Greentech Lead America: In an effort to encourage the use of more sustainable materials and chemicals in manufacturing, Nike has formed partnership with bluesign technologies to roll out the assessment tools across Nike global supply chain.
The agreement between the two companies involves opening up access to bluesign technologies’ key tools and data to an expanded supplier base at nominal cost.
Nike will roll out the two tools bluesign bluefinder and the bluesign blueguide across its global supply chain spanning 50 countries.
Previously, to access these tools and data, a brand would have to take its supply chain through individual factory assessments.
With bluefinder, a supplier can access pre-screened and more sustainable textile preparations such as dye systems, detergents and other process chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Suppliers can effectively manage restricted substances and provides the opportunity to increase water and energy efficiency.
The blueguide gives Nike access to 30,000+ materials produced using chemicals from the bluefinder at facilities that have undergone rigorous assessment.
Hannah Jones, VP of Sustainable Business & Innovation, Nike, calls the partnership a significant step in the company’s sustainable materials strategy: “Nike is committed to catalyzing a major change in the world of materials, driving for the elimination of hazardous substances and innovating new, sustainable materials.”
According to Nike, around 60 percent of the environmental impact of a pair of shoes is in the materials used. With the help of bluesign tools, Nike can encourage the material industry develop and supply more sustainable materials and work with the industry to scale that innovation.
Nike has been committed to sustainability for long.
1995 – Nike began phasing out petroleum-derived solvents in its footwear.
1997 – Nike began phase-out of the global warming SF6 gas, previously used in Air-Sole cushioning.
2002 – Nike developed a formula for environmentally preferred rubber then shared the formula with the industry.
2006 – Nike pioneered a materials sustainability index to enable designers to make better materials choices. In 2011 it shared this tool with the industry through the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC).
2011 – Nike committed to a goal of eliminating the discharge of hazardous chemicals in its supply chain by 2020.
2012 – Nike invested in DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., a Dutch company that invented a revolutionary process to dye materials without water and subsequently reducing chemical discharge.