Carbon offsetting
Carbon credits
Sustainability
Nature-based solutions
Case study
Nike, a global leader in athletic apparel and footwear, is not only committed to creating innovative products but also to reducing its environmental impact. The company has recognised its responsibility to lead by example and has implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy that addresses critical environmental challenges.
By adopting circular design principles, advancing renewable energy use, and promoting responsible sourcing, Nike is pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a sustainable company. Let’s discover Nike’s 3 approaches to becoming greener.
This article was updated in 2026.
1. Move to zero: Nike’s journey towards zero carbon and zero waste
Nike's Move to Zero initiative is a bold commitment to achieve zero carbon and zero waste across its operations. The company aims to drastically reduce its carbon footprint and eliminate waste in the production process by designing products that are durable, sustainable, and circular.
Nike's targets are ambitious: a 65% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions across its own operations, and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions across its supply chain, both by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. On its own operations, Nike is already ahead of schedule: emissions fell from 225,644 tonnes of CO2 in 2020 to 70,723 tonnes in 2023, a 69% reduction, and the company has now confirmed a 73% cut against its original 2015 baseline, surpassing its 2030 goal six years early.
Scope 3 has proven the harder challenge, with supply chain emissions still up 3% against that 2015 baseline, driven by business growth and continued reliance on higher-carbon materials such as leather, even as more than 60% of Nike's FY24 production volume came from suppliers with their own science-aligned emissions targets.
Read more: Why scope 3 emissions are your biggest blind spot—and what to do about it
Nike is also transitioning to renewable energy across its operations, having already reached 100% renewable electricity in North America and Europe. Company-wide, it is working toward powering all owned and operated facilities with 100% renewable energy, and had reached 96% market-matched renewable electricity coverage globally as of FY24, up from 48% in FY20.
Nike has made significant efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits to compensate for the emissions generated from the outbound shipment of all Nike.com purchases. It has since extended this approach to ocean freight, too: a 2024 partnership with shipping line CMA CGM will see sustainable biofuel used for 36% of Nike's shipping volumes with the carrier, expected to eliminate around 25,000 tonnes of CO2.
These forest-based carbon credits come from approximately 28,000 acres of forestland in Oregon, which can absorb, on average, 30% more carbon from the atmosphere than conventional management practices. One project protects a coastal forest that safeguards clean drinking water and critical habitats for endangered species like the marbled murrelet and the threatened coastal coho salmon, while a second, in central Oregon, preserves a crucial migration corridor for mule deer, funding efforts to restore meadows and water sources.
Read more: Net zero needs nature: a carbon credit guide
We hope to elevate the critical importance of forests in reducing global emissions and highlight the potential that climate-smart forestry has to contribute to mitigating climate change in a meaningful way.
Bert Stevens
Vice President of Nike North America Supply Chain
2. Responsible sourcing and advancing sustainable materials
Nike has committed to sourcing 100% of its cotton, polyester, and leather from sustainable sources by 2025, replacing conventional inputs with organic cotton, recycled polyester, and more sustainable leather alternatives. Company-wide, 78% of all Nike, Jordan, and Converse products now contain some recycled material.
Nike's Flyknit technology exemplifies this shift, using precision knitting techniques to reduce waste, with yarn made from 50% recycled polyester. Since its 2012 launch, Flyknit has helped divert more than 4 billion plastic bottles from landfills by incorporating recycled materials into its products.
Circular design also drives newer product lines, such as the Space Hippie collection, introduced in 2020 and made from factory scraps and post-consumer recycled materials. Alongside these material shifts, Nike focuses on water stewardship, working to minimise water use in manufacturing processes and implementing water-efficient practices across its supply chain.
Read more: Industries with the biggest nature footprints and what their decarbonisation looks like
3. Collaborating for a sustainable future
Nike's sustainability goals cannot be achieved in isolation. The company is working closely with partners, suppliers, and industry peers to create a more sustainable and transparent value chain, including through the Fashion Pact, a global coalition of companies dedicated to fighting environmental instability.
Alongside its environmental work, Nike focuses on ensuring fair labour practices and promoting diversity and inclusion, improving working conditions, supporting local communities, and empowering women through education and leadership programmes.
Read more: How community stewardship makes carbon credits durable
Nike’s positive impact: building a sustainable future
Nike's dedication to sustainability reflects its belief that businesses have a crucial role to play in protecting the planet. With its ambitious goals, innovative products, and collaborative approach, Nike is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also inspiring other companies to follow suit.
By embracing sustainable practices and prioritising the health of the planet, Nike is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future — one that benefits both people and the environment.
Green Earth's nature-based projects that support communities and biodiversity.
Green Earth: a partner in sustainability
Like the sportswear designer, Green Earth is committed to making a positive impact on the planet. Our projects focus on large-scale reforestation, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable community development. We believe that sustainability is about more than just reducing carbon emissions; it’s about creating long-lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.
By partnering with local stakeholders and using natural-based solutions, Green Earth is restoring degraded landscapes, planting millions of trees, and providing sustainable livelihoods to communities around the world. Together with businesses like Nike, we’re working towards a future where economic growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship.
Creating a positive impact on our planet while generating business? Just do it.
