We have worked for over a decade to understand, track and reduce environmental impacts across our value chain. We work to reimagine the role of waste and renewable energy, disrupt how we think about our water footprint, and rethink chemistry. We’re creating a new generation of products that achieve maximum athletic performance with minimal environmental impact. “IF ALL WE DO IS CREATE A SINGLE LINE OF GREEN PRODUCTS, WE WILL HAVE FAILED. SUSTAINABILITY MUST BE A DESIGN ETHOS ACROSS ALL OUR PRODUCTS.” - Mark Parker, President and CEO, NIKE, Inc. WASTE We are focused on eliminating waste through more efficient product design and manufacturing technologies. In FY15 alone, 54 million pounds of factory scrap was transformed into premium materials used in Nike performance footwear and apparel. In footwear manufacturing, we diverted 92% of total waste from landfill and incineration without energy recovery. ENERGY Our two-fold energy strategy focuses on strong efficiency measures and a transition to renewable sources. Since we launched our Energy and Carbon program in 2008, Nike footwear contract manufacturers have cut energy use per unit in half, meaning today it takes about half the energy and emissions to make a pair of shoes compared to eight years ago. WATER We focus on understanding, reducing and improving our water use. We reduced water use by 18% per unit in apparel materials and 43% per unit in footwear manufacturing, far surpassing our goals for FY15. CHEMISTRY We work to explore and test new chemistries, while also setting and implementing standards for chemicals used throughout manufacturing. In FY15, 95% of materials passed our Restricted Substances List testing. A new palette of sustainable materials Our biggest environmental impacts occur in the growing, processing and finishing of materials. If we can get smarter about the materials we choose and the way we use them, we can not only reduce our environmental impact, but also set a new bar for strong product performance and drive growth for our business. Share Image We focus on using lower-impact, high-volume materials – such as recycled polyester and certified Better Cotton (cotton grown according to the Better Cotton Initiative Standard System) – that drive energy efficiency and water efficiency. We’re developing new low-carbon impact materials and turning waste into new materials. This work is critical for a closed-loop future. Nike Grind – a palette of premium recycled materials – is used in 71% of NIKE footwear and apparel products, in everything from yarns and trims, to soccer kits and basketball shoes Our 2020 Targets to Minimizing Our Environmental Footprint: • Deliver products for maximum performance with minimum impact, with a 10% reduction in the average environmental footprint • Increase use of more sustainable materials in footwear and apparel • Reach 100% renewable energy in owned or operated facilities through FY25 and encourage broader adoption, as part of our effort to control absolute emissions • Eliminate footwear manufacturing waste to landfill or incineration, while continuing to reduce overall waste • Innovate and adopt new approaches to reduce water use in our supply chain, with a 20% reduction in freshwater use in textile dyeing and finishing (l/kg) per unit of production • Enable zero discharge of hazardous chemicals For a detailed list of our FY20 targets and FY15 performance, check out the full report below. Download our full Sustainable Business Report