With an increase in plastic pollution, the efforts to curb the same are also escalating. Many big brands have been eliminating the usage of plastic, recycling plastic, and preventing tons of plastic from ending up in landfills and ultimately the ocean.
Adopting the sustainable way of manufacturing, the sportswear brand PUMA has partnered with the First Mile to create a new sportswear collection that is made of recycled plastic. PUMA x First Mile collection that consists of shoes and apparel made from recycled yarn, which is manufactured from plastic bottles collected in the First Mile network.
PUMA has partnered with the First Mile to create a new sportswear collection made from recycled plastic / Image: PUMA
The First Mile is a network that strengthens micro-economies by collecting plastic bottles to create sustainable jobs and reduce pollution. These bottles are later sorted, cleaned, shredded, and turned into yarn to be used to create products.
Stefan Seidel, Head of Corporate Sustainability for PUMA, said,
Even though one of the key benefits of this partnership is social impact, the PUMA and First Mile program has diverted over 40 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills and oceans, just for the products made for 2020. This roughly translates into 1,980,286 plastic bottles being reused. The pieces from this co-branded training collection range from shoes, tees, shorts, pants and jackets—all the apparel is made of at least 83% to even 100% from the more sustainable yarn sourced from First Mile.
Living up to its code of being “Forever Better”, the collaboration with First Mile is part of PUMA’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment.
The first PUMA x FIRST MILE training collection will be available starting February 21st, 2020, on the company’s online store, in PUMA Stores, and selected retailers worldwide.