Kenneth Glad
The latest choice adds another layer to a long-running public commitment. It also brings a smaller sportswear brand into a space usually controlled by global giants.
Norway’s World Cup opener against Iraq will carry a message before the first whistle.
According to NRK, the Norwegian midfielder Morten Thorsby is set to use sustainable football boots from British brand Sokito, with the design shaped in the town of Moss by graphic designer Lars-Otto Bjerkeng.
The boots include corn waste, sugar cane, wood fibre and recycled plastic bottles, and Bjerkeng the Norwegian broadcaster that 56 percent of the material is recycled.
For Thorsby, this is not a sudden gesture. The Serie A player has spent years linking his football career to climate advocacy through We Play Green, the foundation he established to encourage environmental action across the sport.
From shirt number 2 to recycled boots
Thorsby has previously used his platform in visible ways. BBC Sport reported in 2021 that he changed his Sampdoria shirt number to 2 to draw attention to the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
The following year, BBC Sport named him Young Athlete of the Year at its Green Sport Awards, giving recognition to athletes who use sport to promote environmental change.
The boot project fits that same pattern. Rather than separating performance from activism, Thorsby has placed the issue directly inside his match-day routine.
Sokito is relevant because its business is built around eco-friendly football boots and boot recycling.
The company says it uses alternative materials and runs a scheme for returned boots, positioning itself against a wider footwear culture where products are often discarded after use.
Designer joined a global-stage project
Bjerkeng’s role, according to NRK, was to help turn the concept into a finished visual design.
The assignment gave the local Norwegian designer a part in equipment intended for one of football’s most-watched tournaments.
The environmental argument behind the boots is practical as well as symbolic. Football boots are usually built from synthetic layers, adhesives and coatings that make them difficult to separate and recycle.
NRK cited data from Fashion for Good showing that 95 percent of used shoes worldwide end up as waste.
Thorsby told the outlet that he wants future solutions where used boots can be collected instead of simply thrown away.
That ambition is now being tested in an elite setting. Boots are not a minor detail for professional players. They affect grip, comfort, movement and confidence.
A costly break from the usual route
Top footballers often sign equipment deals with brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma. Those contracts can bring major income, along with familiar products refined over years.
Carl-Erik Torp, a former player and current football expert for NRK, said the move stands out because Thorsby is choosing an untested route at the most important point of a footballer’s career.
“It is very special,” Torp said. “Making such a choice based on the environment is unique and exceptional.”
Torp added that boots are central to a player’s performance, making the timing especially striking:
“Changing boots for the World Cup says everything about how much this means to him.”
Thorsby has already been training in the boots and said they should be ready for the match against Iraq.
Norway face Iraq in Boston tonight, with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m. local time.
Sources: NRK, BBC Sport, We Play Green, Sokito
