adidas and environmental group Parley for the Oceans teamed up earlier this year to develop a floating tennis court made of recycled plastic in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef marine park, the world’s biggest coral reef system. The floating court was constructed to advertise adidas’ latest range of sportswear, which uses recycled plastic, and was launched to coincide with the Australian Open tennis event, which took place in Melbourne in January.

The vibrant new outfit was the result of the brand’s latest cooperation with Parley for the Oceans to raise awareness about the larger issue of plastic pollution. Of the collaboration, an adidas spokesperson shared:

“The new adidas tennis apparel collection, that will be worn by players during the Australian Open in Melbourne, has been inspired by the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and consists of products from one of our sustainability innovators, Made with Parley Ocean Plastic […] We have chosen to launch this collection in the heritage-protected Queensland marine park to raise awareness and positive discussion around how we can help end plastic waste and protect the Great Barrier Reef.”

The floating tennis court was built on one of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s barges to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The court’s surface was built from Parley for the Oceans recycled plastic, which is also utilized in adidas’ current tennis range and has been used in previous collaborations.

To commemorate the occasion, Australian athletes Ian Thorpe, Jess Fox, Nathan Cleary, and model Steph Claire Smith played a game of mixed doubles on the court. All of the balls were, of course, picked up from the sea after the game.

Now that the Australian Open is over, the tennis court’s surface will be recycled and used to construct a sports court at a school in the Townsville area. adidas’ tennis collection is part of the company’s effort to eliminate plastic from its clothing.

Shannon Morgan, Pacific senior director of brand at adidas shared:

“We’re committed to help end plastic waste and, by 2024, we’ll replace virgin polyester in our products with recycled polyester wherever possible. To achieve these goals, we foster open-source partnerships and put a high value on collaboration over competition to create sustainable solutions that go beyond our own business and influence.”

This is not the first collaboration for these two brands though. In fact, adidas and Parley for the Oceans previously cooperated to make recycled plastic running shoes and iconic 1990s trainers. They’ve also collaborated on hiking boots and recyclable plastic football shirts for Real Madrid and Manchester United.

This is an incredibly exciting collaboration as it paves the way for more visibility on environmental issues, especially when it comes to big brands.

In other news, adidas has entered the Metaverse.

Photos via adidas