One of Manchester United’s newly unveiled shirts is created using recycled plastic waste recovered from the ocean.
Developed in collaboration with Parley, a campaign group committed to preventing plastic waste from entering the sea, the shirt represents a significant step towards sustainable sportswear. Football clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus have also introduced shirts made from similar materials.
A striking navy blue in colour, the Manchester United shirt is part of a broader initiative that includes other major football clubs. Real Madrid’s third kit has been designed in coral pink, intended to draw attention to the destruction of coral reefs.
Nike is actively engaged in a comparable project, crafting shirts from waste plastic for teams such as Barcelona and the national teams of Australia, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Each one of Nike’s football shirts incorporates a minimum of twelve recycled plastic bottles.
According to Greenpeace, approximately 12.7 million tonnes of plastic are discarded into the oceans annually. This alarming figure underscores the critical need for sustainable initiatives like these.
Meanwhile, Chelsea FC’s new third kit represents a different kind of innovation, being the first in the world to feature internet connectivity.
The development of these football shirts from recycled ocean plastic signals a forward-thinking approach to sustainability in sportswear, addressing the pressing issue of marine pollution.