How the Company Is Shaking Up Its Industry for the Better
Hunter Langley
Seventy-four percent of Americans want to protect the environment, making it an indisputable bipartisan issue. Fifty-five percent wanted Trump’s administration to make it a top priority in 2017. Still only 20 percent of adults go out of the way “all the time” to make an effort in helping the environment (Pew Research). With almost three quarters there has to be a better way to help the environment in the daily lives of consumers.
Currently, there are 80 thousand tons of plastics polluting the oceans. In 2015, the sneaker giant Adidas partnered with Parley, an organization dedicated to cleaning up oceans and protecting wildlife. Adidas is not only turning a profit, they are actually doing good in the process.
Adidas sponsors an annual event called Run for the Oceans which includes six different cities hosting 12 running events to raise money for Parley. Adidas even matched $1 per kilometer for up to 1,000,000 kilometers. Adidas General Manager Andre Maestrini said, “We have created a unique global platform that gives everyone the opportunity to impact their lives by joining a collective running movement that fights marine plastic pollution. Seeing the Adidas family unite for a shared purpose is what makes the campaign so powerful.”
The Parley products themselves also contribute to the oceans. The top part of the shoe, known as the “primeknit upper” is made up of about 85%-95% ocean plastics, which is equivalent to around 11 plastic bottles per pair. Most of the Parley shoes are contain an extremely comfortable boost midsole. The ultraboost is one of these models which is widely regarded as the most comfortable shoe you can buy.
The Parley line is more relevant to the average consumer now than they were even 2 years ago due the fact that all the products were selling out instantly. The Adidas hype has died down and with that the consumer has the ability to not only purchase the Parley products for retail but they also go on sale and Footlocker and its subsidiaries like Champs have 20 percent off codes on a regular basis and military discount is 20 percent on most products.
Adidas is making a good amount of profit and getting a positive public image. Parley is preventing plastic bottles and other such goods from getting into the ocean ecosystems. The consumers are getting a great product the looks good and is extremely comfortable and they are spreading awareness about a product that absolutely deserves it.
