adidas + parley make soccer kits with ocean recovered plastic

today adidas and parley for the oceans have unveiled the first performance football products with the launch of the adidas + parley ‘real madrid’ and ‘bayern munich’ home soccer jerseys. the jerseys will be seen on-pitch for the first and only time when bayern take on TSG 1899 hoffenheim on saturday 5 november; and real madrid face real sporting de gijón on saturday 26 november.

marcelo makes a splash for the collaboration

made from parley ocean plastic and water-based environmentally friendly prints, the all-white real madrid and all-red bayern munich kits feature the club logo; three stripes; and sponsors’ logos in the same color as the kit for a unique look. the ocean plastic used in the jerseys is created from up-cycled marine plastic pollution intercepted by parley clean-up operations in coastal areas of the maldives. to reflect the jersey’s unique story and parley’s commitment to the oceans, both club and sponsors agreed not to have the logo visible in order to make the adidas shirt as sustainable as possible. the one-off kit design also features mesh inserts on the inside of sleeves for improved ventilation; a back-neck tape with the message ‘for the oceans’; and an adidas + parley loop label with an integrated NFC chip, to offer fans further information on the partnership.

features same color for badge + sponsor

‘it’s an honour to go on this journey with adidas and to have the opportunity to wear the adidas + parley kit on-pitch for the first time. with every second breath we take coming from our oceans, it’s really important that we do what we can do safeguard them. wearing a kit that is made from recyclable ocean waste is something I’m very happy about as it’s a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about the need to protect and preserve our oceans. I know this is the start of something very special,’ said bayern munich midfielder, xabi alonso.

los blancos are whiter than before

real madrid left back, marcelo, said: ‘the ocean is a place I hold close to my heart after growing up in rio de janeiro and I have fond memories of playing on the beach when I was a kid. it’s amazing to be part of this project and to know that the club I love is making a difference in helping to keep the oceans clean.’

available from 4th + 26th november

as a founding member, adidas supports parley for the oceans in its education and communication programs, as well as its comprehensive ocean plastic program that intends to end plastic pollution of the oceans though the three pillars of the parley A.I.R. strategy: avoid, intercept and redesign. additionally, adidas and parley collaborate to turn ocean waste into high-performance apparel by converting up-cycled marine plastic debris into technical yarn fibers.