England's World Cup credentials may be a subject of constant debate, but the team's environmental commitment will certainly be on show in Brazil this year in the form of a new "green" strip.

 

Nike yesterday unveiled the home and away strips Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Joe Hart will wear in their games against Italy, Uruguay, and Costa Rica in the group stages of the World Cup. The kit will also be on display for the traditional penalty shoot out heart-break, should England manage to navigate their way to the knockout stages.

 

Both the white and red kits are made from recycled plastic bottles, with 100 per cent recycled polyester in the shorts, 96 per cent recycled polyester in the shirt and 78 per cent in the socks.

 

Nike has developed high tech football kit made from recycled materials for previous tournaments, but the England strip marks the first time a national team's socks have made use of the green material. Nike estimates an average of 18 plastic bottles are used in each full kit.

 

"Incorporating environmental sustainability is a key part of the design and development process for us," said Martin Lotti, Nike Football global creative director. "Our aim is to create a kit that performs for players and is good to the planet."

 

Nike has consistently highlighted its use of recycled plastic in its products and since 2010 the company claims to have diverted almost two billion bottles from landfill, enough to cover more than 2,800 full-sized football pitches.