Consider Your Choices
Consider the impact.
Nike Environmentally Preferred Materials (EPMs)
Environmentally preferred materials (EPM's) are critical to achieving a sustainable product and are weighted heavily in our index system. They require supplier partnership and do not compromise on aesthetics, performance, price, compliance and sustainability.
How Does Nike Define EPMs
Nike has developed a Material Analysis Tool (MAT) based on lifecycle thinking to quantitatively evaluate and rank our material choices, giving definition to Nike EPM's. Each material is assigned a numeric value that feeds into a sustainability score for our products. The MAT framework is a set of 19 environmental impact questions, in four categories that are weighted as follows:
| Issue | Weighting | Impact Metric |
| Chemistry | 40% |
Risk (hazard and exposure potential) A number of toxicology endpoints are considered including:
|
| Energy Intensity / CO2 | 25% |
MJ / Kg of Material Energy Source Kg CO2 / kg of Material |
| Physical Waste | 20% |
Recycled Inputs Manufacturing Waste Disposition Consumer End of Life Disposition |
| Water Intensity | 15% | >, =, < 100 Liters / kg of Material |
Platforms EPM
Regenerated
Materials produced with pre-consumer and / or post-consumer recycled content.
Examples: Nike Grind, Recycled TPU / PU, Recycled Rubber, Recycled Polyester (a synthetic or manufactured polymer derived from the reprocessing of post-industrial and post-consumer waste materials and products (e.g. PET bottles, clothing, textile scraps, etc.), Recycled Wool, Recycled Cotton, Recycled Leather, etc.
Renewable
Rapidly replenished natural origin raw materials produced in a way that minimizes impact to the environment. These annually or bi-annually cultivated raw material resources can be used to manufacture natural or bio-based textile fibers and polymers.
Examples: Tencel ® / Lyocell, Cashmere, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Cork, Wool, Silk, Bamboo, Bamboo Rayon / Viscose (a manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose derived from the Bamboo plant.), Hemp, Flax / Linen, Soy Azlon, Modal ®, Leather, Cotton, etc.
Chemically Optimized
Materials produced in a way that reduces the use of toxic substances.
Examples: Nike Green Rubber, Solvent Reduced Synthetic Leather, Organic Cotton, Organic Wool, etc.
Organic Cotton
Organic Cotton is natural staple fiber grown and harvested without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilizers and defoliants. It looks, feels and wears just like conventional cotton. Using organic cotton is a natural fit for Nike as we continually look for ways to integrate innovative approaches to environmental responsibility into our products.
More is Better
Since 1997, when we purchased 250,000 pounds of certified organic cotton for use in our Fall 1998 apparel products, we have steadily increased our reliance on organic cotton. Our best estimates for 2007 show that more than 9 percent of the cotton we used globally was organic, representing approximately 11,000,000 pounds of organic cotton fiber; this figure makes Nike among the top two retail user's of organic cotton in the world (according to the Organic Exchange). Our goal is to blend a minimum of 5 percent organic cotton into all of our cotton-containing apparel materials by 2010, while steadily expanding our offering of 100 percent certified organic cotton products. We currently source organic cotton fiber primarily from the United States, India, Turkey and China.
Certification
Certified organic cotton is grown and harvested according to strict standards without the use of synthetic chemical inputs. It must be grown on land that has been free of such chemicals for at least three years. Independent state or private certification agencies annually inspect these farms and processing facilities, which must maintain detailed records.
Nike's organic cotton supply chains use third-party accredited certifiers. These third parties certify that the cotton has been grown according to organic agricultural practices. There is also a documentation process followed all the way from the farm level, to the finished product.
Cotton purchased for both Nike's blended and 100 percent certified organic programs go through these certification processes, however, documentation for blended only goes as far as bale shipments to the yarn spinner.
The organic cotton used in Nike products is sourced through supply chains across the globe. Details about organic agriculture standards, certification and accreditation can be found at: http://www.organicexchange.org/certification_info.php
The Organic Exchange
"Organic Exchange (OE) is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton.
Our long term goal is to grow the amount of certified organic land farmed for fiber production by 50% per year. Achieving this goal will allow us to have a positive, significant, visible and measurable impact on the world.
To support these efforts, we bring together brands and retailers with their business partners, farmers and key stakeholders to learn about the social and environmental benefits of organic agriculture, and to develop new business models and tools that support greater use of organic inputs. In addition, we raise consumer awareness about the value of organic farming and the availability of products containing organic cotton.
We create solutions which improve environmental quality, enhance the livelihoods of farmers, increase profitability for innovative brands and their business partners and expand consumer choice."
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