// Adidas and Allbirds join forces to launch a sustainable project
// The initiative includes reducing carbon dioxide emitted by the footwear industry each year
Adidas and shoes retailer Allbirds have teamed up to launch a project to accelerate solutions in reducing the 700M metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted by the footwear industry each year.
The partnership aims to innovate on manufacturing and supply chain processes in addition to exploring renewable material resources, resulting in a low carbon footprint.
To achieve this, Adidas and Allbirds will open the doors to each other’s suite of sustainable innovations and will set out a new industry standard in the fight against climate change.
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“Our brands don’t want to just participate in the sustainability conversation, we want to continue being catalysts and creators of substantial improvement,” Adidas vice president of brand strategy James Carnes said.
“The recent progress that our brands have made in the name of sustainable innovation has created the perfect momentum for this partnership to influence industry practices forever.”
Allbirds co-chief executive Tim Brown said: “There is an urgent need to reduce our global carbon number, and this mission is bigger than just Allbirds or adidas.”
“Whether we realise it or not this is a race that we are all running together as a planet and it is one that trumps the day-to-day competition of individual companies.
“I am hopeful that this partnership will be an example for others to follow as we pursue a more sustainable, net zero carbon future.”
The collaboration will explore innovations across the entire supply chain–from material choices to manufacturing facilities and transportation methods that utilise renewable energy and fuels.
Currently, the average running shoe has a carbon footprint of approximately 13.6 kg CO22.
Carnes said: “While we are prioritising the planet, we’re staying committed to improving the athlete’s experience.”
“That means the end result should yield no compromises for athletes or the planet.
Brown added: “Our great hope is that this partnership will catalyse other people to share both their best ideas and research so that we can work together in the fight to live more sustainably,. This is a problem that won’t be solved by one company alone.”
Adidas has committed to a 30 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of its End Plastic Waste initiative.
Meanwhile, Allbirds’ ‘Tread Lighter’ program is established to reduce emissions across the entirety of the business.
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