Abstract: Presented are polymeric cover panels with permanently affixed plastic fragments for articles of footwear, methods for making/using such cover panels, and footwear fabricated with such cover panels. A cover panel for an article of footwear includes a cover layer that is formed, in whole or in part, from an at least partially transparent polymeric material, such as a hot-melt adhesive, adhesive-coated polymer, or tacky thermoplastic material. The cover panel mounts onto one or more select segments of the footwear upper such that an outer face of the cover layer defines an outermost surface of these select segment(s) of the footwear upper. An assortment of plastic fragments is dispersed across and permanently affixed to an interior face of the cover layer, e.g., such that the plastic fragments are encapsulated between the cover layer and the footwear upper. Each plastic fragment may have a distinct shape, size, and/or color.