adidas + parley serve a recycled tennis court on australia's great barrier reef

THE FLOATING TENNIS COURT AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT PLASTIC ENTERING THE OCEANS

on the occasion of the australian open, adidas and parley for the oceans have set up a giant full-size sustainable tennis court in the middle of the great barrier reef. raising awareness about plastic entering the oceans, the court — made entirely from recycled plastic materials — floats atop the surface of a barge that regularly travels through the reef completing environmental marine construction projects. following a match between some of australia’s sport stars, the sustainable court was donated to a local townsville school.

the court also saw the launch of a high-performance apparel range made in part with parley ocean plastic. adidas claimed the 2022 tennis line features colors inspired by those found on the great barrier reef.

THE COURT WAS THEN DONATED TO A LOCAL SCHOOL

‘we collect plastic from coastal communities before it ends up in the oceans and turn it into yarn,’ said shannon morgan, senior director of the pacific section of the adidas brand. ‘you will see our athletes on the field at the australian open from monday with these garments made with that yarn. we are using a sporting event, the largest on our continent, to truly show the beauty of the coral reef.’

adidas has also stated they are committed to help end plastic waste and to eliminate virgin polyester from their products by 2025.

founded almost ten years ago, parley is a global network where creators, thinkers and leaders from the creative industries, brands, governments and environmental groups come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction. since 2015, adidas has been collaborating with parley, creating clothing and footwear made of recycled plastic which helps to mitigate the amount of plastic which ends up in the ocean.