Nike: made from scraps

Eco & Sustainability Published on 28 February 2008 in Eco & Sustainability

Back in 2006, Nike generated copious amounts of street cred with techies when it partnered with Apple and released its Nike + iPod Sport Kit, which allowS gadget-loving runners to synch their iPods via a special sensor placed inside their Nike shoes.

Now, the US athletic shoe manufacturer seems determined to win over green-minded customers, too. In January, Nike introduced the Air Jordan XX3, which uses eco-friendly materials. Then in February Nike went a step further with Trash Talk. From the sole to the shoelaces, this shoe is produced not only from ‘environmentally preferred’ materials but also recycled waste, with much of the latter coming from Nike’s own production facilities—scraps that would otherwise have been discarded.

Trash Talk is the brainchild of Nike celebrity endorser Steve Nash.The All-Star guard for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns is a committed green-living advocate. And a retail price of USD 100 aptly illustrates how a company can turn garbage to gold. That’s a lesson which should be well taken by beleaguered manufacturers in the US and other developed nations. As these manufacturers look for ways to compete with lower-cost producers in Asia, they might find the secret to reinventing themselves is stacked up in the trash bins of their own factories. Yet another way for brands to rack up those greenie points ;-)

Website www.nike.com

Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen

Comments on this idea:

Totally funny that their lower cost per unit commands a higher per unit price. ;) Truly trash into treasure as you said.

Every company can save money is they look at their waste stream through the lens of sustainability. The old school thinks inside the box and asks, "Who can we pay to take this trash away."

Post a comment:

Please note that Springwise is not associated with the company / product mentioned in this article.

Your email address will not be published with your comment.

 
 
 

Type the characters you see in the picture above.

 
About Springwise

Springwise and its network of 8,000 spotters scan the globe for smart new business ideas, delivering instant inspiration to entrepreneurial minds.
Time to start the next big thing!

Free newsletter

Don't miss a single
new business idea:
sign up for our
weekly newsletter.

Next issue due
2 December 2009.

You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.

Or follow us on