Eliminating hazardous chemicals
What to know
From raw-material processing to product creation, chemistry is the foundation of innovation, design and performance. We're making sure it doesn't harm the planet.
Every Nike product and initiative leverages chemistry. From raw-material processing to product creation to new methods of make, chemistry enables us to innovate and influence design, performance and sustainability throughout the value chain.
Using cleaner chemistry benefits our health, supports more sustainable practices and helps protect the planet. Our chemistry experts go beyond hazard identification when evaluating chemicals. They compare chemistry options throughout the creation process, collaborate with cross-functional teams and think ahead, designing out chemical hazards to increase our journey towards a more circular economy. Transparent replacement initiatives, based on our 2025 targets, are changing the course of our chemistry journey and influencing the sustainable growth of our whole industry.
For Nike, chemical transparency is non-negotiable. We require all suppliers to properly manage chemicals and meet Nike Restricted Substances List (RSL) and industry-wide Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) requirements. We expect all Nike, Inc. products to pass RSL testing. To support our suppliers, we've built simpler and more transparent guidelines to realise the vision of zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. We're scaling industry tools that assess RSL and MRSL compliance, and collaborating across the industry to drive success and minimise suppliers working against conflicting requirements. Work is also underway in ZDHC to build guidance on chemicals related to air emissions, taking proactive steps to protect athletes and preserve the future of sport. We will quantify our impact and actively work to improve air quality where we manufacture around the world.
Nike aims to go beyond standard compliance expectations in our research, use of and aspiration to replace 10 prioritised chemicals. We're working to replace chemicals not covered by regulations or chemicals like bisphenols, used in receipt paper, and dimethylformamide (DMFa), used in synthetic-leather production, that don't have specific replacement expectations because it's the right thing to do.
Ultimately, we want to work with our suppliers to undertake this journey together. We have a collective opportunity to move beyond compliance and accelerate the adoption of clean, sustainable chemistry. We're leveraging education, monitoring industry implementation and advocating for progressive standards so we all move closer to the vision of circular, responsible design and manufacturing.
Choosing clean chemistry is complex. We need to weigh multiple variables to best protect people and the planet. That's why we integrate chemistry selection deep into our product-creation pipeline and use criteria to prioritise chemicals for action. These criteria include: science-based health and environmental risks; future legislative risk; volume and type of use; availability of alternatives; and schedule for identification, adoption and scaling of alternatives.
The work required to replace or even reduce the use of a chemical that has been used in a material-production process for decades cannot be underestimated. There is rarely a simple "drop-in replacement", where a chemical can be replaced with a better one. Our 2025 target requires substantial redesign of manufacturing equipment, adjustment of chemical usage both upstream and downstream of the priority chemical, and major modifications in current designs. For example, we will consider different performance attributes and potentially alter the way that materials are produced. This is a profound opportunity that will require collaboration between Nike, our suppliers and other brands in and outside of our industry.
Nike chemists are thinking ahead when they evaluate chemicals so materials we create today are best positioned to meet new, more stringent requirements in the future. Chemistry options are compared throughout the product-creation process, and collaboration spans designers, chemists, engineers, safety professionals and more. We are also strengthening our chemistry assessments throughout the innovation pipeline. All of this is required to make the right chemistry selection for Nike, our athletes*, the planet and the future.