Many consumers want to do their part to slow down global warming and they’re flocking to companies that try to do less harm to the planet. Companies, in turn, love to claim they’re environmentally friendly, sustainable or carbon neutral. Because in a world battered by climate change, it’s not just morally right to fight climate change, it also pays off.
Nike, the world’s largest sports apparel brand, has been at the forefront of environmentally friendly commitments. The company has promised to significantly slash its emissions by 2030. It has touted innovations that would not only lessen its impact on global warming but also become a “powerful engine for growth” and an industry model.
But in December, Nike started slashing its sustainability workforce, leading to doubts about how the company can fulfill its carbon reduction pledges. Nike executives told The Oregonian the company remained committed to its sustainability goals and has made them everyone’s job.
On Beat Check, Matthew Kish, a business reporter who covers the apparel industry for The Oregonian, talked about why apparel companies like Nike are interested in sustainability, how they’re planning to fulfill their promises and why they may have trouble doing so.
Read the story: https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/07/nike-slashed-its-sustainability-workforce-after-a-pledge-to-reduce-its-carbon-footprint.html
source
Comments
Their space trash shoes were not just ugly but also uncomfortable. The prices were often higher than $100. The only decent “sustainable” shoe is the Billie Ellish AF1. The sustainability initiative was never genuine; it was just an excuse for their tech stagnation
I think the political moves they made in 2020 has lead to a significant disinterest by the purchasers of their product. Their choices were largely based on the media making fringe topics seem popular or mainstream. Many apparel companies had a more accurate knowledge of their consumer’s preferences and as a result Nike took a hit. I have stopped wearing them not because I disagree with their politics, but because in my field it is best to present one’s self as apolitical even in your off time and you can no longer do that in a pair of Nikes. I’ve switched to Adidas for running and cycling just because they build good quality equipment and don’t have a problematic social movement associated with them.