The shoes will help Adidas reach its goal of creating 1 million pairs of
UltraBoost sneakers using ocean plastic. While Adidas has used
recycled polyester and sustainable cotton in previous products, most of
these eco-friendly production runs have been relatively small.
Meanwhile, rival Nike(NKE) has made strides to become more
sustainable by reusing wasteful materials to make new consumer
products.
Beyond the use of recycled plastics, shoe makers have become more
innovative and experimental in how they manufacture, source materials,
and use technology to make sneakers.
A short-list of new initiatives include Adidas’ 3D-printed shoes,
Reebok’s use of futuristic liquid material and 3D drawing,
Nike’s personalized marathon running shoes for elite athletes, and
Under Armour’s (UAA) connected footwear with built-in sensors.
Kate Kontos
Penelope Theodoraki Mariza Ntreou
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