Nike announced
ambitious plans for the company to become even more environmentally-friendly. The Nike Considered Design initiative is broad-based and aims to massively change the way the company does business.
"I'm not a scientist - I'm a ceo, a pragmatist," Mark Parker, president and chief executive officer, told reporters at 7 World Trade Center. "I see potential for us to be a game changer.... This is good for our shareholders, our consumers and ultimately, our planet."
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The company is focusing on reducing its footprint in several areas:
Waste: Ten years ago, for every Nike shoe made, there was enough waste to create another shoe, but that has been reduced 50 percent and the company reuses two-thirds of the remaining waste, Vogel said. For packaging, the goal is to reduce waste 30 percent by 2010, and efforts so far will save Nike $6 million.
Energy: More than half of Nike’s energy use is embedded in materials, Vogel said. Utilizing recycled materials stands to lower energy usage.
Toxins: The company is shifting from solvent-based adhesives to water-based adhesives whenever possible.
Water: Dying materials is the largest use of water in the supply chain, and Nike is working on alternatives.
It's a bold plan which puts Nike in the forefront of the corporate environmentally-friendly movement.
