Today, adidas Running shares the impact of the US$1 million raised in 2018 from Run For The Oceans, and announces that the global initiative will return once again on World Oceans Day, June 8 with the increased goal this year of raising US$1.5 million to continue to invest in the education of future generations on the issue of marine plastic pollution.
In 2018, adidas created a global movement with Run For The Oceans, uniting nearly one million runners from around the world and raising $1 million for long-term partner Parley for the Oceans. To date, the money raised has helped directly educate and empower 100,000 youth and their families who are living in coastal areas affected by plastic pollution to take action as part of the Parley Ocean School Program. The partnership saw five million pairs of shoes created using recycled ocean plastic in 2018 alone.
In 2019, adidas is upping the pace of change. The introduction of the 2019 Parley range will see the company produce a landmark 11 million pairs of shoes using upcycled marine plastic waste. The campaign this year will also unite more runners in more locations than ever before to lace up and Run For The Oceans in order to reach its increased goal of US$1.5m. For every kilometer completed between June 8 and 16, adidas will contribute US$1 to Parley Ocean School programs, with every dollar going towards the next phase of the partnership with the development and launch of the Parley youth activist platform.
With the aim of engaging more young people than ever before and inspiring long-term behavior change, the platform will host a digital curriculum which equips schoolchildren with the skills, tools and knowledge required to protect the planet’s oceans. It will also act as a digital space where young people can come together, share ideas and gain access to events, mentors, and tools. Sign-ups open for the Parley youth activist platform on World Ocean Day (June 8), with the goal of bringing the Parley Ocean School Program to a global level.
Through their partnership, adidas and Parley have intercepted vast amounts of plastic waste from marine environments and coastal communities, turning Ocean Plastic® into sportswear since 2015. Timed to coincide with Run For The Oceans 2019, adidas introduces its Alphabounce+ Parley, ambitiously driving towards its 2024 goal of eliminating the use of virgin polyester from all products. The Alphabounce+ Parley is designed with maximum support and comfort in mind, with tuned forging, a welded lacing system and an optimized fit.
To join the movement and Run For The Oceans between June 8 and 16, runners worldwide can sign up and track their runs by joining the Run For The Oceans challenge via the Runtastic app. Click here to download the Runtastic app, and join the Run For The Oceans Challenge to get started. For every kilometer run, adidas will contribute US$1 to the Parley Ocean School (capped at US$1.5 million). adidas will also host consumer events in New York, Barcelona and Shanghai.
