MLS unveils 'One Planet' kits made from recycled plastic

In celebration of Earth Day, which will be observed on Saturday 22 April, MLS and adidas have once again teamed up to produce a unique jersey for each team in North America's premier football league. The jerseys will be worn on the pitch by all teams this weekend (22-23 April). MLS is celebrating Earth Day and continues to pursue its goal of becoming the most sustainable league in international football. The project, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, focuses on raising awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans through the work of Parley for the Oceans, which has a long history of working with adidas on environmental issues.

The collaboration between MLS, adidas and Parley for the Oceans serves to encourage fans to reduce their use of single-use plastic and to highlight the importance of changing people's attitudes and behaviours towards plastic pollution through the Parley AIR strategy: Avoid. Intercept. Transform. The jerseys are made entirely from Parley Ocean plastic - a recycled material made from recycled plastic waste - and are handmade, with the design inspiration coming from the depths of the oceans.

The slogan 'End Plastic Waste', intermingled with the swirling print, serves as a call to action, uniting each club in collective responsibility for the planet. To make the jerseys, adidas collected plastic from remote islands, beaches and coastal communities before it can enter the endangered oceans. After collection, the plastic is crushed, melted and mixed with a fibrous material, transforming it from a problem to a resource.