Adidas Creating Sneaker Designed with 3D Printed Plastic Ocean Waste

Sneaker heads unite, not just for shoes but to save the environment. Adidas announced that they are making innovative and eco-friendly concept shoes, designed with materials from recycled plastic from the ocean.

Adidas confirmed their partnership with Parley for the Oceans which is a movement dedicated to eliminate the plastic wastes in the ocean to create an eco-friendly shoe concept. They created a 3D-printed sneaker which uses the thread from recycled plastic collected from the sea. Adidas said "Adidas and Parley for the Oceans showcased an innovative footwear concept, a 3D-printed ocean plastic shoe midsole."

Adidas wanted to initiate the shift of the consumer behavior towards a more sustainable trend. Eric Liedtke, Adidas Group Executive Board member responsible for Global Brands said "The industry can't afford to wait for directions any longer. Together with the network of Parley for the Oceans, we have started taking action and creating new sustainable materials and innovations for athletes. The 3D-printed ocean plastic shoe midsole stands for how we can set new industry standards if we start questioning the reason of what we create. We want to bring everyone from the industry to the table and create sustainable solutions for big global problems."

According to Parley, they provide a venue "where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction." They were thrilled that giant companies such as Adidas are actively participating in the world's effort to save the ocean.

But living up to the Adidas standard, they made sure that the 3D-printed sneaker is not only eco-friendly but will appeal to their general market in terms of design and style.

The upper part of the concept shoe will be made of plastic content and the midsole of the shoe will be made of 3D printed materials from plastic waste gathered from the ocean.

It is not clear when the shoe will be available in the market, but experts are hoping that they will fly off the shelves because that would mean consumers are, in a way, also helping the environment.