Sustainability Policies
At Nike, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and we take our local and global responsibilities seriously. Nike’s policies are a formal, accepted standard or approach to the way Nike conducts business, relating to social and environmental issues.
Every supplier factory that makes products for NIKE, Inc. must meet a rigorous set of compliance requirements. Nike’s Code of Conduct lays out the minimum standards we expect each factory or facility to meet. Our Code includes standards related to hiring practices, wages, freedom of association and health and safety.
Nike’s Code of Conduct is an integral component to our sourcing strategy and how we determine the suppliers Nike will continue to engage and grow our business to create a lean, green and equitable supply chain.
We regularly review supplier factories to assess their ability to meet our high standards. These assessments take the form of audit visits, both announced and unannounced, by internal and external parties, who measure against the Code Leadership Standards and our Code of Conduct.
Code Leadership Standards
Nike’s Code Leadership Standards communicate how supplier factories should implement the Code of Conduct. The document also articulates how we measure factories’ compliance efforts and progress.
Manufacturing Restricted Substances List
The Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) industry-wide tool assists brands, their supply chains and the broader industry to adopt an aligned approach to the control of hazardous substances in the manufacturing process for apparel and footwear. It bans the intentional use of priority chemicals during the manufacturing of textiles, synthetic leather and natural leather, and sets impurity limits for these substances within chemical formulations supplied to material vendors.
Manufacturing Restricted Substances List
The Restricted Substances List (RSL) sets out chemical standards for our materials that meet or exceed regulatory or legislative requirements from around the world and includes substances that we have voluntarily restricted or limited in our product. This RSL is now aligned to the AFIRM chemical limits list.
ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines
Along with the ZDHC, we have created and adopted Wastewater Guidelines that set out a unified expectation on wastewater quality for the entire textile and footwear industry.
Nanotechnology Material Guidelines
This policy restricts the use of nanomaterials within Apparel, Footwear and Equipment product lines.
Nanotechnology Material Guidelines
Odor Management, Antimicrobial & Scented Materials Policy
Nike currently restricts the use of scented materials and/or odor control technologies within Apparel, Footwear and Equipment product lines. This restriction applies to any chemical or substance intentionally applied to product to control bacterial populations, capture odors, mask odors or perfume product or the consumer.
Odor Management, Antimicrobial & Scented Materials Policy
Animal Skins Policy
This policy applies to Nike brand products or Nike affiliate brand products that contain animal skin materials.
Amazon Biome Leather Sourcing Policy
This policy ensures Nike does not use leather produced from cattle raised in the Amazon Biome. Cattle ranching in that region contributes to tropical deforestation.
Conflict Minerals Policy
Nike’s Conflict Minerals Policy expects suppliers to support the responsible sourcing of conflict minerals using Responsible Minerals Initiative conformant smelters and refiners.
Conflict Minerals (3TG) Policy
Nike, Inc. Form SD and Conflict Minerals Report 2022
Responsible Minerals Initiative (additional information and resources for suppliers)
Packaging Restricted Substances List
The Packaging Restricted Substance List gives substance details and restriction levels for Nike packaging, as well as packaging design requirements to comply with global legislation.