Nike’s sustainable pledge

Nike is the world’s largest sportswear brand.

Every sports brand will have some sort of ‘sustainable’ pledge written deep in the caves of their corporate website. Although we have seen a change in the last decade, with many major sportswear brands are making changes, with our environment in mind. Take Adidas for example, they announced in 2018 that they will have switched from virgin, to recycled polyester by 2024, in a bid to make the company more environmentally friendly. As such, they released two ethical ranges, Primeblue and Primegreen, focused on using recycled materials and ocean bound waste in their activewear and running trainers.

But Nike seemed to have moved a step beyond. The clothing industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. This is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Nike announced "Move to Zero" in 2019, a comprehensive sustainability plan designed to "help protect the future of sport." The program builds upon existing company-wide efforts. Below are 5 “Move to Zero” initiatives.

1. Nike will power owned-and-operated facilities with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. 
2. Nike will reduce carbon emissions across its global supply chain by 30 percent by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015.
3. Nike diverts 99 percent of all footwear manufacturing waste from landfills. 
4. Additionally, Nike diverts more than 1 billion plastic bottles per year from landfills to create yarns for new jerseys and uppers for Flyknit shoes.
5. The Reuse-A-Shoe and Nike Grind programs convert waste into new products, playgrounds, running tracks and courts.

Have you noticed the circular logo associated with certain products? It’s there to tell you that the product was made using at least 50% recycled material.