Nike Air Force 1s
Overall Summary
If this was the NBA, the Nike Air Force 1 would not be a starting player on the 2023 Sustainability squad. There is nothing sustainable about this particular shoe model. In fact, the sourcing of materials is the most harmful to the environment. The most green aspect of the Air Force 1 is that the shoe will most likely not end up in a landfill thanks to Nike’s claim that 100% of waste is diverted from landfills and 80% is recycled back into Nike products and other goods. Bottom line, if you are looking for a shoe to show off at your next sustainability show-and-tell, don’t wear the Nike Air Force 1. Instead try an alternative shoe manufactured with sustainable materials.
What It’s Made of:
The Nike Air Force 1 is crafted with a combination of materials including textiles, cotton, rubber, leather, Eva foam, and polyester. Leather, cotton, and polyester all extremely energy intensive, and have high carbon and waste footprints.
The Air Force 1 in particular uses a significant amount of leather, which in terms of production is catastrophic to biodiversity loss and deforestation. The inherent properties of the materials used to create the iconic Air Force 1 have a substantial impact on the environment, carbon emissions, and poor working conditions. The carbon footprint of a pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers is 7.9kg of CO2. Nike was able to cut the carbon footprint in half by creating a new synthetic leather There is a lack of transparency on what materials are used in these specific product, like whether the leather is recycled, or if the cotton used in this product is recycled.
In terms of end use for these materials, part of Nikes circular solutions is to divert 100% of waste from landfills. The pathway at end-of-use for a Nike Air Force 1 is to be refurbished, or Recycled and Donated. Nike Grind, is global sustainability program that helps transform manufacturing scrap and end-of-life shoes into recycled Nike Grind materials. Manufacturing scrap, unused manufacturing materials and end-of-life footwear— including rubber, foam, fiber, leather and textiles (all of which make up the Air Force 1)—are collected, separated and reused or processed into new Nike Grind products.
Nike has not provided any metrics around Air Force 1’s end of it’s life cycle pathways. The lack of information for this specific product further supports the low rating It recieved.
How It’s Made:
The Air Force 1’s biggest environmental downfall is sourcing of materials and manufacturing. The production of leather harms surrounding soil, air, water, and generates hazardous waste. The production of rubber, produced from a non-renewable resource releases toxins into the air and is biodegradable. Conventionally-grown cotton is bad for the environment because of its high water consumption and pollution, soil degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
So what can change? Nike is already creating products with ‘materials with less impact’ but this implementation is not widespread. Some of these materials include: recycled polyester, organic cotton, and recycled nylon. All which significantly reduce manufacturing associated carbon emissions. Nike can require all products be manufactured with sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact and GHG emissions.
Who Makes It:
Nike marketing and public relations (PR) efforts are exceptional. These efforts have resulted in reframing Nike’s mission, story, and values reflective in their culture and results.
Nike is a corporation that values what their consumers values are. Nike makes an effort to be transparent through its commitments, pledges, including corporate sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Nike’s Impact report lists 4 commitments, 2 of which are “protecting the planet” and “responsible resourcing”. Nike seems to respond well to criticism from its consumers. For example, Nike publishes several public plans listing corporate sustainability initiatives. Other sustainability initiatives discussed in Nike’s Move to Zero Initiative include: using renewable energy in owned or operated facilities by 20, reducing carbon emissions across the global supply chain by 30% by 2030, and reducing 70% of green house gas (GHG) emissions in its factories by using 100% renewable energy.
Nike marketing and public relations (PR) efforts are exceptional. When it comes to bad press following allegations on mismanagements, unethical manufacturing, child labor, or gender discrimination, Nike knows what to do to make a cultural shift. Nike is a corporation all about brand image that reflects their consumers values. The apparel company has a code of conduct that prohibits forced, bonded, or indentured labor at supplier facilities. Nike also requires subcontractors to comply with the Atlanta Agreement on child labor, international conventions on freedom to unionize, and local labor laws. The use of ‘local labor laws’ is interesting because It leaves too much room for variation of enforcement between its suppliers geographical locations.
To improve Nike’s efforts in social and environmental outcomes , and transparency in future commitments can include additional and more publicly detailed strategies to reduce GHG associated emissions with transport, production, or manufacturing.
Sources
De Ponte, C., Liscio, M. C., & Sospiro, P. (2023). State of the art on the Nexus between sustainability, fashion industry and sustainable business model. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 32, 100968.
Redwood, M. (2013). Corporate social responsibility and the carbon footprint of leather. J. Soc. Leather Technol. Chem., 97, 47-55.
https://chemtech-us.com/articles/6-lessons-learned-from-nikes-corporate-social-responsibility-efforts/#:~:text=Steward describes how%2C during his,things better in the future.
https://www.projectcece.com/blog/445/is-cotton-bad-for-the-environment-the-no-fluff-truth/
https://kalypso.com/viewpoints/entry/nike-sets-target-for-carbon-reduction#:~:text=By creating a new synthetic,to meet its 2025 goal.