Adidas launched Sport Infinity, a three-year research program to develop soccer cleats that can be repeatedly recycled, use no chemical adhesives and create no waste.
In a statement, Adidas said Sport Infinity is a research project led by Adidas and funded by the European Commission, which brings together a variety of industry and academic experts, and combines broken-down sports products with excess materials from other industries.
“So the football boots of the future could contain everything from carbon used in aircraft manufacturing to fibers of the boots that scored during the World Cup,” the statement read. “The new super-material will make every sports fan a product designer. A pair of boots can be restyled as often as the wearer wants without worrying about waste. Whether to keep up with the latest trends or react to on-pitch needs, the football fan of the future will never wear old boots again.”
Leo Messi, four-time Fifa Ballon D'or Winner, said, “I am proud that Adidas is working to make sure that all of their boots, including mine, are being made in a way that protects the environment. For me, this is the future of football.”
Gerd Manz, VP of Technology Innovation, Adidas, said, “This is a game-changing development for football fans. Over the next three years, Sport Infinity aims to end the days of throwing away football boots. Instead, every pair of boots is not just recycled but reimagined to the consumer’s most personal specifications.”
Glenn Bennett, executive board member, Global Operations, The Adidas Group, said, “Following the announcement of Speed Factory and our partnership with Parley for the Oceans, Sport Infinity is the next step in our commitment to innovation and sustainability. This project will close the sustainability loop, creating a high-performance product that can always be recycled.”
The Wall Street Journal noted that Adidas on Tuesday said it would join Microsoft Corp., Sony Corp. and several other companies in a United Nations initiative to become a “leading example” in tackling climate change by agreeing to measure its climate footprint and reduce emissions where possible. In April, Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans, through which it aims to make apparel out of recycled ocean waste.
The Adidas press release is here: http://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2015/messis-boots-today-recycled-yours-tomorrow/
