Nike has become a leader of sustainability in the apparel industry, and now the company has developed a partnership with Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) to allow any user to mine and contribute to its database of cutting-edge materials. While many companies are exceptionally secretive about their products, Nike has decided to switch gears and help instill the sustainable thinking mindset in its customers with this new move.
It is hoped that this change will positively affect the way Nike’s products impact the environment, and how consumers view the importance of environmental sustainability. Leather is a great example of this. It’s always been viewed as a natural (since it is skin) way of producing a tough, long-lasting pair of shoes, but the amount of water, energy, and chemicals used in a tannery is enough to make even anti-greenies cringe.
There are many leather alternatives such as cotton, and polyester, but many product designers and manufacturers are completely unaware, lacking the connections or resources to develop new systems. The Nike Materials Sustainability Index could make a difference for other companies as well, pairing up vendors, designers, and manufacturers.
The overall goal of the alliance is to create more innovative and sustainable products, not only for Nike, but for manufacturers and suppliers around the world. It’s also a good way for companies to reveal more about the manufacturing process and materials going into a product, giving customers peace of mind that they’re buying goods made with the best intentions and quality.
It’s good to see a little sustainability competition developing between big brands, and even better to see a company as huge as Nike attempting to set the bar these days.
via Triple Pundit
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