Dezeen Magazine

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

Adidas uses ocean plastic for coral-coloured Real Madrid kits

Spanish football club Real Madrid has a new kit made from recycled plastic, created by Adidas and environmental organisation Parley for the Oceans.

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

The kit, which is made from plastic rescued from or near the ocean, was created as part of a continuing collaboration between Adidas and Parley for the Oceans to highlight the issue of plastic pollution in the world's seas.

It is Real Madrid's third kit, worn for the 2018/19 La Liga football season, which kicks of this Friday. Real Madrid's first game is on 19 August.

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

The shirt is a coral colour, as a direct reference to the ocean.

"The jersey's unique colouring represents various shades of coral; a homage to the beauty of the oceans that we need to protect," said Adidas.

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

Adidas is a long-time collaborator with Parley for the Oceans and first unveiled a pair of sports shoes made from recycled ocean waste in 2015. Two years later, the sportswear company updated a classic design from the 1990s to create a shoe from ocean plastic.

The sportswear brand has committed to using recycled plastic in all its products by 2024.

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

Along with demonstrating how recycled plastic can be used in mainstream manufacturing processes, the initiative between the two organisations is designed to increase awareness of the issue of ocean pollution.

"Real Madrid has the power to amplify our message, to share it with their massive global following, and to bring it to life with their own decisions and actions," said Cyrill Gutsch founder of Parley for the Oceans.

Real Madrid's kits made from ocean plastic by Adidas

"The message is an urgent one. It addresses the survival of our oceans, of our own species. It addresses the massive problem of marine plastic pollution," he continued.

"It questions the material itself and defines plastic as a prime example of a toxic substance which we can’t afford anymore. It creates too much damage to our oceans and our own health. That is why we are calling for a material revolution."

Manchester United's third kits for this season will also be made from ocean plastic.