why nature matters
Our connection to nature is one of both reliance and responsibility. The materials we use to create our products – such as cotton, leather, rubber, and timber – come directly from natural systems. At the same time, our operations, both direct and indirect, can impact ecosystems through water use, emissions, and chemicals use. That is why we focus on three priorities: protecting biodiversity, safeguarding water resources, and advancing responsible chemical management. At adidas, we are working toward deforestationfree supply chains, reducing our impact on freshwater environments, phasing out hazardous substances, strengthening chemical monitoring, and collaborating across the industry to promote safer alternatives. We are actively driving progress through targeted initiatives and partnerships across biodiversity, water, and chemicals management.
BIODIVERSITY: OUR APPROACH
BIODIVERSITY: OUR APPROACH
Biodiversity is essential to the ecosystems we depend on, but it faces growing pressure from deforestation, land conversion, and resource over-extraction. At adidas, we are managing our impact on biodiversity throughout our value chain, focusing especially on improving our sourcing of natural materials like cotton, leather, and rubber. To protect biodiversity, we do not source raw materials from endangered and/or threatened species and have put in place specific rules for animal-derived materials. For more information, please see our animal-derived materials standard.
Our approach to biodiversity follows the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) framework, which guides us through three key steps:
1. Assess impacts in our value chain
We start by understanding our impact across our value chain by tracing our materials and identifying any risks to biodiversity along the way. This assessment extends beyond our own operations, also taking our sourcing and strategic supplier locations into account. These insights drive our strategy and inform targeted actions.
2. Avoid and reduce impacts
We reduce impacts by collecting additional due diligence information and using certification for our materials, while reducing virgin raw material consumption. This includes increasing recycled content and investing in the research of new materials that have the potential to lower our environmental footprint.
BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS POLICY
Our Biodiversity and Ecosystems policy addresses adidas’ commitment to reduce pressure on biodiversity, specifically on protected and endangered natural ecosystems, including respecting the rights of local communities. adidas is committed to no deforestation, conversion and degradation in the supply chains which we source from, and to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems (including Ancient and Endangered Forests) affected by our business operations.
Read the full policy here.
key biodiversity initiatives
Understanding biodiversity risks in our own operations
We want to ensure that the locations of our offices and distribution centers are not conflicting with biodiversity-sensitive areas. Therefore, we use internationally recognized tools like the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), including the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, to see how our operations might impact the local environment. This helps us to identify areas where we can improve and take proactive steps to minimize our impact. For more details on our biodiversity assessments, see our 2025 Annual Report. These assessments are shared locally and included in our Integrated Management System (IMS), as part of our certification systems.
Our IMS supports securing key ISO certifications across our locations, ensuring compliance with environmental, health & safety, and energy management standards.
Traceability and supply chain transparency
We map our value chain to develop an understanding of our social and environmental impact.
- Mapping our materials supply chain: We map our materials supply chain for cotton, recycled polyester, leather, and man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCFs). This work helps us understand where our materials originate and their potential environmental impacts. Mapping our materials also supports our aim to achieve deforestation and conversionfree (DCF) supply chains for highrisk commodities (leather, natural rubber, and timber-derived materials) by 2030, by highlighting where risks exist and helping us prioritize the actions needed. In 2025, we conducted a comprehensive supply chain mapping aiming to have supplier visibility until T4+ or farm level, whenever possible: for bovine leather, all the way back to slaughterhouses and farms, for natural rubber and MMCFs, back to the aggregator or pulp mill, respectively, and for cotton, back to the ginning or farm level.
- Working with suppliers: We share our ambitions and targets for deforestation‑ and conversion‑free supply chains with our suppliers through onboarding sessions, where we present our standard operating procedures (SOPs) for responsible material sourcing. This enables us to maintain an open dialogue and to strengthen collaboration across the supply chain, while also working closely with them to identify practical solutions that support these commitments or requirements.
- Connecting social and environmental responsibility: We integrate social considerations into all our biodiversity initiatives, ensuring that rights of local communities are respected when changes to natural ecosystems occur. Learn more about our commitment to Human Rights.
Cross-industry collaboration and initiatives
We know that safeguarding biodiversity requires more than just individual action and that it is only through collective effort that we can drive the systemic change needed to make a difference. This is why we're involved in various initiatives that promote sustainable practices across industries, centered on the following topics:
- Collaboration on deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains: We actively contribute to industry working groups such as the Deforestation-free Call to Action for Bovine Leather by the Textile Exchange, the Chain of Custody Task Team by the Leather Working Group, and the Global Traceability Framework for Beef and Leather by Wholechain, Rever, and World Wildlife Fund to advance the development of standards and systems for traceability and deforestation-free protocols. We also support local initiatives such as the Certification of Origin and Traceability Implementation Initiative (COTI) to improve transparency in our leather supply chains. For timber-related products, we are part of discussions groups from Canopy to drive collective changes in the MMCF and packaging supply chains. In addition, adidas participates in the Textile Exchange’s round tables for leather, cotton, biosynthetics, and man-made cellulosics.
- Steps towards regenerative agriculture: We contribute to industry standards that support a transition to regenerative agricultural systems, which restore ecosystems and promote healthier environments. As a brand representative, we contribute to the Regenerative Agriculture Outcome Framework by Textile Exchange. This framework supports the fashion and textile industry in measuring outcomes of regenerative practices over time. adidas is also founding member of the ‘Unlock’ program, a non-profit, cross-industry initiative housed by Future Earth Lab and supported by The Fashion Pact, designed to decarbonize raw materials production and catalyze a shift to regenerative farming.
- Responsible Sourcing: We source our materials according to a range of credible certification schemes to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards. Visit the Materials section to learn about this.
WATER: OUR APPROACH
WATER: OUR APPROACH
Water is essential for life, and at adidas, we're committed to using it responsibly. We focus on reducing our water footprint by increasing efficiency in our own operations and supply chain, and ensuring the water discharged is clean and safe.
We take a collaborative approach to water stewardship, working with our suppliers to ensure responsible water use through target-setting, enhancing wastewater quality, and implementing key water initiatives. Through continuous improvement and water management practices, we aim to minimize our environmental impacts related to freshwater.
KEY WATER INITIATIVES
Improving water efficiency
Improving water efficiency in our own operations
We are committed to using water responsibly in our own offices, distribution centers, and production sites. We are always looking for ways to reduce our water footprint. And we are making good progress: In 2025, we achieved a 20% reduction in water intensity across our own operations (baseline: 2019), meeting and exceeding our 2025 target.
Improving water efficiency in our supply chain
Collaborating closely with our suppliers, we have been monitoring their water consumption, implementing water-saving initiatives, and driving efficiency improvements.
All our suppliers have installed water meters at workshop level to identify consumption hotspots and implement saving practices, such as investing in low-liquid ration dyeing machines. We are continuously reducing the freshwater consumption in high water-impact Tier 2 facilities in collaboration with the local Tier 2 supplier teams. We set waterintensity reduction targets to help lower the water footprint associated with our Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.
Through our suppliers’ commitment and ongoing improvement of their water management practices, we exceeded our 2025 water intensity reduction target of 40% for Tier 2 suppliers (baseline 2017), achieving a 43% reduction.
WATER INTENSITY AT TIER 2 PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN % VS. 2017 BASELINE
Assessing water risks across our value chain
We conduct an annual supply chain water risk mapping to identify water risks in our own operations and core supplier locations. By using World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Aqueduct 4.0 tool, we look at physical, reputational, and regulatory water-related risks. The results of this risk assessment support our decisions when it comes to target-setting and choosing the right water projects in our value chain.
Clean water
We are committed to clean water to preserve healthy natural habitats. We work closely with industry stakeholders and suppliers to enhance the quality of water discharge. As a signatory member of Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) group, we contributed to the development of the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines – an industry standard aimed at harmonizing the process, test methods, and requirements. Since 2017, our suppliers have fully adopted this industry standard, and their wastewater performance is publicly disclosed on third party platforms such as IPE DETOX and ZDHC Gateway portal. To support our suppliers in meeting the ZDHC requirements, we have partnered with Sustainable Textile Solution (STS) to improve their wastewater treatment plant technology. This partnership helps us fulfil our wastewater targets. See more in our Targets section.
Toward science-based targets for nature
Honoring our commitment to reducing pressure on nature, we marked a significant milestone in 2025 by laying the foundation for science-based targets for nature and completing steps 1 and 2 of the Science Based Target Network (SBTN) framework. We are convinced that these steps will assist us in driving meaningful changes in activities related to freshwater in our direct operations and supply chain. The results of steps 1 and 2 will be used as the basis for the next phase of the target-setting process. We are currently seeking external validation of these results as a basis for evaluating next steps toward step 3 for freshwater.
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT: OUR APPROACH
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT: OUR APPROACH
Chemicals play a critical role in apparel and footwear production, but we recognize their potential impact on the environment and people. To develop high-performance products with lower environmental impact, we pursue the adoption of safer chemicals. At adidas, we implement a holistic chemical management approach across our supply chain, which is crucial to eliminating hazardous substances and minimizing the risks and hazards to the environment and people. We aim to monitor the chemicals being introduced into the input process at our suppliers' manufacturing facilities, together with sound output wastewater management control, to prevent the release of hazardous substances into the environment and support product safety..
We see the need for pragmatic and implementable chemical management guidance for our suppliers that can be used to reduce the environmental footprint in our supply chain. As signatory and founding member of Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), we work closely with industry partners to develop harmonized guidelines and tools, such as the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) and Wastewater Guidelines, for our supply chain partners. These programs are implemented and regularly verified to ensure that best practices and the existing chemical management tools are truly applied in our supply chain.
In addition, we enforce stringent measures through our adidas A-01 Restricted Substances List. We also conduct regular testing of materials, products and supplier facilities to ensure the absence of restricted chemical substances to protect the health and well-being of our consumers and uphold our environmental stewardship.
Explore our latest report for detailed information on our chemical management progress reports.
Adopting the highest conformance chemicals
Since 2015, we have been adhering to the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) and its conformance guidance, establishing a strong foundation for the industry harmonization of the input chemical management. Since 2021, we have defined a clear target for our suppliers to adopt chemicals that meet the highest ZDHC MRSL conformance level 3. In addition, we effectively monitor the introduction of chemicals throughout our supply chain. This establishes a robust compliance foundation within our supply chain, effectively preventing hazardous substances from entering our production processes and ultimately being incorporated into our products.
Catalyzing chemical transparency, while fostering collaboration
To increase the adoption of the highest conformance chemicals within our complex supply chain, we have established a robust measurement and tracking system to capture chemical inventory information from our suppliers via BVE3. This system lays the foundation for effective monitoring, thereby enhancing transparency in chemical usage and identifying the potential areas for streamlining to reduce the chemical usage in our production process.
Managing chemicals in a multi-tiered supply chain is complex and requires the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders to achieve effective and long-lasting solutions. Hence, we closely collaborate with different stakeholders such as ZDHC, AFIRM, ChemSec, Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Canopy, and the Leather Working Group (LWG) to develop and scale collective efforts to promote safe chemistry and low environmental impact practices within apparel and footwear industry.
Improving wastewater treatment
To reduce the environmental impact of discharged wastewater, we require our suppliers to implement the best available technology and practices in their onsite effluent treatment plant to meet ZDHC wastewater standards. Our approach includes regular monitoring, onsite advisory service and enhance treatment process. This aims to minimize the release of pollutants to environment and safeguard our ecosystem. For further information, please visit our annual report dashboard
Chemicals we do not use
Chemicals are integral to the production process, contributing to the quality and functionality of our final products. However, certain substances, despite their functional benefits, may pose irreversible risks to human health or the environment, even when used appropriately. To address this, we maintain a comprehensive list of restricted substances, which are strictly prohibited in any circumstances. Below are some commonly restricted substances that must not be used.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and phthalates
In 2000, we were one of the first companies in the global consumer goods sector to work towards the elimination of PVC from our products. Alternatives have been found and nearly all styles in our global product range are now PVC-free. There are a few countries where alternatives are not available, but in these cases we remain committed to finding a long-term solution.
Since 2003, we have removed polyethylene chloride from our products because it has a similar environmental impact as PVC. We are also encouraging switching to phthalatefree inks. An increasing number of our suppliers have already made the change, helping us reduce harmful chemicals across products.
Perfluoralkyl & Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
adidas is committed to being more than 99% PFAS-free. In 2023, an industry-wide supplier informed us that paint containing PFAS was incorrectly used for individual components of zippers in our PFAS free apparel range. Upon learning this, we have taken appropriate steps to ensure that we will return to being 99% PFAS-free as of Fall/Winter 2024.
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
In 2013, in the framework of the joint roadmap for the elimination of hazardous chemicals by 2020, we committed to phasing out the use of long-chain PFCs by no later than January 1, 2015. As a further step, we committed to being 99% PFC-free by no later than December 31, 2017. By the end of 2018, we met a further target of being more than 99% free of poly- and perfluorinated substances in our products for the fall/winter 2019 season.
Volatile organic compounds
The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) typically found in solvents used in our manufacturing process can – in high concentrations – cause breathing difficulties and other health problems for production workers. For over a decade, we have requested that our footwear suppliers significantly reduce the use of VOCs in their manufacturing. By applying innovative and environmentally sound bonding and priming technologies while following the adidas guidelines on the use of chemicals, our athletic footwear suppliers have been able to reduce the use of VOCs significantly, for example through the use of water-based primers and reactive hot-melt adhesives.
For more information on restricted substances, see our Policy for the Control and Monitoring of Hazardous Substances
Nature partnerships and collaboration
Partnerships are a big part of our work. Explore our key collaborations below:
Achievements in a flash (2025)
SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS FOR NATURE
In 2025, we successfully completed the foundational steps for science-based targets for nature (SBTN Steps 1 and 2), enhancing our strategic alignment with adidas’ decarbonization and deforestation-free goals. We believe these steps will support us in driving meaningful changes in our direct operations and supply chain, to address our impacts and dependencies on nature.
CDP RECOGNITION
We achieved a B rating in forests and water security disclosure themes, reflecting steady progress in these areas.
TEXTILE EXCHANGE MATERIALS BENCHMARK – CALL TO ACTION FOR BOVINE LEATHER
We achieved a score of 14 out of 15 (11 out of 15 in 2024) in measuring our progress toward becoming deforestation and conversionfree for bovine leather by 2030. This score is part of the Textile Exchange 2025 DeforestationFree Call to Action for Leather benchmark, where signatory brands report their progress toward the 2030 goals. It reflects our performance against the program’s KPIs and expectations.
CHAMPION LEVEL IN THE ZDHC ‘BRANDS TO ZERO’ PROGRAM
This is the third consecutive year that adidas has achieved the highest level in the ‘Brands to Zero’ program, demonstrating our effort on driving chemical management in our supplier base.
CHAMPION LEVEL IN CITI INDEX
We were ranked at the top for annual evaluations of green supply chain management among 280 companies. This evaluation covers environmental management, extending practices beyond direct business operation, and enhancing transparency.
Nature
Nature sustains a healthy planet. At adidas, we understand our dependencies and impacts on nature, and see how everything is interconnected: healthy soil nurtures biodiversity, clean water supports thriving communities, and responsible chemical use protects natural systems.
Nature
Nature sustains a healthy planet. At adidas, we understand our dependencies and impacts on nature, and see how everything is interconnected: healthy soil nurtures biodiversity, clean water supports thriving communities, and responsible chemical use protects natural systems.