More Sustainable Materials

We strive to create the best sporting goods. At the same time we want to reduce any potential impact this has on the planet. This is why we adopt increasingly more sustainable materials for making our products. We align our approach to more sustainable materials with internationally recognized industry definitions: “A fiber or raw material that delivers consistently reduced impacts and increased benefits for climate, nature, and people against the conventional equivalent, through a holistic approach to transforming production systems.”  

Find out more about our latest progress in our 2023 Annual Report

Besides transforming our portfolio to preferred fibers and materials, we are constantly exploring new innovative materials to incorporate into our products. Our approach is to be transparent about the materials we use, their environmental impact, and our efforts to mitigate any potential negative effects. Working with industry partners is essential to navigate this journey. (See Our Collaborations) 

In the following sections, we dive into the reasons behind our material choices, the effects they can have on the environment and people, and our approach to addressing potential impacts.

NATURAL RUBBER

WHY DO WE USE RUBBER?

The natural rubber used in our footwear soles and accessories enhances durability and water resistance, which protects against water penetration and increases performance. Natural rubber can be used as a stand-alone ingredient or mixed with synthetic rubber in our products.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

While synthetic rubber is sourced from crude oil, natural rubber is sourced from rubber trees in tropical regions. Natural rubber is a commodity that may be linked to man-made deforestation, as old forests may be cleared to make place for rubber plantations. This leads to environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss, release of carbon emissions, but also causes social impacts on local communities and indigenous peoples.

OUR APPROACH

We are increasing the use of recycled rubber wherever possible and also exploring innovative materials that can substitute natural rubber. The use of recycled rubber is still very limited due to the impact on the performance (i.e. durability, flexibility) of such materials. As part of our deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) commitments, we are working to source certified natural rubber that aligns with adidas’ environmental and social standards.

COTTON

WHY DO WE USE COTTON?

Cotton is a natural fiber with remarkable qualities, including comfort, high versatility, moisture wicking, and breathability. As a result, cotton is the third most used material in adidas products.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

We recognize that the cultivation of cotton may have environmental impacts which affect water, biodiversity and soil ie. through the use of fertilizers, and also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

OUR APPROACH

Since the end of 2018, 100% of the cotton we use has come from more sustainable sources, including organic, recycled, and other third-party certified cotton like Better Cotton. During the 2022/23 cotton season, adidas participated in the ‘Organic Cotton Accelerator’s Farm Program’ and sourced organic cotton from smallholder farmers in India.

Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability program with a farm-level approach to improving cotton production. Some of the environmental benefits of Better Cotton are reduced synthetic pesticide use, reduced water use, and higher cotton yield compared to average non Better Cotton farmers (Better Cotton, 2020). Better Cotton is traced in a mass balance chain of custody model  and is therefore not  physically traceable to end products. However, sourcing Better Cotton helps to transform the cotton sector towards more sustainable practices.

Organic cotton is grown using nature-based solutions to manage pests and build healthy soil systems. This approach eliminates synthetic pesticides and fertilizers commonly used in conventional cotton farming. By opting for organic methods, cotton farmers reduce their reliance on agrochemicals, minimize worker exposure to potentially toxic compounds, support biodiversity, maintain healthy ecosystems, and improve soil quality. All organic cotton used in our products is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard or the Organic Content Standard

In addition to Better Cotton and organic cotton, we incorporate mechanically recycled cotton into our products wherever possible. This involves collecting post-production waste from our own supply chain to ensure using only cotton that meets our quality standards. These collected fibers are mechanically shredded and spun into new yarn. Using recycled cotton replaces the need for virgin cotton and helps us diversify our materials portfolio.

Furthermore, we have piloted chemically recycled cotton in collaboration with the Infinited Fibre Company. This material is created from post-consumer cotton waste. The waste is recycled into pulp, which is then transformed into new fibers.