Footwear
May 17, 2021
by Sidney Pacampara
adidas Skateboarding Uses Recycled Plastic Waste for Lucas Puig’s Newest Pro Model
by Sidney Pacampara
May 17, 2021

adidas Skateboarding and Lucas Puig have come together for a special, Earth-friendly version of the athlete’s signature sneaker, one that brings sustainability to the forefront of the sport. It also strikes a sleek balance between style and comfort, all of which are important components for the professional French skateboarder

Named the adidas Puig PK Primeblue, the new shoe utilizes a Primeknit upper made with Primeblue, adi’s high-performance recycled material made in part with Parley Ocean Plastic. The technology is part of the brand’s larger eco-friendly initiative to “end plastic waste,” so it does not include any virgin polyester and is a certified vegan product. Half of the sneaker’s upper is textile with 75% of that textile being Primeblue yarn. The plastic waste was collected by Parley from ocean shores and upcycled to produce the material

Adidas Lucas puig primeknit pk primeblue primegreen parley plastic waste recycled skateboarding sneakers palace white
adidas

Lucas Puig is originally from Toulouse, France, and relocated about six years ago to Biarritz, a small seaside town off the Basque coast in southwestern France. Surfing and preserving the beach has since become a focal point in his life, giving his latest adidas pro model the perfect opportunity to marry all that he loves. “I often see and collect a lot of plastic at the beach,” Puig said in a press release. “It’s a small but positive thing that I can do when given the opportunity to develop a shoe made in part with recycled materials.”

Although using Primeblue technology is great in terms of what’s environmentally important to Puig, it does have its drawbacks for skating. It’s less of a traditional skate shoe that will withstand numerous street sessions, and more so a lifestyle version that’s comfortable, lightweight, and meant to chill around in. “[It’s] the kind of shoe you put on when you grab your cruiser to get a croissant and baguette,” Puig jokingly explained to Highsnobiety

The purpose is bigger than just making an amazing skate shoe however. “With this shoe in particular, we wanted to make sure we had a strong sustainability component. That was key,” adidas Skateboarding Director of Product, Ryan Case, told Esquire. “That’s something that’s super important to Lucas and to the brand. We see our co-creation with him as an opportunity to elevate and increase our sustainability efforts. He cares deeply about the ocean and our planet. We wanted to make sure this shoe combined everything he wants and needs with our brand aspirations and priorities.”

Adidas Lucas puig primeknit pk primeblue primegreen parley plastic waste recycled skateboarding sneakers palace white
adidas

Being one of the first adidas Skateboarding shoes to use recycled materials, we’re hoping Puig has the global influence to inspire the greater skate community to embrace more sustainable initiatives. We’re also looking forward to seeing how adidas can make its performance skate shoes more eco-friendly.

The adidas Puig PK Primeblue is available now for $110 USD at adidas.com and select skate shops.

In other adidas news, the sportswear brand recently launched its new rental program in France.