Nike expands eco friendly options to all divisions

Nike, which has been offering its environmentally friendly Nike Considered Design products for several
years now, says that for the first time, it will offer such products in all six of its divisions basketball, running, soccer, women's training, men's training and sportswear as well as in tennis and its all condition gear products.

Nike's best selling running shoe, the Pegasus, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the first pinnacle
running shoe to be Nike Considered Design. "We are designing for the sustainable economy of tomorrow, and for us that means using fewer resources, more sustainable materials and renewable energy to produce new products" said president and CEO Mark Parker, in a statement.

The Beaverton, OR based company reiterated its goals to have all its shoes meet "Considered"
standards by 2011, all clothing by 2015, and all equipment like balls, gloves and backpacks by 2020. The changes will create a 17% reduction in waste in its supply chain, and an increase of 20% in its use of environmentally preferred materials.

Parker said benefits of streamlining the supply chain will offset the increased costs from purchasing environmentally preferred materials, such as organic cotton. "It all begins with design and engineering, and Nike designers will lead the Considered Design process to create more sustainable products with no compromise to consumers," said Lorrie Vogel, Nike Considered GM. "We're proud of our accomplishments, and they represent a significant step toward making all Nike brand footwear,
apparel and equipment Considered."

Nike said its long term vision for Considered is to design products that are "fully closed loop:
produced using the fewest possible materials, designed for easy disassembly while allowing them to be recycled into new product or safely returned to nature at the end of their life

." Towards this effort, Nike said it collaborated with The Natural Step, an international not for profit
organization dedicated to education and research in sustainable development, to help create its future vision.