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Nike Tackles Greenhouse Gas Throughout Operations

Through a new Climate Savers memorandum of understanding with World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions, Nike Inc. has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations worldwide. Read More

Through a new Climate Savers memorandum of understanding with World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions, Nike Inc. has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations worldwide.

Nike also said iti will measure greenhouse gas emissions from contracted manufacturing and shipping operations with an eye toward reducing those emissions.

In the Climate Savers program, World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions work with companies to pursue practical activities that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and achieve energy efficiency goals. Emissions of greenhouse gases cause the climate change that threatens the survival of many plants and animals as well as the well-being of people around the world.

“Nike is making great strides in its effort to help save the planet,” said David B. Sandalow, executive vice president of World Wildlife Fund. “Like many other businesses, Nike is moving ahead to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s simply good, smart corporate citizenship.”

Under the new agreement, World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions will work with Nike to achieve the following climate-saving targets:

  • Reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from business travel and Nike owned facilities and services 13% below 1998 levels by the end of 2005. Nike intends to achieve this goal by pursuing energy conservation projects, purchasing green power and investing in community energy efficiency projects. As the earliest year for which reliable data and information exists regarding Nike’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, 1998 will serve as the baseline for reductions.

  • Create baselines for Nike’s major subcontracted footwear and apparel manufacturing facilities by year-end 2003. Extending reduction efforts to its global network of business partners, Nike will investigate, evaluate and distribute best practices to its major subcontracted manufacturing facilities. A GHG emissions reduction strategy for these facilities will be determined in 2005.

  • Examine Nike’s supply chain, from packaging to mode of transportation, for opportunities to improve logistics efficiency and reduce GHG from supply chain activities. By 2005, Nike will determine how to proceed with a GHG reduction strategy for logistics.

In addition, Nike said it would continue its progress to eliminate sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and has committed to complete elimination of SF6 by June of 2003.

Nike’s partnership with World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions demonstrates the company’s belief and support for responsible environmental action, said Sarah Severn, director of corporate responsibility development at Nike.

“We take very seriously the effects of climate change on our planet. Nike’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will illustrate how environmental strategies can align with business goals and will hopefully inspire more businesses to address climate change,” Severn said.

With approximately 750 contract factories worldwide manufacturing its products and employing some 500,000 people, Nike’s commitment to measure and reduce greenhouse gases is significant, said Joseph Romm, director of the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions.

“The Climate Savers program has tremendous potential to mitigate climate change through the combined efforts of its present participants, including IBM, Johnson & Johnson and Polaroid, as well as future participants,” Romm said.

More information on Climate Savers is available online at http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate.

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