SPORTSWEAR FROM OCEAN PLASTIC

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By Miriam Raftery

Photo: NOAA, public domain image

May 6, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Plastic poses a major hazard to our oceans and to marine life.  There are nearly 270 million tons of plastic in the world’s oceans. Each year, as many as 135,000 whales become entangled in plastic debris, according to the World Society for the Protection of Animals.  Other animals such as turtles, fish and birds can also become entangled or ingest the plastic – which enters the food chain and affects us all.

But now Adidas, a global maker of athletic clothing and shoes, has announcing it will be collecting plastic trash from the ocean and recycling it into wearable items for consumers.

The company is partnering with Parley, which aims to collect 10,000 tons of plastic this year from coastlines around the world.

The solution isn’t perfect, since garments can shed fibers during washing that ultimately wind up washed back out to the seas.

But Adidas’ commitment to cleaning up the seas has another benefit – providing a platform to educate consumers around the world about the problems caused by ocean plastic—and the need to use alternative materials wherever possible.


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Comments

Ocean Waste

Ships dump trash and waste at sea, there's no monitoring, Adidas,is using the idea that they are stewards of nature for their own gain. That's just wrong.