Sports company Puma will launch a sustainable sportswear collection with First Mile, a company which supports low-income communities in Haiti, Honduras and Taiwan by collecting plastic bottles to produce recycled polyester.
First Mile supports more than 4,000 people in its collection networks, recovering plastic bottles which would have otherwise continued to pollute the streets, canals and landfills of those communities. Using such bottles as a raw material source, First Mile produced more than 300 tons of recycled yarn in 2018.
“Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental problems that the world faces today. That is why we are very excited to join First Mile and be a part of the solution while supporting low-income communities and transparency in supply chains,” says Adam Petrick, global director of brand and marketing for Puma.
"We are thrilled to welcome Puma to join a group of bold, innovative brands leading the way in responsible sourcing," adds Kelsey Halling, director of partnerships at First Mile. "The Puma x First Mile collaboration will positively impact lives by giving value to plastic waste."
The collection, which will be available in stores come the first half of 2020, will consist of shoes and apparel featuring utility pockets and outdoor elements. By buying the products, consumers support responsible sourcing and create a positive social and environmental impact around the world.
To address several environmental and social issues in its supply chain and to make the whole company more sustainable, Puma has set out several targets in its 10FOR20 campaign. It recently announced that its 2020 target for the use of sustainable cotton was reached two years ahead of schedule.
