Around 2 500 adidas employees participated in the Run For The Oceans event in Herzogenaurach earlier in the month. Executive Board Member for Sales Roland Auschel and Chief Financial Officer Harm Ohlmeyer were joined by world-class sprinter Gina Lückenkemper, Big Wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner and Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe in the starting row of the running event organized by adidas for the third year in a row. The event involves a four-kilometer lap around the World of Sports, with people being encouraged to run as much as they can, having in consideration their level of personal fitness and the effects of summer heat.

This year, more than one million runners will participate in more than 50 running events worldwide, including in New York, Tokyo and Barcelona. The sportswear giant  is contributing 1 US dollar for every kilometer run up to 1.5 million US dollars to the environmental organization "Parley for the Oceans". Contributions raised last year amounted to one million US dollars. Such contributions are being channelled by the organization for educational projects for children in developing countries, which includes a focus on reiterating the importance of the oceans for our planet as well as practical advice on waste avoidance. In Herzogenaurach, more than 100 children of adidas employees took part in a "Kids Camp" and tackled the topic of plastic waste in the oceans as well.

adidas has been collaborating with Parley for the Oceans since 2015. In addition to educational projects, the main focus is on waste prevention: Plastic waste from beaches and coastal regions is used in a technically advanced recycling process to produce a yarn for shoe uppers and apparel. The first products were launched in 2016. The product range gradually expanded, from shoes and football jerseys to swimwear and tennis apparel. In 2017, adidas produced one million pairs of shoes; in 2018, five million pairs; and in 2019, eleven million pairs made with recycled plastic from the oceans are planned. In addition, the proportion of recycled materials in the entire product range is increasing with the goal of only using recycled polyester from 2024 onwards.

Another example of adidas commitment to waste prevention is the fact that, since 2016, adidas has been using paper bags in its stores and has largely banned plastic from its offices and canteens. The company is also testing fully recyclable running shoes in pilot projects.