Sportswear giant Adidas has launched a fully recyclable sustainable
running shoe as part of its ‘Made to be Remade’ project.
The Adidas UltraBoost DNA Loop, was unveiled as part of the sportswear
brand’s new , and have been created from a
single material with zero glue. This means that the high-performance shoes
can be returned to Adidas at the end of their use to be broken down and
reused to create new trainers.
James Carnes, Adidas vice president of brand strategy, said in a
statement: “We don’t think of UltraBoost DNA Loop as simply a
high-performance running shoe, but as an experience where every owner plays
a vital part.
“To make this a success we need to understand the human element, how
people can be encouraged to return the shoes to be recycled,
because while we control the creation, we can only influence what happens
when the shoes leave us. We can’t get there alone.”
With that the human element in mind, Adidas is inviting up to 1,500
Adidas Creator Club members to take part in a beta test. This it states
will help shape the future of the ‘Made to be Remade’ initiative as it
looks to learn more about the consumer behaviours that need to be factored
into the process as it strives to make a “circular” manufacturing
process.
“UltraBoost DNA Loop is not just a shoe, it’s a movement,” added Carnes.
“And we want our community of creators to help us define a better future
where products are ‘Made to be Remade’.”
Adidas calling on Creator Club members to test run its new sustainable
running shoe – the UltraBoost DNA Loop
1,500 members will be given the shoes for free by Adidas and become part
of a “sustainability micro-community” who will co-create with the brand in
“a true open source fashion to further shape and fine-tune the experience”.
They will have to commit to returning the shoes to be “grinded, shredded
and turned into something new,” explains Adidas.
Each chosen member will take part in the 21-week programme, which will
be driven by the Adidas app, with the communities actions and feedback
helping to futureproof the next model.
To join the trial, Adidas Creator Club members will be asked to prove
their sustainability credentials by taking part in a quiz. Everyone who
completes the quiz will be entered into a global raffle and randomly
selected for the experience.
Their experiences will be the cornerstone of the full commercial release
of the ‘Made to be Remade’ franchise in 2021.
To launch the new sustainable shoe, Adidas has teamed up with model
Karlie Kloss who stars in the launch film and talks about her commitments
to social and environmental causes.
Kloss, added: “I’m honoured to help introduce the next iteration of the
UltraBoost DNA Loop concept during Creators Club Week. Through this shoe,
Adidas is leading an incredibly important conversation around circularity
and fabric innovation. We hope this launch inspires creators to join us as
we strive to create a more sustainable future together.”
Adidas pushes forward with ‘Made to be Remade’ concept with new
UltraBoost DNA Loop running shoe
The aim of the Adidas ‘Made to be Remade’ project is aimed at tackling
the problem of plastic waste, using recycled materials and creating ‘closed
loop’ or circular manufacturing models, where raw materials can be
repurposed again and again. But not just repurposed into a water bottle or
a tote, but into high-performance products.
This has created the UltraBoost DNA Loop, a high performance running
shoe made using just one material type and no glue. Each component is made
from 100 percent reusable TPU – it’s spun to yarn, knitted, moulded and
clean-fused to a Boost midsole.
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Once the UltraBoost DNA Loop comes to the end of their first life they
are then returned to Adidas, where they are washed, ground to pellets and
melted into material for components for a new pair of shoes, with less
waste. Each generation is designed to meet the Adidas sports performance
standard, without compromise.
The German brand has previously held two trials. The first in April
2019, where 200 creators were involved in testing the Gen 1 UltraBoost DNA
Loop running shoes, wearing them and then returning them to Adidas to be
reborn as well as providing valuable feedback on the design and process.
This was followed up with a second trial in November 2019, where the Gen 2
UltraBoost DNA Loop running shoes were produced and included recycled TPU
from the Gen 1 pairs.
Images: courtesy of Adidas