Real Madrid recycled shirts to raise environmental awareness
The Parley for the Oceans Adidas shirt, made from recycled marine plastic, will be used for the league game at home to Sporting Gijon on November 26.
As the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech enters its second week, the hard work and long hours for the thousands involved get even more intense. The UNCCC is the crucial next step for governments looking to operationalise the Paris Climate Change Agreement adopted last year. Recent controversy has been raised over the global agreement after last week's US presidential elections but some football clubs are trying to contribute a little to the environmental issues affecting the planet.
Marine waste and protecting the oceans
Parley For the Oceans and Adidas have created a recycled football shirt that will be used by Real Madrid on November 26 against Sporting Gijón at the Santiago Bernabéu (kick-off 16:15 CET).
The shirt has been manufactured using up-cycled marine plastic waste recovered via Parley interception and clean-up operations in coastal areas of the Maldives. Marcelo is the Madrid star being used in the campaign for the initiative.
"The ocean is a place I hold close to my heart after growing up in Rio de Janeiro, and I have fond memories of playing on the beach when I was a kid," the 28-year-old defender said.
Each year we dump more and more plastic into the sea and it's reported that more than 100.000 sea mammals and various species of tortoise die each year as a result of contamination. If our dumping of plastic continues it's anticipated that in 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
Raising awareness via the Bundesliga
German side FC Bayern Múnich have also collaborated in the Parley venture with the Xabi Alonso observing: "Wearing a kit that is made from recyclable ocean waste is something I'm very happy about, as it's a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about the need to protect and preserve our oceans"
Bayern wore their recycled shirt in their Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim on 5 November.
