In mid-2019, the massive sportswear brand Adidas launched a shoe silhouette––called the Parley––that was almost completely constructed using recycled plastics collected from the ocean waters.
Following suit, Adidas recently constructed a football (soccer) field in Miami––using about 1.8 million plastic bottles in the making. That’s nearly 40,000 pounds of plastic waste that is being repurposed for good use.
The soccer field uses plastic bottles that came from coastal communities, remote islands, beaches, shorelines, and the like, with the main goal of repurposing ocean plastics that would have otherwise continued to pollute the environment. Prior to being used in the construction of the soccer field, the plastic was cleaned and treated before ultimately being turned into pellets. These pellets were used in the making of the field to help athletes maintain cushioning and traction during their intense sports events.
In a recent interview, North America director of Adidas Football Cameron Collins said, “We believe that through sport we have the power to change lives, and this field is a demonstration of our taking action on that belief. More than a place for these young athletes to play, it’s a reminder of our collective responsibility to end plastic waste.”
Adidas Football of North America built the soccer field as a donated gift to the Edison High School in Miami, Florida.
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