Green Chemistry Innovation Case Study: Nike

As the world’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, Nike uses a vast array of materials throughout its product lines. In the mid-nineties, Nike began integrating sustainability goals throughout the lifecycle of its products, with a particular focus on toxicity of the chemicals used during manufacturing. 

Through this evolutionary process, Nike has been able to find better ways to evaluate materials and make products that are safer for consumers and the environment. However, access to complete and reliable data from suppliers has historically been a challenge. Nike worked to overcome this obstacle through strategically developing partnerships with suppliers. These partnerships allow the company to clearly communicate its goals to suppliers, work on continuous improvement with them, obtain more consistent and reliable data, and reach its desired outcomes for more sustainable materials and products.  

How green chemistry was used by Nike:

Nike designed and implemented a more environmentally-friendly rubber for its footwear created with benign accelerators, vegetable oils, and modified processing chemicals and methods without compromising performance. Partnerships with manufacturers in their supply chain allowed Nike to address process changes required by the new rubber formula collaboratively.

Benefits created by using green chemistry:

As part of its sustainability initiatives, Nike has put a strong emphasis on innovation through green chemistry. This approach has allowed Nike to: 

• Create materials and products that are in compliance with the strictest global chemical legislation
• Avoid potential regulatory issues in different countries or regions
• Cost savings associated with waste reduction in their global supply chain

Launched in 2005, Nike’s Considered Design Program takes a multidisciplinary approach to integrating environmental sustainability with other Nike product design objectives. Nike utilizes a sustainable product design tool called the Considered Index to predict the environmental footprint of a product prior to commercialization. Like other global brands, Nike has invested in the development of a comprehensive Restricted Substances List and an extensive management system designed to ensure compliance on the part of suppliers. 

Nike has also benefitted from its participation in the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council, an organization of more than 120 representatives in various industries, seeking to integrate Green Chemistry and Design for Environment approaches into product development.