In 2016, global sporting brand Adidas unveiled a limited edition sneaker made in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans. Parley for the Oceans is an initiative that organizes coastal clean-ups, removing plastic from beaches in the Maldives as well as floating ghost nets. This recycled plastic was used in the creation of the shoe, dubbed the Ultra Boost Uncaged Parley. 7,000 pairs were manufactured and quickly sold. In fact, sales were so successful that Adidas have now relaunched three of their most popular sneakers in the same environmentally friendly format – the Ultra Boost X Parley, the Ultra Boost Parley, and the original Ultra Boost Uncaged Parley.

The uppers of all three sneakers are made from 95% recycled plastic. Repurposed marine debris is also used in the production of the shoes’ laces, heel webbing, heel lining and sock liner covers – adding up to the equivalent of 11 plastic bottles per pair. The shoes are available in blue, or in a white designed to be “a wake-up call to the world about the coral bleaching crisis threatening the oceans”. Funds from the sales go to Parley for the Oceans’ AIR project, which is working on the research and development of new ways to up-cycle plastic as well as the invention of an alternative product to replace plastic in the clothing industry.