adidas – Committed to Sustainability

Sport has the power to change lives. Through sport we learn about ourselves, how we handle challenges, pressure and tough losses. Sport also inspires us to reach new heights. For most of us joy, love and well-being are the rewards for participation -- especially when we win!

Sport has the ability to directly impact social environments. But should sport come at the expense of impacting our physical environment? Thanks to brands like adidas the answer is no.

One of the leaders in sustainability in the sports goods industry, adidas has set the goal of creating products from 100 percent recycled polyester by 2024. And compared to most other brands in tennis, adidas has already taken massive steps to reduce its environmental footprint.

In 2015 an analysis of the overall environmental footprint by the adidas Group found that approximately one-third of their overall impacts were due to material choices. This was in-line with the environmental footprints observed at similar companies. Using this data, adidas examined their use of polyester, their largest volume material, and made the decision to switch to a more sustainable material and use recycled polyester. The adidas commitment to 100% recycled polyester by 2024, along with its achievement of sourcing 100% Better Cotton Initiative are two ways adidas is decreasing its environmental footprint. Switching to these environmentally preferred materials from conventional materials allows adidas to make products with a smaller environmental impact.

Playing in gear that has a smaller environmental impact reaches right to our core. After all, we can ensure the future of the sports we love by making them less environmentally impactful

At this year's Australian Open we saw adidas introduce its Parley collection, which repurposed plastic waste collected from the oceans and beaches of the world. In 2019 adidas is set to produce 11 million pairs of shoes containing recycled ocean plastic through its Parley collaboration.

"One of my favorite campaigns was the adidas 'play for the oceans' Parley campaign, which we kicked off at the Australian Open this year," said Matthias Fischer, senior manager, global brand communications, tennis. "Obviously it was a beautiful collection, which our athletes promoted on court. However, for me there was a really deep meaning behind it. We know our oceans are at risk because of all of the plastic which is in there. The Parley team collects the plastic from the coastal areas, and we turn this threat into a thread and make beautiful products out of it."

But what about on-court performance? Can products made from recycled materials live up to the high standards we expect from the brand with the 3 Stripes? According to adidas the answer is “yes.”

By working with their supply chain and materials developers adidas has been able to ensure there are no noticeable differences between virgin polyester and recycled polyester products. In other words, you can get the fit, feel and performance you love while making a more environmentally correct choice in the products you wear.

Along with the hero Parley products adidas is introducing a line of Prime Blue products. Both use plastic waste intercepted from coastal areas to create new adidas products as part of a three loop direction adidas is taking to be more sustainable.

"When it comes to sustainability, we talk about three loops," said Anette Steingass, senior director, tennis and court sports. "One is the recycled loop. That is where our partner Parley comes in, where we use trash intercepted from coastal areas and repurpose them into new garments and new yarns. Then when it comes to a circular loop, EVRNU is taking the lead when it comes to taking recycled garments and turning them into new threads. And then the third loop is what we call the bionic loop. That's where the industry lead partner for that is Bolt. We are very, very happy to be working with them, and you will see more coming from us in the future."

Thanks to brands like adidas the future of our sport should have less of an environmental impact. Just remember to tell the next player you beat when wearing your adidas recycled gear not to feel too bad -- they lost to a player who is helping to protect the future of our sport.