Recycled plastic sports gear gives consumers eco-friendly alternative

The country's top sportswear producer Anta Sports Products Ltd has rolled out its first series of environmentally friendly athletic products using recycled plastic bottles.

The bottles were collected from the ocean to contribute to environmental protection efforts, as well as to satisfy the growing number of eco-conscious Chinese consumers.

The first batch of sports products – A-awake Energy — is now available at all Anta-branded stores in the country.

Each product uses recycled polyester from about 11 waste 550-milliliter plastic bottles. This series, in its third season this year, has recycled an equivalent of about 7.7 million bottles.

Cheng Qiong, chief designer of this eco-friendly series, said the company has managed to lower its costs by 30 to 50 percent compared with environmental friendly products produced by other international sports brands.

Traceable technology in the recycled polyester has allowed tracking from textile to fabric to finished product to ensure the quality of environmental protection.

Ding Shizhong, chairman of Anta Group, said the group has been dedicated to contributing to environmental protection causes as part of the company's social responsibilities.

In the coming years, the company will continue to enhance technology advancement to protect the environment and join hands with consumers, he said.