Design Responses – Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

Sustainability has become a greater importance in the corporate world. With the greater awareness of climate change, companies have had to make sustainability a part of their design process and business strategy. It is now considered a responsibility for each company to monitor and control their impact on the environment.

Robin’s 2015 study (cited in Crul et al, 2009) states “Sustainable design attempts to satisfy what have been called the ‘Three pillars of sustainability’ – people, profit and planet.” “it aims to provide the essential function of a product using the least environmentally harmful technical solution” Nike is a company which evidences this approach. In 2015 Nike joined the RE100 environmental campaign. Nike joined the campaign with a pledge to ensure their company Would be using 100% renewable energy by 2025. Hannah Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer & VP, Innovation Accelerator says, “we know that the effects of climate change have an impact on the athlete…. Actively moving toward 100% renewable energy will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it will also enable Nike to pursue a reliable, stable energy” (RE100, 2015). This Method has lead Nike to be the leading sustainable apparel and shoe company in the world with an index score of 280 (Figure 1)

Figure 1 Morgan Stanley’s list of the most sustainable clothing and shoe brand: Atlas

In terms of actual products, Nike has incorporated a range of green and recycled materials into its products. The Nike Pro bra (Figure 2) and Legend pants (Figure 3) are made with 100% recycled polyester (where applicable).

Figure 2 Nike Pro Bra: Nike 

Figure 3 Nike Legend Pants: Nike

Nike has also increased the number of products made with their Flyknit technology (figure 4), which compared to normal cut and sew footwear, it has 60% on average waste reduction. Since 2012 to 2015 Nike has increased the number of products with this material from 1 to 28. Nikes Targets “By FY20, 81% of all Nike, INC. Products will be scored on sustainability performance up from 28% in FY15” (Nike, INC 2015) This is a clear intent from Nike to create sustainable products. 

Figure 4 Nike Fee RN Flyknit: Nike

It is evident that Nike is a company which has a clear design intent and ethos which they are currently implementing and plan on further developing, this has created a design environment which is sustainable, furthermore Nike is also at the fore front of sustainable design in the apparel and footwear industry with their Flyknit technology and recycled material which they implement is various clothing and still plan on expanding the use of it in their portfolio.

Image list

Figure 1…… Morgan Stanley’s list of the most sustainable clothing and shoe brand: Atlas

Figure 2…… Nike Pro Bra: Nike

Figure 3…… Nike Legend Pants: Nike

Figure 4…… Nike Fee RN Flyknit: Nike

Bibliography

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