Some of our greatest inspiration comes from our athletes.
Higher, faster, farther …… and now, more sustainable.
Our journey to create environmentally preferred products is well underway, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
When long-time Nike athlete and legendary female marathoner Joan Benoit Samuelson told us she wanted to compete in a carbon-neutral shoe for the Olympic Trials in Boston in April, we said, “Great idea, but we’re not there yet.”
Nike has made great strides in producing more sustainable products using our Considered ethos, and our goal is to have all footwear meet a minimum Considered baseline standard by 2011.
In this particular case, we’ve taken steps to reduce the manufacturing and logistics carbon footprint of Joan’s shoes, and of all Nike shoes being worn by athletes at the trials, by contributing to a renewable energy project in Brazil.
The project reduces greenhouse gases produced by two local ceramic factories by replacing their use of native wood as the primary energy source with renewable rice husk which is more climate-friendly. Deforestation is one of the most important ecological threats in the project’s region. There is a high potential for the project to be replicated which will considerably contribute to finding alternatives for the use of valuable wood resources as a primary energy source in one of the most environmentally vulnerable regions of Brazil.
We think it’s a step in the right direction. Joan, of course, agrees.
This is just one small way we are helping to contribute to the fight against climate change. Learn more.