14 DAY TRIAL // Towards the end of May, environmental group Greenpeace produced a new report saying that 2014 World Cup-connected apparel made and marketed by sports giants such as Adidas, Nike, and Puma contained traces of hazardous chemicals.
Fast forward a few weeks, and the green-oriented organization is happy to announce that, following and, most importantly, due to the release of this report, German multinational corporation Adidas has finally agreed to green up its act.
“As we reach fever pitch on the eve of the World Cup, football fans everywhere have an early reason to celebrate – Adidas has today taken a big step towards kicking hazardous chemicals out of the beautiful game,” Greenpeace writes in a press release on its website.
What's interesting is that this is not the first time the multinational corporation announces plans to phase out potentially dangerous chemical compounds and ensure that its shoes and clothes are as eco-friendly as possible.
However, Greenpeace maintains that, unlike the first time it made such an announcement, Adidas this time actually means what it says. Hence the fact that it has also gone through the trouble of rolling out a so-called detox plan.
According to the environmental group, Adidas is ready and willing to reduce its use of polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) by as much as 99% by the end of the year 2017. By 2020, on the other hand, the corporation expects it will manage to cut all ties with these chemicals.
For those unaware, polyfluorinated chemicals serve to make clothes and shoes water- and stain-resistant. The problem is that they tend to work their way into the environment and constitute a threat to both wildlife in lakes and rivers, and to public health.
“Adidas’ agreement to ban the whole group of PFCs sends an incredibly strong signal to other sports and outdoor brands that are heavy users of these chemicals: another way is possible. Detox,” Greenpeace wishes to stress.
Apart from greening up its ways, Adidas is also looking to become less secretive. Thus, word has that that corporation plans to make 80% of the data concerning its supply chain public by mid-2016, and achieve full supply chain transparency by 2020.
“This really is a huge step forward for the industry. It is also a reason to celebrate on behalf of those communities who need brands like adidas to take urgent action and help clean up our rivers and waterways.”
“For adidas' customers this is also great news. With these critical milestones the brand can ensure the boots, shirts and jackets that we buy and wear are free from these dangerous, polluting substances,” Greenpeace explains the importance of Adidas' promises.