Ethan Clarke
Nike shoes are made from a variety of materials, including plastic. The EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam inside Nike shoes is a soft, flexible plastic filled with air bubbles. The nylon and polyester fabrics in Nike shoes are also made of plastic, as they are composed of fine plastic fiber threads woven together. Nike has also released shoes made from recycled plastic, such as the Space Hippie trainers, which are made from recycled plastic water bottles, T-shirts, and textile scraps. The company has also included small packets of microplastics in some of their shoe boxes, which some customers have interpreted as a sample of the recycled materials used in their products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| EVA foam | Ethylene Vinyl Acetate foam, a soft, flexible plastic filled with air bubbles |
| Foam types | Closed-cell EVA foam, closed-cell PU foam, closed-cell Pe-Bax foam, open-cell PU "sponge" foam |
| Rubber | Mix of real rubber and synthetic rubber, made from petroleum byproducts |
| Recycled materials | Polyester made from recycled plastic water bottles, Flyknit fabric, Flyleather, Nike Grind |
| Other plastics | Nylon, polyester fabrics, PU foam, thread |
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What You'll Learn
Nike shoes contain microplastics
Nike has made efforts towards sustainability by reusing existing plastics, yarns, and textiles and inventing new materials to reduce carbon emissions and waste. Their recycled polyester is made from plastic bottles that are cleaned, shredded, converted into pellets, and spun into yarn. In 2020, 100% of the cotton used across their product line was certified organic, recycled, or sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). Nike's Flyknit fabric is made with 60% less waste than traditional footwear manufacturing, and their Flyleather product is made with at least 50% recycled leather fibers.
Despite these sustainability efforts, some Nike shoes have been found to contain microplastics. Beach cleaners have discovered well over 100 Nike trainers that washed up on the shore, and it is estimated that about 10 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year. These shoes will break down into microplastics over time, impacting marine wildlife. Additionally, some customers have reported finding small plastic bubbles filled with air and colorful microplastics inside the boxes of their newly purchased Nike shoes. While Nike has not officially confirmed the presence of microplastics in their shoes, the company has acknowledged the importance of sustainability and reducing waste in their manufacturing processes.
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Recycled plastic bottles are used in shoes
Nike uses recycled plastic bottles to make polyester, which is used in their shoes. In 2010, Nike's World Cup jerseys were made from 100% recycled polyester, with each jersey using eight plastic bottles. The bottles are broken down, melted, and turned into polyester strands.
Nike's Flyknit shoes are also made from recycled plastic bottles, with each shoe upper containing the equivalent of 6-7 plastic bottles. The upper part of the Space Hippie trainer is knitted from "space waste yarn", made from 100% recycled materials, including plastic water bottles.
Nike is committed to sustainability and reducing waste. By reusing existing plastics, yarns, and textiles, Nike aims to reduce its carbon emissions and move towards a circular economy. The company has introduced initiatives such as Move to Zero and Nike Forward to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.
In addition to recycled plastic bottles, Nike also uses other recycled materials in its shoes, such as surplus ZoomX foam and Nike Grind, made from ground-down waste rubber.
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Nike uses synthetic rubber
Nike uses a variety of materials to make its shoes, including polyester, cotton, leather, fabric, foam, and rubber. The rubber used in Nike shoes is a mix of real rubber and synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber is an artificial elastomer synthesized from petroleum byproducts, and it is a type of plastic.
Nike has been using more and more environmentally preferred rubber, with over 70% of their shoes now using this altered rubber, which is made by incorporating more benign accelerators and vegetable oils. This change was first introduced in 2002 when Nike released their environmentally preferred rubber.
The use of synthetic rubber in Nike shoes is part of the company's efforts to create more sustainable products and reduce their environmental impact. Synthetic rubber is often seen as a more sustainable alternative to natural rubber, as it can be produced in a laboratory setting without the need for rubber trees, which can help reduce the company's carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices.
In addition to synthetic rubber, Nike also incorporates recycled materials into their shoes. For example, they have recycled 82 million plastic water bottles to make polyester strands for their clothing and shoes. They have also implemented the Reuse-A-Shoe program, which collects old athletic shoes of any type to process and recycle them into new materials for sports surfaces such as basketball courts, running tracks, and playgrounds. This program has been running since 1993, and in 2017, it was estimated that 28 million shoes had been collected.
Nike's use of synthetic rubber and recycled materials showcases their commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices. By utilizing synthetic alternatives and recycled content, Nike aims to reduce their environmental impact and promote a more circular economy within the footwear industry.
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EVA foam is a cheap, eco-friendly material
Nike uses a variety of materials to construct its shoes, with almost every part of a Nike shoe containing plastic. The EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam inside Nike shoes is a soft, flexible plastic filled with air bubbles. EVA foam is one of the most efficient and cheap materials that Nike uses in its shoes.
EVA foam is a very environmentally friendly material used in many shoes. The main producers of EVA foam are located in China. EVA foam is one of the most efficient and cheap materials that Nike uses in its shoes. Nike has been making efforts to use more environmentally friendly materials in its products. For example, the company has been using more environmentally preferred rubber, with over 70% of their shoes now using this type of rubber. This altered rubber is made by incorporating more benign accelerators and vegetable oils, and by modifying the processing.
In addition to using more environmentally preferred rubber, Nike has also been recycling plastic water bottles to make polyester. In 2010, the World Cup jerseys that Nike produced were made from 100% recycled polyester, with each jersey using eight plastic bottles. The solid plastic bottles are broken down, melted, and then turned into polyester strands.
Nike has also been using more organic cotton, which is harvested without chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and defoliants. The company has also switched from using leather sourced from the Amazon, which contributes to deforestation, to using LWG-certified leather from China and Vietnam.
While EVA foam is a cheap and eco-friendly material, it does have some drawbacks. One problem is that there is no widespread and practical way to recycle EVA foam, and it does not biodegrade. This means that EVA foam shoes usually end up in landfills. However, there are now eco-friendly alternatives to conventional EVA foam, such as bio-based EVA foam made from sugarcane, which is far greener than the petroleum-derived variety. This bio-based EVA foam can be recycled and reused in the same cycle as conventional EVA foam.
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Nike's journey to zero carbon and zero waste
Nike's journey towards zero carbon and zero waste is encapsulated in its Move to Zero initiative. This initiative is a response to the realities of climate change, which threaten the future of sports. Move to Zero aims to minimize Nike's environmental footprint as a business and maximize its positive impact as a brand.
Nike has been pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation for decades, but the company acknowledges that more needs to be done. The sportswear giant is evolving its playbook, transforming science fiction into science fact. Nike's sustainability plan focuses on carbon, waste, water, and chemistry, with targets set for 2025. The company aims to power all its facilities with renewable energy and reduce emissions by 70% by that year. This includes using 100% renewable electricity and piloting electric trucks, as well as reducing waste through innovation.
Nike is also committed to reducing carbon emissions across its global supply chain. The company has set a target of a 30% reduction in supply chain emissions by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015. Additionally, Nike is working closely with suppliers to cut emissions and adopt more environmentally preferred materials. The company has been using more environmentally preferred rubber since 2002, and over 70% of its shoes now use this altered rubber, which is made with more benign accelerators and vegetable oils. Nike has also diverted 6.4 billion plastic bottles from landfills since 2010, using them to create polyester strands for its products. The company's World Cup jerseys in 2010 were made from 100% recycled polyester, with each jersey using eight plastic bottles.
Nike is also increasing its use of organic cotton, with a goal of having at least 10% organic cotton in all its apparel that contains cotton by 2015. The company is also using synthetic leather in many of its products because it is cheaper, more breathable, and easier to clean than real leather. Nike has stopped harvesting leather from animals in the Amazon to avoid contributing to deforestation, and it now sources its leather from tanners and suppliers in China and Vietnam.
Nike's journey towards zero carbon and zero waste is a comprehensive and ongoing process, with the company constantly striving to protect the future of sport and the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Nike has committed to a journey towards zero carbon and zero waste with their Move to Zero campaign. They are reusing existing plastics, yarns, and textiles, and inventing new materials to reduce their emissions. They have also released shoes with the lowest carbon impact of any shoe made by the brand, such as the Space Hippie trainers.
Nike Grind is a sample of recycled materials that Nike uses in some of its shoes. It is a form of microplastic that is used in the midsoles of some shoes.
Nike Flyknit is a lightweight fabric made with an average of 60% less waste than traditional footwear manufacturing. Each shoe upper is made from 6-7 plastic bottles.
Nike Forward is an ultra-thin, needle-punched fabric that is super soft, warm, and lightweight. It is designed with sustainability in mind and has a 75% reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional knit fleece.
Nike shoes contain EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, nylon, polyester, and PU foam.
