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Adidas and Allbirds Launch a Sustainable Sneaker

Adidas and Allbirds just joined forces on a sustainable sneaker. Get the scoop, plus discover other big brands making eco moves.

Written by
Kristine Nguyen
Published

Every month, we round up well-known companies that are making big moves toward sustainability. Because when the big guys make changes for a greener planet, those changes inspire others to follow suit.

From Adidas and Allbirds making a sustainable sneaker to Mattel launching a toy take-back program, there's a lot of progress to be proud of. Here are seven companies that put in the work to be more eco-friendly this month.

7 Companies Making Sustainable Moves

1. Adidas and Allbirds

Adidas just keeps making sustainable moves, and we're here for it. Just last month, Adidas introduced its Stan Smith Mylo sneakers—a shoe made with mushroom leather. The brand also launched its sustainable Primegreen collection earlier this year. Now, Adidas and Allbirds is collaborating on a sustainable sneaker.

"Our partnership with Allbirds is a beacon of what can happen when competing brands from the same industry see the possibilities in coming together to design," said Brian Grevy, an executive board member at Adidas, in a press release. "By truly co-creating and providing each other with open access to knowledge and resources—such as Allbirds' knowledge of carbon calculation and experience with natural materials, and Adidas' capabilities in manufacturing and performance footwear—this is a call-to-action for other brands, and a milestone in the sports industry achieving carbon neutrality."

This collaboration, titled the "FUTURECRAFT.FOOTPRINT," features a midsole made with Allbirds' sugarcane-based Sweetfoam and is based on Adidas' own Lightstrike midsole. The upper material is made with 70 percent recycled polyester and 30 percent natural Tencel. There will be a smaller release this year, then a wider release in Spring/Summer 2022.

2. El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco announced this month that it would be ditching Styrofoam for a new eco-conscious alternative. The new Thermo-To-Go packaging is made of partially-recycled materials and is made to keep food hotter for longer.

"Not only is our new Thermo-To-Go packaging better for the environment, but it's also sturdier and has an appealing aesthetic that showcases our food while preserving heat and quality," said Bernard Acoca, president and chief executive officer of El Pollo Loco, in a press release.

By making this change, it's said that they'll be able to remove 1.9 million cubic feet of Styrofoam from the national waste stream annually!

3. Mattel

Mattel thinks play shouldn't have a shelf life, which is why it just launched Mattel Playback, which recovers the materials used in old toys to turn them into into new ones. This program is designed to recover useful materials and reuse them in new Mattel toys, effectively keeping toys out of landfills.

If the material cannot be recycled or repurposed, Mattel Playback will downcycle them into other plastic products or convert them from waste to energy. Got some old Barbies shoved in a box in the basement? Here's your chance to give them a new life.

4. Pampers

Want a more eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers but not sure about using reusable diapers just yet? Pampers offers a little bit of both with its new Pure Protection Hybrid Diaper. This diaper pairs reusable cloth covers with disposable inserts to keep your baby's skin dry and healthy while still being able to produce less waste than your standard diaper.

Pamper's new hybrid diaper uses 25 percent less disposable materials, which means there's 25 percent less waste ending up in a landfill compared to its regular Pure Protection line. With lots of fun designs and how easy they are to use and clean, they're definitely worth a try if you're trying to make changing diapers a little more eco-friendly.

5. Mars Wrigley

Fresh breath on the go just got more green. Mars Wrigley is coming out with a new 30-piece Mega Pack for its classic Orbit gum that features an outer plastic package made to be recycled in over half of U.S. recycling streams.

This new Mega Pack is the product of Mars Wrigley's collaboration with How2Recycle, a standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. The new packs will now come with instructions on how to properly recycle the packaging, allowing everyday people to contribute less waste to landfills than before.

6. Prada

Even luxury brands are trying to be more sustainable. Prada's latest drop is not only fashionable, but also more eco-friendly. The new collection features minimalist denim pieces that use 100 percent Global Organic Textile Standard cotton. Not only that, but Prada also uses an "Acquasave" system in order to keep water consumption low. The system helps the brand save 10 liters of water per meter of fabric.

7. American Eagle Outfitters

Prada isn't the only clothing company making more sustainable denim. American Eagle is working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Jean Redesign Project to make their jeans a little more gentle on the planet.

By participating in this project, AEO is producing jeans that are made to last longer and in a way that's better for both the environment and garment workers. The garments are made to meet The Jean Redesign's standards in durability and recyclability. The collection also features some timeless styles—like the mom jean and the slim jean—so you'll still be wearing them as other trends come and go.

Want another sustainable fashion pick? Head over to Beauty News NYC for a cute pair of sneakers.