With all eyes on Beijing in 2008, Nike athletes were running, jumping and rowing in products that were created with both performance and sustainability in mind. Nike’s PreCool Vest was one of several Nike products for Beijing that athletes wore knowing that it helped them perform better while at the same time minimizing their carbon footprint.

A favorite among Nike athletes- given Beijing’s hot and humid conditions- the PreCool Vest is a key piece of equipment that can help regulate heat and reduce an athlete’s core temperature before they take it to the field or the track. A technology originally introduced in Athens, the PreCool Vest was re-engineered to be lighter and more sustainable.

Nike partnered with a medical supply company to make the actual vest. Each one was individually tested and made from sustainable materials. Waste from the manufacturing of Nike Air bags are used in the vest and the felt carry case, which helps keep the vest cold, is made from scrap wool felt and polyester used to produce men’s business suits.

“I’m really proud of this design,” said Eddy Harber of Nike’s Advanced Innovation Team. “It’s a unique product that only Nike can offer and the fact that we made it more sustainable speaks to the level at which we operate. Sustainable design and performance are fully integrated even at the highest performance level.”

One final design innovation woven throughout the Considered product lines for Beijing was the minimal use of materials, which in turn yields less waste. Luckily for the athletes, less materials oftentimes translates into lighter product on their back and on their feet.