By: Briana Muller
Nike drafted its first code of conduct for contract labor in 1991 and distributed it to
factories the following year. This was the first code of its kind for the sporting apparel
industry. All Nike factories around the world were required to sign the document, which
banned the use of forced or child labor. Additionally, these factories were committed to
comply with local laws on wages, benefits, overtime and environmental protection.
In 1998, The Natural Step (TNS) began to work with Nike to help apply
principles of sustainability to their operations. The company formalized this
notion with an official policy statement later that year. Nike employees were
trained to use The Natural Step Framework between the years of 1998 and
2001, leading to numerous innovative programs to further its sustainability
goals.
In 2005, Nike became the first company to publicly release supplier details of branded
products. In addition, they developed a long-term sustainability goal, known as North
Star. Nike was, and still is, not afraid to be transparent with their customers regarding
their corporate actions, proving their company has nothing to hide from the public.
Nike’s North Star Innovation has six goals it focuses on: Climate Stability, Sustainable
Materials, Closing the Loop, Water Stewardship, Thriving Communities, and Athletes as
Change Agents. Since 2010, Nike has diverted more than seven billion plastic bottles
from landfills.
In 2008, Nike partnered with The Natural Step again to assess and further develop
product innovation. This was in order to define a long-term vision for sustainable
products. As a result of this initiative, all Nike Air soles contain at least 50% recycled
manufacturing waste and are made with 100% renewable energy. Additionally, more
than 90% of the new, innovative cushioning systems for soles are made with waste. The
Nike Flyknit sneaker is engineered with an average of 60% less waste than traditional
footwear manufacturing. Nike Flyleather, made with at least 50% recycled leather fiber,
is produced through an innovative process with a smaller carbon footprint. It is produced
on a roll, improving cutting efficiency and creates less waste than traditional cut-and-
sew methods for full-grain leather. These sneakers are made completely from recycled
plastic bottles. The production of Nike Flyknit has led to ten million pounds of waste
being diverted from landfills since 2012, including over 600 million water bottles.
“Move to Zero,” is Nike’s journey toward zero carbon and zero waste to help
protect the future of sport. Nike’s statement is as follows: “We exist to serve
athletes everywhere and that’s why we’re on a mission to help ensure a healthy
planet. For us, there is no finish line.” Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program grinds
used athletic shoes in combination with recycled materials to make basketball
courts, athletic tracks, artificial soccer fields, playground fall protection, and
other recycled products. This program has kept more than 21 million shoes out
of landfills.
Nike’s Considered shoe line, marked a shift in the way sustainability can be
utilized within fashion companies. It is a design that focuses on creating
products made with fewer toxins, less waste, more environmentally preferred
materials, and sustainable product innovation. In order to better the
environmental footprint of all Nike products and develop incentives for change
amongst the design teams, the Nike Considered Index was developed. It uses
a lifecycle approach to examine production and design elements.
“For me the big piece was watching younger generations of designers and developers
go through the TNS workshops. It was great to see them get so excited about
sustainability. They agreed that we need to be working toward sustainability as a
company, and they could see how the TNS training would be meaningful in their jobs,”
stated Sarah Severn, Director of Corporate Responsibility. Nike employees take pride
in their work and in their company’s practices. As it is refreshing to witness a sportswear
company implement recycling programs to better benefit the environment.
Sustainability, performance and innovation are an integral part in Nike’s organization.
They are working to achieve global collaboration towards sustainability. Nike is in a
solid position to become a leader in sustainable product innovation and navigate
towards a sustainable future. Their goal is to use 100% sustainable cotton by 2020.
That means they are going to use certified organic, recycled and Better Cotton Initiative
(BCI) licensed cotton. Research on BCI cotton shows that overseas factories may use
regular cotton in place of organic cotton. This can cause Nike to produce clothes that
are not made from BCI cotton. Nike is expeditiously becoming a green business since
several of their products are made with sustainable manufacturing practices. Regarding
their company as a whole, Nike is looking at a bright and green future ahead for them.
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