Adidas in 3D printing:
Running Towards a Sustainable Movement

Micheal Hunt AKA “Mike3D” operating out of Cornwall UK, offers complete 3D printing solutions for a variety of industries. Outside of his YouTube appearances Mike operates 3D Print Cornwall, where his 3D manufacturing facility offers multiple options to fit individual and customised projects. Craftbot were delighted that their 3D printers were the machine of choice for one of Mikes exciting brand collaboration. Mike said using Craftbot was an obvious choice because of the capability to print advanced thermoplastics and materials.

As an industrial user, the Craftbot IDEX is the most productive for their team in order to achieve continuous printing. While they maintain other 3D machines, the Craftbot is mainly used for FDM projects as the systems specialize in it.

This is important as the future focus in 3D printing, sustainability and recycling are trending. Why not have these industries work together to create more efficient and unique solutions?

When examining our second case study regarding global plastic waste, the need for sustainable solutions is growing more and more important. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an estimated 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually, with at least 8 million tons of those plastic materials ending up in the ocean. Plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, human health, and contributes to climate change. Which is why J-Supplied was excited when they were approached by the global sports company Adidas for a unique project.

Known as the largest European sportswear manufacturer, Adidas is continuously working towards becoming a more sustainable company. Adidas’ Sustainability Strategy identifies six strategic priorities to address the issues and challenges of the spaces where sport is made, sold and played.

Adidas tasked Mike with 3D printing an Adidas shoe that was made entirely from recycled plastics. Once the team received a model of the shoe Adidas wanted, J-Supplied produced a few samples using recycled white PETG. They were excited to celebrate that the shoes were 3D printed, so they produced 50 pairs using the Craftbot Flow printers and worked with a partner to create an in-store installation.

The purpose for the shoes were for a unique mural for their new flagship gender neutral eco-friendly store in London, England, which is filled with exclusive Adidas Originals products and reflects their vision for sustainability. A large trefoil mural, which contains living plants, is the highlight of the store and commemorates one of Adidas’ most iconic shoe designs, the Stan Smith, while showcasing the unity of sustainability and cutting-edge 3D printer technology.

In order to properly produce the shoes for Adidas, J-Supplied required a system that can meet the speed and consistently needed to achieve their production goals and versatility with different filament materials. Using Craftbot’s award-winning and user-friendly 3D printers, they found everything that they were looking for and more with the benefit of accurate repeatability from producing multiple batches. And by printing their own models and final pieces in-house, the cost and time-savings are considerable when compared with the traditional method of outsourcing injection moldings.

Following the mural unveiling and multiple consumer inquiries, Mike is now looking to 3D print on-demand shoes in low batches to sell as exclusives. This allows Adidas to continue their sustainability mission to end plastic waste while offering innovative options.

Beyond this unique running shoe initiative, Mike 3D has expanded the idea of using recycled fishing nets to 3D produce home furnishings and buttons for use on garments and suits for global luxury fashion icons such as Prada.