Shoemaker and sportswear manufacturer Adidas sends an environmental message through concept sneakers in order to combat the issue of ocean pollution. With their partners of Parley for the Oceans, the German company has publicly spoken out against the serious problem of Earth’s waters being contaminated with toxic waste and plastic debris.
In 2006 it was reported that over 46,000 scattered pieces of plastic were found for every square mile of the oceanic surface. It is estimated that a million seabirds die every year and a staggering 100,000 more marine mammals perish due to pollution, and the number may be higher. With a large percent of the ocean still unknown to us, the damage may be even deeper than we can explore.
Through its joint forces with the environmental group, Adidas created a concept sneaker made entirely out of illegal gillnets and ocean trash, unveiled last week at an event hosted by the United Nations. The message was loud and clear. Recycling can find its use if preserving our own planetary oceans isn’t enough of an incentive.
The gillnets were gathered by another adjoining group, Sea Shepherd, who spent a long search of 110 days out to sea before it was able to catch a vessel near the African coasts and confiscate the materials. Gillnets are illegal due to their harmful reach and completely indiscriminating scrape of the ocean floor, killing aquatic fauna unnecessarily.
With the collected material, Adidas made use of every plastic string and fiber to create the prototype sneaker, speaking out against ocean pollution. Their intent was to both bring forward an important environmental message and use “innovative materials” with the same successful designs they have been known for.
The shoemaker company has also stated that they will slowly, but surely remove the company’s use of plastic bags in all its retail stores around the world. The objective is to raise awareness for ocean pollution, effectively calling out our need to protect and preserve the waters of our planet. It has been one of the fundamental environmental problems we have been facing and its fully deserving of that title.
The concept shoe is currently unnamed and has not been given an exact date of unveiling, but Adidas has released an illustrative representation. It should be expected this year and it will not be the only consumer-product that will be ocean friendly created by the company.
The group Parley for the Oceans has expressed their excitement for the project and hopes that this collaboration will bring more major companies to the fold. Adidas has also spoken out and requested the public to join them in this crucial battle for the preserving our planet’s waters.
Image source: brandchannel.com
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