Adidas and Parley Host Digital Run In New Social Awareness Campaign

During World Oceans Day week, adidas and social activist group Parley for the Oceans have joined forces to launch a worldwide “digital run” to raise awareness about the rising levels of plastic in oceans. On June 8, they hosted a night run in New York City, where they illuminated the city streets with blue lights to reflect undersea tones.

Digital runners will log their mileage through the fitness tracking app Runtastic and will be able to listen to a dedicated playlist to learn more about the ocean’s ecosystem, which has been affected by oils spills, plastic pollution and rising temperatures that have bleached coral reefs.

This isn’t the first time these two organizations have teamed up for a social cause. In April 2015, Adidas and Parley introduced a prototype of a shoe with a top made entirely of yards and filaments reclaimed and recycled from ocean waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets.

This February, they launched a swimwear line of recycled plastic. And in April, Adidas introduced three more sneakers that were made with parts of recycled plastic from the ocean.

“We have already taken the first steps to reduce and ultimately eliminate virgin and single use plastic from our products,” Eric Liedtke, the adidas executive board member responsible for global brands, said in a statement. “We have shown that it is possible, and that people care – but now we must accelerate and scale.”

Adidas said the digital run represents plans to expand this initiative beyond just its products.

“At the heart of our brand is the belief that through sport, we have the power to change lives,” Liedtke said. “With the Run for the Oceans, we’re using this power of sport to inspire action.”