Run For The Oceans Initiative to Raise $1.5M to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Waste 360): On June 8-16, runners across the globe are running to raise funds for Parley for the Oceans, which educates future generations on the issue of marine plastic pollution via its Parley Ocean School Program.

On World Oceans Day (June 8), adidas and Parley for the Oceans kicked off Run For The Oceans 2019, a global initiative that raises funds to invest in the education of future generations on the issue of marine plastic pollution. Last year, Run For The Oceans raised $1 million, and this year, the initiative aims to raise $1.5 million.

In 2018, adidas created a global movement with Run For The Oceans, uniting nearly one million runners across the globe and raising $1 million for Parley for the Oceans. To date, the funds raised have helped directly educate and empower 10,000 youth and their families who are living in coastal areas affected by plastic pollution to take action as part of the Parley Ocean School Program. In 2018 alone, the partnership saw five million pairs of shoes created using recycled ocean plastic.

“Run for the Oceans is an opportunity to celebrate the oceans, a place where runners unite to dedicate their time and energy and generate investment toward saving our oceans—this year, for our new activist platform, a global stage for the next generation of creators, leaders and thinkers,” said Cyrill Gutsch, founder and CEO of Parley for the Oceans, in a statement. “As the voice of our future, our youth make the most convincing teachers and best ambassadors, educating parents, industry leaders and politicians and using media in the most native way. Youth are our biggest hope, since they are driven by the strongest of all motivations: their own survival. We are more than grateful for the generous support of our founding partner adidas. It allows us to grow the movement into a superstorm of change.”

In 2019, adidas is upping the pace of change. The introduction of the 2019 Parley range will see the company produce a landmark 11 million pairs of shoes using upcycled marine plastic waste. In addition, Run For The Oceans this year will unite more runners in more locations than ever before to reach the goal of raising $1.5 million. For every kilometer completed between June 8 and 16, adidas will contribute $1 to Parley Ocean School programs, with every dollar going toward the next phase of the partnership with the development and launch of the Parley youth activist platform.

Courtesy: https://www.waste360.com