Plastic is responsible for 80% of the garbage in the oceans, whether on beaches, on the seafloor or fragmented into microplastics. Fishing net sneakers contribute to the upcycling of ocean waste.
Adidas is committed to reversing this situation with its new sneakers printed from marine waste. 3D printing of shoes also contributes to the reduction of plastic production. Printing products on demand eliminates the need to build stock. Packages travel long distances to reach consumers and are often “stranded” in stores without being sold, accumulating even more garbage. However, reducing plastic production is not enough, it is necessary to remove the waste that is already in the sea.
Fishing net sneakers
Despite the efforts to clean up the oceans, all marine habitat is compromised. Corals are very sensitive to temperature variations caused by global warming. With the death of corals, many marine creatures are left unprotected and end up dying too.
3D printing also helps to increase biodiversity in the oceans through artificial corals submerged in the sea to give shelter to various species of animals and plants.
Each artificial coral weighs 2.5 tons and takes thirteen hours to print, using dolomite sand and a special adhesive.
The project was lead by the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco with the Dutch company Boskalis.
There is hope, but we need to do our part by consuming less and disposing of garbage correctly. It is not difficult and it is urgent.
In 2022:
shoe manufacturers continue to look for sustainable materials for their sneakers. Nike recently released its model made from recycled plastic and made a point of showing the pieces of previous plastics that make up the design. We made a video showing the details of it on our Tiktok channel. Aren’t you following us there yet? Find us @NatashaAlimentos!
@natashaalimentos
Article originally published in my column on the Noctula Channel website on 12/30/2015 and published here on 8/16/2022.
Sources: Digital Trends, Adidas Group, Fast Company, Adidas News Stream, Governo do Principado de Mônaco, BBC, DW
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