Beaverton, OR : January 22, 2010 – Nike released it’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) report and it almost looks like Jerry Maguire wrote it. The CR outlines their goals for the future and one of its highlights is Nike’s focus on Sustainable Business and Innovation (SB&I) . Basically, Nike wants to be a big zero; zero waste in the supply chain and intelligently designed products that can be continuously reused in future Nike apparel and shoes. It follows a “closed loop” idea and it couldn’t be more Jubbling.
The days of excusing increased production and consumption with carbon offsets are over for Nike and now, they’re focused on growing as a business while reducing their need for virgin rubber and other scarcer raw materials. It defies logic to increase production while reducing their energy needs and use of raw materials. But with success, Nike will share/license their ideas and technologies so other companies can get a jumpstart on their own sustainable processes.
In the 1990′s, Nike became the face of exploiting cheap labor with little hands building big shoes and they took their lumps for that. Even into the 2000′s, Nike was focused on managing the risk and social impact associated with their overseas factories and they’ve made improvements. Now, they are taking their entire company in a new direction to innovate and develop more sustainable products. It’s as if the whole company went Jerry Maguire on us. Little did they know but they had us at ‘we’re moving away from carbon offsets.’
For more information on Nike’s plan:
Nike Corporate Responsibility Strategy – CFO Don Blair on Sustainability
Nike Outlines Global Strategy for Creating a More Sustainable Business
Blank us on ......