Apparel manufacturers have slowly been transitioning towards more eco-friendly means of production in recent years, which is a very good thing in a fast-fashion world. Few brands, however, have made their green initiatives known with quite as much flare as Adidas, who recently unveiled a giant floating tennis court on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Teaming up with Parley For The Oceans, Adidas found the opportunity to celebrate their own innovations in relation to sustainability with this campaign. Made using solely recycled materials, the floating tennis court is said to be promoting a new line of Adidas tennis gear inspired by the natural beauty of Australia’s waters. On its side, the court reads:
“Plastic waste is a problem. Innovation is our solution.”
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This isn’t just an art exhibit, either. The three-stripe banner is hosting actual exhibition tennis matches on the water for the campaign, beginning with a mixed doubles match between Australian athletes Ian Thorpe, Jess Fox, Nathan Cleary, and model Steph Claire Smith.
Unsurprisingly, the barge is said to move with the water, making the act of balancing – let alone actual tennis playing – rather difficult. Then you consider the added layer of difficulty in retrieving the balls from the open ocean after each rally, and the whole thing sounds like two parts of a racquet-based triathlon.
Once the Australian Open has concluded, the surface of the floating tennis court will be recycled by Adidas and donated to a school in a yet-to-be-disclosed Australian city. adidas has pledged to use recycled materials in 90% of its clothing lines by 2025. The company said in a statement:
“The new Adidas tennis apparel collection that will be worn by players during the Australian Open in Melbourne has been inspired by the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and consists of products from one of our sustainability innovators, Made with Parley Ocean Plastic.”
“We have chosen to launch this collection in the heritage-protected Queensland marine park to raise awareness and positive discussion around how we can help end plastic waste and protect the Great Barrier Reef.”
