Adidas Circular Economy Problem Statement for
Sustainable Fashion
Organization
adidas AG
Industry
Sporting Goods, Apparel, and Footwear
Business Context
adidas designs, manufactures, and markets footwear, apparel, and sporting goods worldwide. The
company's Annual Reports, Sustainability Statements, Investor Relations materials, and official
corporate publications identify circularity, responsible sourcing, product durability, recycled
materials, and climate action as strategic priorities. As regulatory expectations and consumer
demand for sustainable products increase, circular economy practices have become increasingly
important to long-term business resilience.
Problem Statement
Advancing a circular economy across a global apparel and footwear business remains an ongoing
operational challenge because products, materials, manufacturing processes, supply chains,
consumer behavior, and end-of-life recovery systems differ across markets. adidas publicly
highlights continued investment in circular product design, recycled and renewable materials,
repair, resale, and recycling initiatives, demonstrating that circularity remains a long-term strategic
priority. Scaling these initiatives while maintaining product performance, quality, affordability,
regulatory compliance, and supply chain efficiency requires coordination across suppliers,
manufacturing partners, retailers, and consumers. Differences in recycling infrastructure, material
recovery capabilities, and evolving sustainability regulations increase the complexity of
implementing circular business models consistently.
Business Impact
Circular economy performance directly influences resource efficiency, supply chain resilience,
environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, brand reputation, and long-term
competitiveness. Limited recovery or reuse capabilities may increase reliance on virgin materials,
operational complexity, and waste management challenges while affecting sustainability objectives.
Maintaining scalable circular economy practices remains essential for supporting sustainable
growth and responsible product lifecycle management.
Verified Public References
• adidas Investor Relations
https://www.adidas-group.com/en/investors/
• adidas Annual Reports
https://www.adidas-group.com/en/investors/financial-reports/
• adidas Sustainability
https://www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/
• adidas News
https://news.adidas.com/
