adidas announces next phase in fight for the oceans

The adidas-Parley partnership saw five million pairs of shoes created from recycled ocean plastic in 2018 alone

In 2018, adidas created a global movement with Run For The Oceans, uniting nearly one million runners from around the world and raising $1 million for long-term partner Parley for the Oceans.

To date, the money raised has helped directly educate and empower 100,000 youth and their families who are living in coastal areas affected by plastic pollution to take action as part of the Parley Ocean School Programme. The partnership saw five million pairs of shoes created using recycled ocean plastic in 2018 alone.

In 2019, Adidas is upping the pace. The introduction of the 2019 Parley range will see the company produce a landmark 11 million pairs of shoes using recycled marine plastic waste.

The campaign this year will also unite more runners in more locations than ever before to lace up and Run for the Oceans in order to reach its increased goal of $1.5 million.

For every kilometre completed between June 8 and 16, the company will contribute $1 to Parley Ocean School programmes, with every dollar going towards the next phase of the partnership with the development and launch of the Parley youth activist platform.

With the aim of engaging more young people than ever before and inspiring long-term behaviour change, the platform will host a digital curriculum which equips school children with the skills, tools and knowledge required to protect the planet’s oceans.

adidas launches next phase in fight for the oceans

It will also act as a digital space where young people can come together, share ideas and gain access to events, mentors, and tools.Registration to join the Parley youth activist platform starts on the World Ocean Day (June 8), with the goal of bringing the Parley Ocean School Programme to a global level.

Alberto Uncini Manganelli, general manager, Running, adidas, said “The marine plastic crisis we’re facing has become critically urgent. Every minute, the equivalent of a dump truck of plastic waste enters our oceans and by 2050, this could mean there may be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans."

“adidas x Parley has helped spread awareness of the crisis facing our oceans but also contributed to finding solutions. As a business we have committed ourselves to use only 100 per cent recycled polyester by 2024. We are challenging our business and those around us to think about the decisions they make and how they impact the future, of not just our industry but our planet.”

"Run for the Oceans is an opportunity to celebrate the oceans, a place where runners unite to dedicate their time and energy and generate investment towards saving our oceans – this year, for our new activist platform, a global stage for the next generation of creators, leaders, and thinkers," said Cyrill Gutsch, founder and CEO, Parley for the Oceans.

“Youth are our biggest hope, since they are driven by the strongest of all motivations: their own survival. We are more than grateful for the generous support of our founding partner adidas. It allows us to grow the movement into a superstorm of change,” he noted.

Through their partnership, adidas and Parley have intercepted vast amounts of plastic waste from marine environments and coastal communities, turning Ocean Plastic^® into sportswear since 2015.

Timed to coincide with Run for the Oceans 2019, adidas introduces its Alphabounce+Parley and a full range of new sports apparel, ambitiously driving towards its 2024 goal of eliminating the use of virgin polyester from all products.

The range is crafted from recycled plastic waste delivering eco-innovation and style without compromising on performance.

The stylish and sustainable apparel includes the men’s Parley 4KRFT Shorts and women’s Parley Believe This Tights, both made from at least 75 per cent recycled plastic waste.

To join the movement and Run for the Oceans between June 8 and 16, runners worldwide can sign up and track their runs by joining the Run For The Oceans challenge via the Runtastic app.

For every kilometer run, adidas will contribute $1 to the Parley Ocean School (capped at $1.5 million).

For more information and to sign up, visit adidas.com/runfortheoceans.