In a 1–2-page paper and in your own words, briefly describe what this organization is doing now regarding corporate social responsibility and pursuing sustainable business practices.
Masayuki Kirsch- Social Responsibility
Week B Assignment – Marketing 100
Nike is the most recognized and widespread sports brand globally, with a global brand value of approximately 30$ Billion in 2021. Being a consumer of their products for nearly my whole life, I am familiar with how Nike markets their products and branding. Sustainable business practices are when a company operates without compromising the world’s environmental circumstances, as environmentally friendly is considered sustainable. Having your business revolved around the apparel market, natural questioning of the company’s ethics regarding product safety and more is inevitable. Nike, the world’s largest apparel company, faces immense responsibility and eye-catchers in its every decision. Hence, the brand must create the best selection to enhance its social responsibility and appearance.
Nike promotes “MOVE TO ZERO” which Nike claims as its “Nike’s journey toward zero carbon and zero waste to help protect the future of the sport.” This project states that Nike will work towards minimizing Nike’s environmental footprint, creating sustainable products, and providing such products to the public. Specifically, Nike recycles old shoes and their materials and then refurbishes them to develop new footwear or gear wear, selling at a lower and affordable price. The project results have been promising: “Nike diverts more than 1 billion plastic bottles per year from landfills to create yarns for new jerseys and uppers for Flyknit shoes.” Nike also emphasizes the services and projects, as videos choreographing their mission of reducing carbon footprints have pulled in 10’s of millions of views.
Nike is popular for its contributions to local communities by constructing basketball courts. These courts also allow low-income kids to find new opportunities and gage outside. Nike has revealed a newly built basketball court in Hong Kong, known as the “Shek Lei Grind Court.” However, this court is unique as its external is roofed in Nike Grind. Nike Grind is a rubber constructed from 20,000 used pairs of sneakers. Nike stays true to its commitment and is most effective at such. Nike’s project “Move to Zero” and other recent attempts to reduce their carbon footprint have been very successful, simultaneously providing communities with affordable shoes and courts accessible for play.
Nike has created such a solid foundation that I suggest that Nike keep this process up and innovate new ways to provide more to the community. Nike should also touch upon their most significant controversy: its labor quality in China. Besides that, Nike has dramatically reduced its carbon footprint and maximized its assets to give back to the public. One last recommendation is to create small projects covering specific countries that benefit those communities.
Nike Sustainability. move to Zero. Nike.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.nike.com/sustainability
About.nike.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-move-to-zero-climate-change-initiative
Engle, E. (2019, September 24). Nike announces Zero Carbon & Zero waste initiative. HYPEBEAST. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://hypebeast.com/2019/9/nike-move-to-zero-zero-carbon-waste-info
