What brings football legend Lionel Messi, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, and a climate change organisation together? Recycled plastic, apparently.
Messi is the first ambassador for Join the Planet, an environmental group whose first project involved the cleaning and conservation of the Paraná River in his hometown, Rosario, Argentina. Together, the two unveiled a collectable sculpture of Messi’s football cleat made from recycled plastic. And the launch on Twitch, a live streaming platform, included a music performance from Chris Martin.
The cleat sculpture is made 100% recycled materials from Patagonia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, and Ghana. It incorporates recycled nylon plastic from discarded fishing nets, recycled polypropylene sourced from discarded ropes and bottle caps, and recycled fibreglass for durability.
The sculpture was produced in partnership with Argentina-based maker of eyewear from recycled plastics Karün. The cleat will retail for $300 online later this month. Sales proceeds will support the cleaning and conservation of the Paraná River, the largest watershed in the world.
