“Sustainability Means Using Less Plastic and Less Animal Material” Says Adidas
The clothing giant is committed to next-gen animal-free fabrics and sustainable alternatives, with more than 60 percent of its products now made with sustainable materials.
Adidas’ vegan Stan Smith sneakers at a launch event in London. Credit: adidas.
In a move closer towards ending plastic waste and committing to sustainable animal-free materials, adidas have announced that this year will be the first time that more than 60 percent of all of the brands products will be made with sustainable materials.
This drive towards more sustainable and environmentally-friendly fabrics is leading clothing giants like adidas to invest and develop more and more vegan lines that don’t use resource-intensive materials like animal leather and animal fur.
“For adidas, sustainability means using less plastic and less animal material”, says the brand in a statement regarding their sustainability plans.
In 2020, a vegan version of the brand's classic Stan Smith trainers quickly became bestsellers. And this year, adidas is set to break new ground with the development of a cutting-edge new material that is a biological leather alternative made from mycelium - a mushroom.
In addition to vegan leathers, adidas is also committing to more products made from recycled materials. The brand aims this year to produce 17 million pairs of shoes with recycled plastic waste collected from beaches and coastal regions, after making more than 15 million in 2020.
Whether recycled materials or animal-free alternatives, sustainable fashion is not just good for the planet, but animals too. More than a billion cows, pigs, goats, sheep, alligators, ostriches, kangaroos, and even dogs and cats are cruelly slaughtered for their skins every year. But thankfully, more and more brands like adidas are now using cutting-edge and cruelty-free alternatives.
“Not only does our commitment make adidas more sustainable, but it also drives the development of the whole industry,” said adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted.
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An estimated two million wild kangaroos are slaughtered every year to produce “k-leather”, which is used in certain models of soccer cleats.