Global sports brand PUMA and First Mile have co-created a sportswear collection made from recycled plastic, rooted in social impact and human connection. As a part of their commitment to reduce their environmental impact and provide support to underdeveloped communities, the PUMA x FIRST MILE collection consists of shoes and apparel made from recycled yarn that is manufactured from plastic bottles collected in the First Mile network.
The First Mile is a people-focused network that strengthens micro-economies in Taiwan, Honduras, and Haiti by collecting plastic bottles to create sustainable jobs and reduce pollution. The bottles are then sorted, cleaned, shredded, and turned into yarn, which is later used to create products with purpose that truly empower from the first mile forward.
“Even though one of the key benefits of this partnership is social impact, the PUMA and First Mile program has diverted over 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. “The pieces from this co-branded training collection range from shoes, tees, shorts, pants and jackets—all the apparel is made of at least 83% to even 100% from the more sustainable yarn sourced from First Mile.”
The collaboration with First Mile is part of PUMA’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact and live up to its code of being “Forever Better”.
“We hope that whoever buys this collection feels good about this purchase, not just in terms of choosing something that uses sustainable material, but knowing that those entrepreneurs in the First Mile are being connected to this product because it’s their material going into it,” said Kelsey Halling, Head of Partnerships at First Mile. “The more we can connect that last mile with the first mile, the easier this sustainable movement will be able to continue.”
The first PUMA x FIRST MILE training collection will begin to drop starting February 21st, 2020 on PUMA.com, at PUMA Stores and selected retailers worldwide.
