Adidas x The Renewal Workshop | Adidas Innovation

In 2021, the Adidas Innovation apparel team partnered up with Adidas Terrex and 'The Renewal Workshop,' a circularity-focused company based in Cascade Locks, Oregon, to explore how the brand could bring upcycled outdoor product to life in a compelling way. What resulted was the 'Nothing Left Behind' project. Nothing Left Behind is the name given to adidas TERREX's commitment to reducing waste, improving circularity, and improving sustainability across its business operations.

Why?

From the Renewal Workshop’s website:

On average, 82% of products classified as waste can be renewed and resold.

According to ThredUp’s 2021 sustainability report, the global secondhand market is projected to double from 2021 to 2025, reaching $77B. Ultimately, the most sustainable product that consumers can purchase and wear is a product that already exists. We set out to explore how we could approach the re-sell market from a tiered perspective, with the top tier being totally re-creating product from damaged goods, which may normally be thrown away.

What?

We worked with damaged garments donated from Adidas athletes, re-working and combining pieces to create new, fully functioning products with a brand-led design DNA, including a branding proposal and design language. What resulted is playful product that can be worn again, having been rescued from a fate of slow disintegration in a landfill.

All up-cycled product was returned to the Terrex athletes who donated their damaged items, and one piece was raffled off on the Adidas app as part of a circular services brand activation.