding light for the industry at large. Adidas has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for over 20 years in a row, an assessment that evaluates the 2,500 largest companies in the index and grades them on factors such as climate change mitigation and overall environmental standards. Here, Adidas has been ranked best in its industry for operational eco-efficiency, environmental policy, and environmental management.

Adidas End Plastic Waste

A worthwhile mission.

Now, Adidas is looking ahead to a future free from plastic waste. Using Primeblue and Primegreen recycled plastics, Adidas has already made many of its products much more eco-friendly, and through upcoming and evolving sustainability initiatives, the brand plans to release a fully recyclable shoe that is due for release later this year.

Adidas Sustainability

Throughout the company’s history, Adidas has sought to reduce its environmental impact and reuse materials whenever possible. From banning the use of CFCs in the 1980s to achieving the company’s self-imposed goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of purchased cotton in 2018, Adidas has a proven track record of industry-leading environmental initiatives.

Adidas Primeblue

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E recycle! C-O-N-S-E-R-V-E conserve!

Primegreen and Primeblue

Currently, Adidas’ sustainability efforts have come to fruition in the formation of their Primegreen and Primeblue product lines. Primegreen is a high-performance recycled material that is utilized in various Adidas products including popular running shoes, track pants, and face masks. Likewise, Primeblue is another performance material made specifically from Parley recycled ocean plastics collected from beaches and open water.

Recycled Plastic Shoes Adidas

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans in 2015 to explore ways to make better products while reducing plastic waste in public waterways. In a few short years, Adidas produced over 17 million shoes containing Parley Ocean Plastics, and the mission hasn’t slowed since. In fact, you can find a wide range of Parley, Primeblue, and Primegreen products on sale at Adidas right now.

Primeblue Adidas clothing

Adidas also uses recycled plastics in their high-performance sports clothing lines, swimwear, and more.

A Circular Future

To set the bar even higher, Adidas has pledged to use 100% recycled polyester in every product and possible application by 2024. Moving forward, sustainability remains one of the core tenets of the company’s business strategy, and the brand seeks to continue exploring ways to incorporate more sustainable materials into its products, solve water scarcity issues in its manufacturing countries, and improve working conditions throughout its supply chain.

Adidas Loop Strategy

The strategy to end the use of new polyester by 2024.

One result of this business strategy is the highly anticipated release of Futurecraft.Loop, the world’s first completely recyclable running shoe. Adidas first announced this revolutionary sports footwear in 2019 with an expected release in 2021.

Adidas Futurecraft Loop

The Futurecraft.Loop.

By setting clear, tangible goals and turning ideas into real, purchasable products, Adidas has developed a culture of sustainability that permeates every aspect of the company. Adidas has been at the forefront of the sportswear industry’s sustainability efforts in years past, and it plans to maintain that pace in the years ahead.

Adidas Parley

Ending plastic waste never looked so good.

Recycled Plastics for Sale

Though the fully-recyclable Futurecraft.Loop running shoe isn’t available yet, there is a wide range of Primegreen, Primeblue, and Parley for the Ocean products that are available to purchase at this very moment. Browse the collections today to discover trail runners, bathing suits, and a vast array of athletic clothing—all of which have been made with recycled plastics.

Adidas Recycled Shoes

There are dozens of Adidas products made from recycled plastics to choose from.

If sustainability is an important factor in your sportswear purchases, then Adidas should be at the top of your shopping list. Join the movement today and help Adidas end plastic waste.


This article is sponsored by Adidas.

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One response to “Adidas Sustainability: Shoes on a Mission to End Plastic Waste

  1. Hi. I personally believe that if you are using trash to make my shoes that they should cost much less than other shoes made from virgin plastics. I guess that I didn’t get the memo that said that I should pay more for shoes that were originally garbage. Also, biodegradable shoes…I keep my shoes for a long time. I don’t want them to degrade, even if they get wet over and over etc. I understand that as a religion, worship of biodegradable and recycled products works for some people. I personally am looking for the best products, not the best product that used to be a coke bottle and costing just as much as (or more than) others. Sorry, not sold yet.

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