Plastic debris spun into adidas running shoes

Adidas and Parley for the Oceans are turning plastic debris into performance footwear as part of a two-year partnership. Parley for the Oceans is an organization dedicated to bringing creatives together to help end the pollution of our oceans. The new UltraBOOST running shoes will repurpose an average of 11 found plastic bottles per pair and take a step toward adidas’s goal of creating one million pairs of shoes from upcycled marine plastic in 2017.

Three UltraBOOST running shoe models are available as of May 10, 2017. They feature an outer woven from 95 percent recovered ocean plastic spun into workable yarns. The laces, heel webbing and lining, and sock liner covers are also made from recycled PET material.

Parley yarns will appear in adidas gym wear products as well. The company has already used the yarns in jerseys for four major league soccer teams.