Internship - Sustainability Direction (Circularity) (m/f/d)

adidas is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders (incl. gender identity), ethnic and social backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions, and beliefs, and those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities*. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees.

• We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process.

JOIN THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY TEAM: The Sustainability team oversees and coordinates the adidas sustainability strategy and all its related programs. We work cross-functionally with various teams across the company (from design to reporting) and are also responsible for identifying trends and opportunities around sustainability topics.

We are seeking a design-centric intern to support adidas’ sustainability program by contributing to circular design guidance and developing an approach to advance it in our internal design and product development community. This role will focus on circularity within the Sustainability team and also has exposure to broader ESG initiatives led by the team.

GROW YOUR CAPABILITIES THROUGH MEANINGFUL TASKS & PROJECTS: 

• Conduct industry benchmarking and analysis of approaches to circular design for apparel and footwear and identify emerging trends relevant to circular product development practices.
• Support the translation of sustainability expertise into actionable tools and recommendations that can be incorporated into future product creation processes.
• Understand upcoming EU regulations such as the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, Extended Producer Responsibility, etc.
• Analyze upcoming regulatory requirements and sustainability expectations that may influence future product design decisions.
• Translate sustainability concepts and regulatory requirements into practical design recommendations and guidance.
• Consolidate research findings and stakeholder feedback into structured recommendations and guideline content.
• Support the creation of presentations, visual materials, and working documents that communicate circular design principles.
• Provide ad-hoc research and analysis on strategic sustainability topics such as biodiversity, water, and circularity to support the team’s daily and long-term objectives.

What Would Make You a Match

• Student of Design/Industrial Design, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or similar
• Open to a multicultural environment
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Good organizational and communication skills, proactivity and a sense of responsibility.
• Analytical understanding and skilled in making conclusions from key figures and concepts.
• Strong MS Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Technical background in product creation is beneficial

What's In It For You 

• International intern community and work environment
• Chances to attend and take part in on-campus events and sponsored adidas events/games
• Structured training and development, access to LinkedIn Learning, Language Training and adidas Learning Portal
• Regular development conversations as part of your role
• Possibility to join our mentorship program, networking opportunities or employee resource groups
• Monthly gross allowance: non-compulsory internship 2.470,00€, compulsory internship 1.930,00€ (Difference due to different taxation, net will be the same)  
• Inspiring campus with canteens, cafes, reflection rooms and sport facilities including an on-site gym (25€/month) and many more sports facilities
• Company sports program including classes and events focusing on sports and mental health
• Flexible and agile working arrangements (40% home office possible)
• Employee discounts on products

Eligibility  requirements

• Enrolled as full-time student for the complete duration of the internship  
• Or in the so-called gap year between Bachelor and Master’s degree (gap year regulation only applicable to EU citizens due to working permit regulations)  
• Students with ideally max. one year to graduation preferred
• Availability for the full duration of the internship from March 2027 – September 2027 
• Ability to relocate to Herzogenaurach in Germany for the full duration of the internship 

KEY FACTS 

• Application Deadline: October 15th, 2026, 11:59 PM CET 
• Start Date: March 1st, 2027 
• Duration: 6 months , full-time
• Location: adidas Headquarters in Herzogenaurach (near Nuremberg) 

NEXT STEPS 

• To apply for the role, please submit your CV. You don't have to write us a motivation letter, but if you have something to say, let us know. 
• Please apply in the same language as the job description. 
• If we feel like it is a match, you'll be invited to a video interview - don't worry we'll fully brief you on this.  

adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.