Nike Launches Environmental Friendly Clothing Design Tool

To promote the sustainable development of the industry,

Nike spent seven years and invested $six million to design and build this.

This tool recognizes the need to reduce natural resources and pfer to low carbon economy. It is a practical way to mark the waste reduction in clothing design and increase the use of environment-friendly materials, and allow designers to adjust in real time.

Nike is committed to open innovation, and welcomes other parties to build and improve the tool.

Hannah JonES, vice president of Nike sustainable business and innovation, said: "this tool allows designers to make the most sustainable choices easily at the beginning of the product development process.

In the past four years, it has proved that it is a priceless treasure of Nike, and has helped us create products that meet higher standards of sustainability. "

"By publishing this tool, we hope others will improve it, and hope to facilitate further cooperation, create a global industry standard for fair competition, encourage the industry to adopt sustainable design methods and provide consumers with more sustainable products."

Nike's jersey for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa is the best example of how the tool helps designers create the most environmentally friendly and technically advanced products in football history.

The material is made of 100% recycled polyester fibers and is made from 13 million plastic bottles recovered from the landfill.

In the past year alone, Nike's use of recycled polyester fibers has doubled, and 82 million plastic bottles have been recovered from landfills.

If all garment companies can convert one-third of their polyester fiber clothing into recycled polyester fibers, the demand for recycled polyester fiber will exceed the annual output of plastic bottles, which requires the recovery of PET bottles from landfills.

"Nike's decision to open the source code of this design tool is a win-win move because it takes advantage of important intellectual capital to benefit the entire industry," said Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres, the world's leading investor and environmental group.

Whether it's sports shoes or cars, the introduction of water, chemicals, energy and waste in all product designs is very important.

If all clothing companies can use this tool, the impact may be astonishing, from the no longer piling up landfill area to expanding the scale of our sustainable material industry. "

Ceres is currently working closely with Nike and other large companies to meet sustainable challenges.

Marks &Spencer sustainability director Mike Barry has worked closely with Nike on sustainability for many years. He said: "as a company committed to developing sustainable business, we welcome this type of industry collaboration.

Nike's design tool will help clothing companies and retailers design more sustainable products.

We firmly believe that sharing knowledge can help us speed up the pace towards a sustainable future. "

In addition to the environmental garment design tools, Nike will also release its footwear design tools, material assessment tools and water assessment tools in 2011.

Earlier, Nike launched GreenXchange (GX) earlier this year. It is a network based trading market where enterprises can cooperate and share intellectual property rights in the market. This will bring about new business models and innovations for sustainable development.

Nike is committed to applying for more than 400 patents for GX research, which indicates that it believes that the best way to promote sustainable innovation is open innovation.