Puma launches collection made from waste plastic bottles

Bengaluru: German sportswear brand Puma has launched a collection made with recycled plastic in collaboration with UK-based waste management and recycling company First Mile. The co-branded sustainable line will sell footwear and apparel made from recycled yarn manufactured from waste plastic bottles.
“The Puma and First Mile programme has diverted about 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,” said Stefan Seidel, head of corporate sustainability for Puma, in a press statement.

The training collection includes tees, shorts, pants and jackets. “The apparel is made of at least 83% to even 100% from the sustainable yarn sourced from First Mile,” added Seidel.

First Mile works with businesses to help them recycle waste. It collects about 60000 tonnes of waste a year and has an average recycle rate of over 60%. Puma has rolled out this collection online and offline across the world at one go.

Several mainstream brands have been stepping up their sustainability drive to capture the growing population of environment-conscious consumers. Global sportswear giant Adidas has been working with nonprofit Parley since 2016 to manufacture sneakers made with upcycled plastic waste. The Boston-based running shoe brand recently launched a biodegradable lifestyle shoe as part of its Originals line. It also partnered with fashion designer Stella McCartney to create biodegradable tennis dresses for Wimbledon.

A year ago, its subsidiary brand Reebok launched a plant-based performance shoe using eucalyptus, natural rubber and algae foam instead of petroleum plastics.

According to market estimates, global fashion industry accounts for over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The production of synthetic textiles uses large amount of oil, toxic dyes and bleaches that pollute waterways and degrades the topsoil. Deadstock and textile waste left to rot in landfills cause environmental hazards.

At an event by Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) earlier in February, fashion apparel brands such as Aditya Birla Fashion, Levi’s and Bestseller agreed to a five-point plan to understanding the environmental impact of their products and pledged to make their supply chain sustainable by the year 2025.