Adidas' adizero Prime Parley is Made From Recycled Parley Ocean Plastic

Earlier this year at the IAAF World Championships, Amy Cragg became the first American woman to medal in the marathon at the World Championships since 1983, Mo Farah won his sixth and final consecutive 10000M race, and Usain Bolt lost his final career race.

Following the week's events, adidas launched the adizero Prime Parley to celebrate the running festivities. The adizero Prime is a fast-focused, elite running shoe with the same engine and construction as adidas’ marathon world-record setting models but the adizero Prime Parley is a uniquely different than its predecessors.

The limited edition shoe is made with Parley. Parley is adidas' partner in the Parley A.I.R Strategy, which is an initiative that turns ocean plastic waste into thread that is woven into running shoes. Each shoe uses an average of 11 plastic bottles per pair and incorporates recycled plastic into the shoe's laces, heel webbing, heel lining, and sock liner covers.

Parley's website claims that at least 40 million pounds of plastic has accumulated and is floating in the North Pacific Ocean alone. The majority of the plastic debris remains in the Vortexes, or, the five ocean whirlpools where the plastic collects, however a significant percentage of it washes onto our coastlines daily. After sunlight photodegrades the plastic into small pieces, aquatic life and seabirds mistake these fragments for food and ingest it, raising the question about the safety of our seafood.

“As a global brand, we have a responsibility to help change the world for the better,” Mathias Amm, product category director at Adidas Running, said in a statement. “These designs reflect our support for a great cause, while delivering the exceptional performance we are renowned for.”, Amm told FootwearNews.com.

Other than its sustainable materials, The adidas adizero Prime Parley uses the same world renown adidas technology throughout the shoe that makes it one of the best selling racing shoes to date.

The sole uses the ultra-responsive comfort and cushioning of Boost, whilst the TORSION^®​ SYSTEM,  supports the foot’s natural flex from heel to toe. A Continental™ natural rubber outsole provides all-weather traction, and the Primeknit upper, made of 95% Parley Ocean Plastic, wraps the whole upper foot to supply a lightweight and adaptive fit.

This Prime Parley is currently available at our Old Town store.