Climate change is real and boy, is it scary.
But there are things we all can do to help. From little everyday things to big lifestyle changes. We’ve all got a responsibility to do our bit and so do our favourite brands.
Today we’re shining a light on Nike and their efforts towards sustainability. As one of the biggest brands in sport, they take their position seriously and are focused on reaching zero carbon and zero waste ASAP.
Materials
The materials used for manufacturing make up over 70% of any products carbon footprint. So choosing materials wisely is a massive part of Nike’s plan to achieve zero carbon and zero waste. Reusing plastics, yarns and textiles significantly reduces their emissions.
Ever seen the sunburst logo next to a Nike product? It’s there to tell you that the product was made using at least 50% recycled material. So now you know, keep an eye out for it.
Let’s walk you through each of Nike’s most used materials, and how they’ve been developed with the planet in mind…
Flyknit
Most of you will be familiar with Flyknit, especially the sneaker-heads amongst you. But for those who aren’t, Nike Flyknit is a lightweight fabric, precision-engineered with an average of 60% less waste than in traditional footwear upper manufacturing. Each shoe upper made from Flyknit contains 6–7 plastic bottles.
Flyleather
Flyleather looks, feels and smells like natural leather. It’s made by binding at least 50% recycled leather fibres with synthetic fibres using a water-powered process. This creates less waste and a lower impact on climate change compared to full-grain leather.
Nike Air
Since 2008, all Nike Air soles are composed of at least 50% recycled manufacturing waste. As of 2020, all of Nike’s AirMI facilities in North America are powered by 100% renewable wind energy. Nike reuse more than 90% of the waste from materials used for their Air soles to make new, innovative cushioning systems. Light on your feet. Light on waste.
Recycled Polyester
Nike’s recycled polyester is made from plastic bottles which are cleaned, shredded into flakes, converted into pellets and then spun into a high-quality yarn. In addition to reducing waste, recycled polyester lowers carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to virgin poly, and diverts an average of 1 billion plastic bottles annually from landfills and waterways.
Sustainable Cotton
As of 2020, 100% of the cotton we Nike use across their entire product line is certified organic, recycled or Better Cotton sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). BCI works to improve cotton farming globally, sourcing cotton through a system of Mass Balance. All of Nike’s organic cotton is grown without fossil fuel-derived pesticides or synthetic fertilisers and they also recycle more than 680 metric tons of cotton each year.
Recycled Nylon
Nike’s recycled nylon is transformed from a variety of materials, like carpet and used fish nets. The nylon is cleaned, sorted and converted into flakes, all before undergoing a chemical or mechanical recycling process. The new recycled nylon yarn reduces carbon emissions by up to 50% compared to virgin nylon.
We really enjoyed this interactive page which Nike worked on with Climate Lab. It shows the connection between a stable climate and athletic performance. It really hits home that we’re fighting to protect the future of sport here guys!