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Writer's pictureLaser Focus

Is Nike Really a "Green" Business

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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