# Adidas is Serious About Sustainability

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/adidas-is-serious-about-sustainability/
- Published: 2020-01-11T00:53:28-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

[Adidas](https://www.adidas.com/us/sustainability) is really committed to sustainability.
As they add on their website, they work to thoroughly track the progress of their
environmental [initiatives](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/05/join-adidas-and-parleys-run-for-the-oceans-challenge/)
as well as the impacts against their targets.

Adidas established a detailed environmental [data](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/11/global-sustainability-performance-holds-despite-corporate-commitments-to-create-a-more-responsible-economy/)
recording and reporting system. All which includes 72 sites. It covers 90% of their
internal environmental footprint. Every year they publish a special [Green Company](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/03/the-green-company-revolution-leading-the-way-in-sustainability/)
Performance Analysis. One that shows their yearly and overall achievements!

![Recycled plastic sneakers](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2020/01/365F58E6-A67E-4439-BA7A-688E9D8058A0.jpeg?resize=320%2C116&quality=52&ssl
=1 "365F58E6-A67E-4439-BA7A-688E9D8058A0 - The Green Living Guy")

 

 

# Sustainable Hardcore

As a result, [Adidas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/cleanup-great-pacific-garbage-patch-market/)
has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). It evaluates the
sustainability performance of the 2,500 largest companies listed in the Dow Jones
Global Total Stock Market Index.

Recently, Adidas reported the [building](https://www.adidas-group.com/en/) upon 
their [cotton + corn](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/02/fashion-fabrics-for-the-eco-conscious/)
lifestyle collection from 2018. Now Reebok Forever Floatride GROW has launched and
It’s said to be the first ever plant-based running shoe.

[⌊Httpswww Adidas group Comen⌉⌊Httpswww Adidas group Comen⌉[

Its design replicates the silhouette of the brand’s Forever Floatride energy model,
but now pairs sustainability with high performance. As they reduce their use of 
[petroleum-based plastics](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/05/is-it-time-to-rethink-recycling/),
Reebok’s new design has been made with castor beans, algae, eucalyptus trees and
natural rubber, which are all sustainably sourced.

#### But, the Dow Jones Index is again the comprehensive assessment. It considers factors such as:

 1. corporate governance
 2. risk management
 3. [climate](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/02/just-in-case-folks-heres-epa-climate-change-page/)
    change mitigation
 4. labor and environmental standards.

Mind you, that’s both within the company and with its suppliers. That’s as well 
as innovation management.

Not only has Adidas once again made the indices, but it ranks best in the industry.
That’s in the criteria of Brand Management, Information Security/Cyber Security &
System Availability. As well as Environmental Policy & Management Systems, Operational
Eco-Efficiency and Social Reporting. Finally, Talent Attraction & Retention too.

#### Even More Sustainability

The giant sportswear manufacturer continues to become ever more sustainable. By 
2020, they expect to use more sustainable materials, tackle water scarcity in manufacturing
countries and further improve working conditions in the supply chain. Additionally,
they have not used plastic bags in its own stores since 2016. It sources only [sustainably](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/04/18-vegan-shoes-your-wardrobe-is-begging-for/)
produced cotton since 2018 and also presented the world’s first fully recyclable
running shoe this year.

In the “Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods Industry”, Adidas was rated as industry
leader in corporate economic, environmental and social dimensions. Furthermore, 
the company was rated industry best in seven criteria: Innovation Management, Materiality,
Supply Chain Management, Human Rights, Environmental Policy and Management Systems,
Operational Eco-Efficiency, Social Reporting.

From 2024 onwards, Adidas will only use recycled polyester in every product. That’s
on every application where a solution exists.

#### **Recycled Plastic Sneakers**

In 2018 Adidas produced more than five million pairs of shoes containing recycled
plastic waste. The company now plans to more than double that figure this year.

That’s the outcome of the cooperation between the sporting goods manufacturer and
environmental organizations. Additionally, the partnership with the global collaboration
network, Parley for the Oceans. Together, they turned [marine pollution](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/06/twelve-ocean-conservancy-environmental-organizations-call-on-the-canadian-government-to-take-immediate-regulatory-action-on-plastic-waste-and-pollution/)
into sneakers and sportswear. Adidas sold one million pairs of shoes made from Parley
Ocean Plastic™ in 2017 and plans to sell five million pairs in 2018.

As part of its sustainability strategy – launched in 2016 – the company translates
its sustainable efforts into tangible goals and measurable objectives until 2020.
Among its key priorities are: using more sustainable materials in its production,
tackling the ever-growing issue of water scarcity and the empowerment of its supply
chain workers.

 1. In 2015 [Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans](https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-ocean-plastic-sneakers-reveal-a-new-reality-2018-3)
    to turn marine pollution into sportswear.

  Adidas uses [recycled plastic bottles](https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-parley-for-the-oceans-special-sneakers-2016-6)
  as a replacement for virgin polyester.
  In [2019 Adidas expects to make 11 million](https://www.businessinsider.com/sneakers-lead-charge-for-sustainability-apparel-2019-8)
  pairs of shoes with Ocean Plastic.
  _But_ _as_ _[Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-sneakers-plastic-bottles-ocean-waste-recycle-pollution-2019-8)
  __ added:_
  
  #### _Following is a transcript of the video._
  
  Narrator: Adidas makes over 400 million pairs of shoes every year. Manufacturing
  that many shoes requires a lot of resources. But constantly creating new materials
  isn’t great for the environment so Adidas is turning to a different source.
  Experts predict that in 30 years, there will be more plastic in our oceans than
  fish. And one study estimates that 90% of seabirds have consumed some form of 
  [plastic waste](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/06/plastic-a-toxic-love-story/).
  All that pollution on beaches and in oceans is harmful to both marine life and
  humans.
  So, Adidas is trying to stop some of that plastic before it reaches the ocean.
  In 2015, they partnered with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans.
  Their goal? To turn marine pollution into sportswear. And they’ve made huge progress.
  In 2019, Adidas expects to make 11 million pairs of shoes with recycled ocean 
  plastic. That’s more than double what it made in 2018. Adidas says the partnership
  has prevented 2,810 tons of plastic from reaching the oceans.
  
  #### But, how does Adidas make sustainable shoes?
  
  It all starts at the beach. Parley and its partners collect trash from coastal
  areas like the Maldives. They sort the waste then send recovered plastic to an
  Adidas processing plant. Generally, they use plastic bottles that contain polyethylene
  terephthalate, or [PET](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/02/living-the-green-life-with-your-pet/).
  Obsolete Materials like caps and rings go to normal recycling facilities.
  The processing plant crushes, washes, and dehydrates the waste, leaving nothing
  but small plastic flakes. The flakes are heated, dried, and cooled, then cut into
  small resin pellets. Normally, polyester is made from petroleum. But Adidas melts
  these pellets to create a filament. All which is spun into what they call Ocean
  Plastic. That’s the form of polyester yarn.
  The company uses Ocean Plastic to form the upper parts of shoes and clothing like
  jerseys. Each item in the Parley collection is made from at least 75% intercepted
  marine trash.
  In addition, they still meet the same performance and comfort standards of Adidas’
  other shoes. Recycled polyester uses less water and fewer chemicals. They also
  help prevent [plastic pollution](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/03/plastic-pollution-what-you-can-do-to-help/).
  Adidas’ goal is to replace all virgin polyester with recycled polyester by 2024.
  
  #### Currently, more than 40% of Adidas’ apparel uses recycled polyester.
  
  You may have seen Adidas’ recycled sportswear without even noticing it. College
  football, baseball, and NHL brands among many more are also creating clothes with
  ocean plastic.
  But this doesn’t eliminate plastic pollution entirely. Washing polyester clothing
  can create microfibers**.** All which may end up in the ocean. Adidas suggests
  that customers wash their clothes less often**.** Also use [cold water](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/11/make-small-changes-in-your-everyday-tasks/)
  and fully fill the machine each time.
  This is just the first step for Adidas. The company also has plans to create a
  100% recyclable shoe launching in 2021.
  With the help of Parley for the Oceans, [Adidas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/03/adidas-and-spinnova-announce-new-sustainable-hoodie/)
  is using readily available material to manufacture new products which is a big
  step towards a sustainable future.
  Sources: [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-sneakers-plastic-bottles-ocean-waste-recycle-pollution-2019-8
),
  adidas, adidas group
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   greenlivingguy
   The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green 
  living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also
  an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green
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