Adidas says MTBR proves circular concepts work
It said the Circular Loop creation process has come a long way since it introduced Futurecraft.Loop – its first running shoe made to be remade – in 2019. What started as a beta program of just 200 pairs has developed into a concept that spans across multiple categories and in April saw the first commercial launch, Ultraboost Made To Be Remade.
David Quass, director of sustainability innovation at adidas, said: “During production we carefully define how products must be designed and created so they can be remade. The process must be transparent, and repeatable. Only then can our learnings be adapted.
“For example, in our apparel, we’ve designed products that, once returned, can be redeveloped into brand new yarn and reused to knit the next apparel piece. We’re exploring chemical and mechanical recycling technologies which can be applied depending on the material of the products, be it recycled polyester, cotton or regenerated cellulosic, or TPU.
“TPU in particular is an incredible material that we’ve been using it for some time because of its versatility. We use it for some of our most well-known innovations – like Boost – because of its flexibility, durability, and performance benefits. You can melt it down, reform it and create a wide range of components with the same foundational material. We are also the first manufacturer to purpose TPU into a yarn, which has unlocked a whole new dimension of creation possibilities.”
The latest generation of Ultraboost Made To Be Remade, which will be released in November, will be created in part from the previous generation, using a torsion bar that contains 25% reused content from the Futurecraft Loop Gen 2.
Stan Smith is also set to join MTBR, with a version created entirely from TPU. The TERREX Free Hiker Made To Be Remade, featuring a TPU knitted upper and TPU outsole, will be the first TERREX hiking shoe to use the technology, and the TERREX Made To Be Remade Anorak – a second-generation prototype following on from the FW20 FUTURECRAFT.LOOP Anorak - will be commercially available in 2022.
Every MTBR product has a QR code to engage consumers whilst also being the start of the return function. Return labels can be generated and then consumers drop the goods at the nearest post office.
“As an evolution of our Infinite Play takeback pilot launched in 2019 in the UK, we’re officially launching a wider programme – starting in the US – that will allow consumers to give back any adidas products at the end of their life. We’ll reward consumers who make the effort to return products to us,” said adidas.
“Essentially, MTBR is the proof point of how we move from a linear model to explore circular business models.”
