Nike’sFY20 Impact Report, titled ‘Breaking Barriers,’ shows mixed progress on sustainability, with the business achieving its goal of sourcing 100 per cent of its cotton from more sustainable sources but failing to reduce its average product carbon footprint.

As per Textlle Focus, Nike has managed to divert 99.9 per cent of footwear manufacturing waste from landfill by reducing freshwater usage of textile dyeing and finishing by 30 per cent, exceeding its goal of 20 per cent. In addition, since 2015, the use of more sustainable materials in clothing has increased from 19 to 59 percent, and the use of renewable energy in owned or operated facilities in the United States and Canada has increased to 100 percent.

Nike, on the other hand, made little progress against its goal of reducing its average product carbon footprint by 10 per cent, and only managed to minimize energy usage in its main operations by 3 per cent against a 25 per cent target. Nike’s latest sustainability goals, outlined in the planet section, include a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in owned or controlled facilities, as well as fleet electrification. Despite expected business expansion, it pledges that GHG emissions from key suppliers’ manufacturing and transportation activities will remain at or below 2020 levels. It also aims to reduce carbon emissions by half a million tons by the use of environmentally preferable products to 50 per cent.